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This Blog is 1 year old today.

So far I have had 4331 pageviews ( I have switched off tracking my own views). Most of them are from the UK but there are sizeable numbers from the United States, Russia, Germany, Israel, Ukraine, France, and the Netherlands.

I thought I might get a few hundred views at best. It would be great to find out who reads this blog and why. I can be emailed at christianbirch1@gmail.com or leave a comment.

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In It

Be alive in your Tai Chi.

Don't just "perform" the form.

Early 90's

Seperate Left Foot from the Long Form, taken in the early 90's in  Stevenage.

One with the Tao

Speaking to John Kells the other day, he reminded me of the key message he gave during my early days at the Centre, to be one " One with the Tao".

I'm prettty sure this went over the heads of most of us as we struggled to get to grips with our deadly, slow movements, wondering which arm and leg went where and when.

What did it mean? The beauty of T'ai Chi is that it was a physical and mental manifestation of Taoist philosophy. The key was to be natural and not get in the way of things. This is best demonstrated through pushing hands. When the other person pushes, neither resist nor collapse. Simply accept and follow the direction of the push leading to a transformation which allows a return of energy.

Of course what happens is that we may accept and follow for a little bit, then fear strikes that we may get pushed so we tense and try to use force to pull the other person's hand aside. As we work with different partners we learn to accept/follow differing forces. We start out as a rough block of stone which is gradually transformed through the practise.

There is more that could be said and probably there are better explanations. But I think single push hands is a great way to work on this. It's no use just having an intellectual, clever comprehension.

Gradually we give up our preconceptions and tension to become more natural, with no seperation from our partner with whom we are working.

We become one with the Tao.

Yiquan Poem 5

Here is number 5 in the series.

Translated by Professor Chang Shao Quan and Heron Beecham. Reproduced with permission.

5.

The principles of martial study are truly profound;

The application of skill is stored in movements and forms.

Our intent motivates the revolving of the mind;

Yin and Yang change according to our adjustments.

Make the movements as skilful as a wolf;

Explode as powerfully as a thunderclap.

Neither neglect our development nor aid it too much;

And in time our achievement will reach the highest state.

John Kells Website

John Kells has a new website.

See http://www.preceltictaichi.co.uk/

Click on the Studies section for John's insights into Destiny, Warriorship etc.

Foot Points

John taught that there were three points on the feet we should feel in contact with the Ground:

1: The Big Toe

2: The Little Toe

3: The Heel

Yiquan Poem 4

Here is number 4 in the series.

Translated by Professor Chang Shao Quan and Heron Beecham. Reproduced here with permission.

4.

Use intention so that a trace is left at the wrist from the deep pool of the eyes;

Stretch your strength horizontally when you are going to attack straight ahead.

All movements easy or adverse, unusual or complex must be harmonised;

The 'spirit beam' of the entire self needs strong intensity to radiate further.