Qi Magazine

I used to buy Michael Tse's Qi magazine back in the day when it was still going.

You can download all editions for free here.

WBTA Magazines

You can read all 59 issues of the late Erle Montaigue's WBTA magazines by clicking on the link below.

WBTA Magazines

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Trying Not to Try in Taijiquan

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Trying Not to Try in Taijiquan: Below is an excerpt from an excellent article that was posted at The Tai Chi Notebook. The full post may be read here . Is there a secr...

Out of time

Can't remember where I read it but it stuck in my mind.

When a boxer is knocked out, they are "knocked out of time".

Cook Ding's Kitchen: There is One Taijiquan

Cook Ding's Kitchen: There is One Taijiquan: Below is an excerpt from a post that appeared at Tai Chi Thoughts , regarding the different styles of taijiquan and that this differentiat...

What do the Martial Arts have to offer?

Interesting article from the Bodymind Science blog by Peter Payne.

I like the fact that he stresses that Tai Chi is not a "long sequence of precise motions, but a WAY of moving or acting (and, in its martial aspect, a way of sensing and responding to an aggressor)"

The full article can be read here,

孙氏太极拳97式孙剑云教学

See the stepping around the 3.55 mark. The back foot is pulled forwards by the front leg and vice versa. This is for power. No contrived stepping.

“Tiger & Crane Sparring Set” - Full Set Performed by Grand Master Lam Ch...

Love this! If you have learned a tai chi sparring set it is interesting to see similar techniques here, although with a different use of force.

Tai Chi: Train hand and pressure sensitivity

Flow Training with Maestro Sonny Umpad - Sikaran with Pangamut warm up

Brilliant - Mobility!!

George Xu Teaching Vertical Force, Rising Force, Gravity Exercises

Hit Like You Walk - 歩くように打つ

Thymus and a higher centre

My late teacher John Kells moved away from the Tai Chi forms he had been taught to develop a different approach.

Essentially this moved away from being Tan Tien centric to connecting from the Heart centre. This then developed to the Thymus chakra which melts into the Heart chakra. Sometimes you can find the two chakras combined just as the Heart chakra.

John taught me the Thymus comes first in interaction. With it comes a liveliness, immediacy and above all mobility. The energy involved in this is completely different from operating from the Tan Tien and being rooted in lower stances.

This has also worked very well in my Sun style Tai chi which is all about mobility with higher stances and no fixed bow and arrow stances.

Explore for yourself and discover what works in your practice.

Enter

Yielding and Attacking are two sides of the same coin, to be applied simultaneously, not yield then attack.

The space between the defender and aggressor is alive, not dead. Crucially we enter this space by going forwards with our connection to control it. This connection can be, as in Aikido, between your Hara and that of the aggressor or from one Heart to another.

In entering there is joining and all that follows.

Wing Chun Dragon Pole Workout

I practise with a Wing Chun pole. Great routine in this clip.

Sun Lutang

This is an interesting article on Sun Lutang's martial development within the cultural and social milieu underpinning it.

The article is in 4 parts. Click here

Step Back, Repulse Monkey

Health Qigong

Seems there is a trademark dispute over the term Health Qigong.

Is this a generic term?

Below is the link if you want to find out a bit more about what's going on in the UK. You can also donate to a fundraiser.


health-qigong-for-everyone-a-generic-category

The Internal Martial Arts of the Back

It's in the Spine

In the clip I was trying to show that the spine that controls the stepping. The spine turns and sinks, releases.

You don't push from the feet at all. Explore the dynamic relationship the spine plays in compression and release.

Mastery

The epitome of mastery is to be ordinary.

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Taijiquan Free Style Push Hands

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Taijiquan Free Style Push Hands: Below is an excerpt from a post that appeared at Thoughts on Tai Chi on five elements to excelling at free push hands practice. The full ...

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Budo and Natural Movement

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Budo and Natural Movement: Over at The Budo Bum , there was an interesting post that posited the idea that martial arts practice doesn't promote natural movemen...

孙剑云先生携弟子示范演练孙式太极拳推手法( Maestra Sun JIanyun junto a su discípulo muestran ...

Old footage of Sun style Tai Chi pushing hands and Da Lu.

Super Strength and Endurance

If you are interested in weight training then this book is fantastic. I've incorporated a number of these exercises in my own training.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Strength-Endurance-Martial-Arts/dp/1477490167

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Learning Taijiquan Through the Process of Body Mec...

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Learning Taijiquan Through the Process of Body Mec...: Below is an excerpt from a post that appeared at Thoughts on Tai Chi . The full post may be read here. When you start learning Tai Chi, ...

Video Blog Sep 19 Are You Here?

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Mental Traps in Taijiquan Practice

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Mental Traps in Taijiquan Practice: "Stop setting snares for yourself. Relax and see where it takes you." - Daoist Drinking Song Below is an excerpt from an excel...

An Introduction to Systema Breathing

An Ad Hoc Post

Had an enquiry recently about coming to a class, but on an ad hoc basis.

Sadly no as a commitment is required.

Hmm.. wonder how it would work with jobs, relationships etc.

Upper and Lower

You can read about upper and lower coordinating in tai chi.

Usually this refers to the body and the legs.

But you might also pay attention to the middle dantien coordinating with the lower dantien - the heart centre with the belly.

In my own practise with students I have found the heart centre to be the prime mover, not the lower dantien. It is more immediate and dynamic. The impulse comes from there and combines with the lower dantien accompanied by sinking and turning which in turn produces spirals. It doesn't mean to collapse the torso though. To me this actualises the imagery of the dragon body.

To move from the lower dantien alone seems to be too slow and leaves you stuck in the upper body.

Attachment

In two person interaction there can be no thought of mind in dantien.

This is attachment to self.

This is the way to death.

Tai Chi Exercise: Horse Stance

Reclaiming the Blade John Waller Royal Armouries

Brilliant clip.

Hear the Punch Coming

Vintage Aikido clip

Terrific spirit in this clip. Look at the body movement rather than the hands.

Wakayama Prefecture 1952

Put your back into it.

Move from

Great quote by the boxer Ray Jones Jr.

" I move when my heart say move"

in 5G Tai Chi by Scott Meredith

Pay attention

Pay attention to paying attention

Empty force in Karate

This article discusses Toate or no contact striking in Shotokai Karate.

For me the interesting point is that there has to be killer intent to respond to, because there is no holding back within the attacker and they are committing their energy 100 %.

You can't kill someone half heartedly.

The article can be read here

However, best to work on developing more tangible skills.

Wushu Wu Lian Zhi Baji Quan 1

Love this two person form.

4 reasons why I resist practicing

Over on Angelika Fritz's Qialance blog she has written a post about 4 reasons why she resists practicing Tai Chi and Qigong on a daily basis.

Most tai chi practitioners I have met are ordinary people combining jobs and children and the stresses of life, so this might resonate with you.

The blog post can be read here

Internal Energy v Fascia

Interesting blog post by Scott Meredith on the never ending internal energy/fascia debate.

Read it here

The myth of no strength

In Tai Chi we use strength. The ignorant perpetuate some limp idea of softness and think something magical will happen. This is a surefire way to get dumped on your backside.

The question to explore and discover through correct teaching and dedicated practise is how we use strength.

Through relaxation (not limpness) and sensitivity and hard work we discover the integrated strength of the whole body with all joints involved, absorbing, storing, transforming and releasing.

The resulting release of strength in a technique can then appear as if no strength is used because it is so refined.

The Tai Chi form allows us to work slowly to feel and build up the integrated strength. This should also be practised at a faster pace to see if the connection of the joints and integrated strength can be maintained. By paying attention you can find out where the gaps in connection are and go back to working slowly, then speed up again.

In motion be like a dragon, not a brick.

Working with different partners

This is a good post from Devon Boormaster's blog:

getting-the-most-from-mixed-experience-levels

One of best parts of training under John Kells' were the Sunday sessions where you could be pushing hands with people of all levels and experience.

You could learn such a lot - equally from beginners who didn't know the rules as well as long term students who simply yielded leaving you fumbling.

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Motivation and Discipline

This is an interesting article. Enjoyment is a big factor for my continuing practise, still going strong after 38 years and hopefully for many more.


Cook Ding's Kitchen: Motivation and Discipline: Happy 4th of July! Below is an excerpt from a post at The Art of Manliness. The topic is the difference between motivation and discipli...

Fear of Contact - コンタクトに対する恐怖

Allotment Qigong

Love it......

Visayan Style Corto-Kadena Eskrima:The Sikaran & Moro influenced footwork

Really interesting clip highlighting the importance of footwork. With John Kells we did sticky legs although it wasn't emphasised much. but I think it is an important drill for balance and sensitivity.

Tai Chi Secrets (-3)

Tai Chi Secrets -1

Interesting.....

Fa-Jing: The Way Volume One: Montaigue

Hands lead the Body

I've written before about the hands leading as opposed to the waist. This was first mentioned to me by my late teacher John Kells when we started learning the two person fighting form.

This is an interesting article from the Slanted flying website on this topic.

Read it here

Tai Chi Stepping

Good post on Tai Chi stepping from Keith Graham's " You can't diddle the Tao " Blog.

Read it  here

Soft Push

Great post from Scott Meredith's blog about pushing, trigger and reaction.

Step Aside

Healing the eyes, ears and the head.

Systema stick work pulling it all together

Love this clip and the yielding.

Tai Chi Hand Position - Sam Masich

The Best Exercises for Health - Chinese Therapy Balls - Lesson #1

Love this. John Kells taught us that the hands weren't these lumps at the end of our wrists in our Tai Chi. Instead they were active and alive.

Mostly these exercise balls are quite light. John gave myself and other students some large steel ball bearings instead and you could just about fit two of the smaller ones into your hand. Working with these really opened and stretched the hands.

From the Ground Up

We build from the ground up.

So in Tai Chi we relax and let our weight drop to the feet. We become heavier and supported by the ground.

Next we place awareness in the belly/pelvis/lumbar region.

Then we suspend the headtop. This is not being suspended by a thread from the crown of the head but awareness of a point in the head. Click on the link below for an earlier post discussing this.


suspending the headtop

孫劍雲 孫氏太極拳98式

Terrific older footage of Sun Jian Yun performing Sun style Taiji. This is my main practise these days.

Cat/Kid Punch Toy

I like this. Looks good for eye hand coordination.

Push Hands "Zhong Ding"

Cook Ding's Kitchen: Why She Practices Tai Chi Chuan

Why do you practice? When I first started Tai Chi there was something mysterious about it; this ancient Chinese art moving in slow motion. Then I wanted to be really good at it and poured hours of practice into it. Tai Chi was my life. Parenthood, ageing and cancer changed my perspective and priorities somewhat.

After 38 years of Tai Chi I no longer think about why I practice. It doesn't matter if I'm any good, whether I've mastered the techniques or not. The spiritual ramblings - time wasting and irrelevant.

I just do my form. The journey is more important than the destination.

Below is a link to a lovely blog post that got me thinking about why I practice.


Cook Ding's Kitchen: Why She Practices Tai Chi Chuan: In this beautiful little essay on her blog, Joan Lauri Pool explains why she practices Taijiquan under Maggie Newman. An excerpt is below....

No strength

The upper body/torso is along for the ride, sitting on the legs but ultimately sitting on the ground through them.

Empty the upper body, your arms, hands of the idea of using conventional strength so the ground can be directed through the body to wherever your intent is.

Tai Chi Fa-Jing Explosive Push Hands: Montaigue

Energy Sandwich

As per the teaching of John Kells, energy moves up the front and down the back.

I experience this as if being sandwiched by the two. But this is not a circuit in my body, rather a constant simultaneous flow/experience as I stand or move.

You immerse yourself in this stream. Two becomes one. One becomes nothing.

Repulse the Monkey Application

Nice application.

Zhang jizong complete video teaches Yang style push hands

www.exploringtaiji.com

There are some nice push hands drills  in this clip.

Whip-like strikes

The spiral figure 8 movements are in some instances similar to what I learned form John Kells except there was a different emphasis - join, enter, assist, raise, lower rather than strikes like this. But interesting to consider in a different context.

Close Range Kicks

Interesting figure 8 foot movement

The Skills of Excellence

This post from Devon Boorman's blog is just as applicable to our Tai Chi practise.

The post " Skills of Excellence" can be read here

SpiralFlow Method of Joint Mobility

There are some really nice exercises in this clip. Quite a few are very similar to ones I have learned in Tai Chi and elsewhere.

Teacup Qigong variation

I like this.

Mental Minefields

Tai chi is 5 % physical and 95% Mental, so here is an article from the Slanted Flying website about mental minefield.

The article can be read here

Loss and Gain

Small loss, small gain

Big loss, big gain

Shen Cph 5 loosening exercises

This is a long clip. Note the importance of the lumbar spine as the axis.

Double Pushing Hands

It is always interesting to push hands with people who don't do it your way. In this clip I'm working with a student of a friend and it was alien to him to try this version of double push hands.



When I have tried doing his methods I found it equally challenging at first. Yet all involve sticking, following, joining, adhering etc.



Principles in action as opposed to slavish form for the sake of it.

Tai chi Tuishou The secret of Pushing hands

Sleep

Sleep is an important aspect of your training. My late teacher John Kells had a special sleeping position in which he connected the lower tan tien to the bubbling well points.

Later he changed this to the thymus chakra and the bubbling well points.

The link below is from Devon Boormaster's blog on the importance of sleep.

http://devonboorman.com/the-importance-of-sleep-for-martial-artists/

The Best Psoas Release

This is a great clip. Very useful for those of us who have desk jobs. I recall reading that the Psoas actually strengthen whilst we're sitting at a desk and not stretching/releasing causes imbalance.

Bob Fermor and Dave Watts Tui Sau Pushing Hands

Two of my Tai Chi friends - great pushing hands routines.

Yang Cheng Fu - Daily Personal Training

This is from Mike Garofalo's Cloud Hands Blog:

"Tai Chi Chuan is the art of letting hardness dwell within softness and hiding a needle within cotton; from the point of view of techniques, physiology, and physics, there is considerable philosophy contained within it.  Hence those who would research it need to undergo a definite process of development over a considerable period of time.  Though one may have the instruction of a fine teacher and the criticism of good friends, the one thing which is most important and which one cannot do without is daily personal training.  Without it one can discuss and analyze all day, think and ponder for years, but when one day you encounter an opponent you are like a hole with nothing in it - you are still quite inexpert, lacking the skills (kung fu) borne of daily practice. This is what the ancients meant by "thinking forever is useless, better to practice."  If morning and evening there is never a gap, hot or cold never an exception, so that the moment you think of it you proceed to do your training, then young or old, man or woman, you will alike be rewarded with success."
-  By Yang Cheng Fu, A Talk on Practice, 1925


The link to his excellent Tai Chi resources is http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/index.htm

任忠信老师讲解吴式太极拳揽雀尾的用法

Great stuff!

Sometimes

Sometimes, in amongst the plethora of pseudo esoteric/spiritual claptrap spouted in relation to Tai Chi, we should just do our Form.

Nothing more, nothing less.

You are here right now

Loved this series.

Kua

When people talk about the Kua in Tai Chi they generally mean the inguinal crease for pelvis/hip interaction.

However it is worth thinking of every joint as a Kua and exploring this concept in your form practise, then in partner work.

Master Wang Ming Bo Energy Exercises

Some great exercise in this clip.

Peter Ralston: The Secrets of Martial Arts

Tai Chi Smart-form&push hands - Nitsan Michaeli

Finally someone points the way to integrating the smartphone and tai chi :)



Brilliant!!