Yuen Biao

Anyone here practise Taijiquan at this Park, north of Tiananmen? I'll be over for a few days in May and I wondered if we had any Tao Bums present in Beijing?

Taiji does not always rely on 'sticking' to an opponent but can at the same time be the most evasive and sneaky art around.

"GOLD"? Get real, you can generalise all you like but the facts are different. Personally when I began Taijiquan classes we were taught a balance of standing meditation and Taiji forms and the trick was to have the same 'feeling' or flow with your movement as when in meditation. This is why Taiji is often referred to as 'movement in meditation'. We are of course talikng about a martial art here and self-defence at its simple interpretation. I understand where you are coming from though as many schools unfortunately teach Tai Cheese which is predominately focused on health and external movements. 'Real' Taiji takes some time to find both in terms of a teacher and your understanding.

I know what you are saying but it of course is dependant upon your movement that you do not get hit when you are protecting yourself! Quite a misconception. I study Yang and I have always learned the applications of the movements; the movements/applications are the same whether it is Yang or Chen as far as I'm concerned. I've also learned a Yang offshoot which is a pure fighting form known as Ruyi Taijiquan.

My teacher always used to say that you learn more about yourself when you begin to teach classes. When I used to go to classes my teacher she would always demonstrate the practicality on myself which was cool because I learned maybe quicker than others! I'm not a 'professional' teacher, but I occasionally teach my girlfriend and friends Taiji. I could teach and probably will when I'm older.

I've just started adding a few 'Hindu squats' to my exercise but I was wondering whether doing this every day was too much, I'm not sure how everyone else feels about that? Personally I've been doing about thirty a day for the last five days, question is should I have a break? Can anyone let me know about the 'Hindu pushup' I'm not sure I'm familair with it? Interesting and rather funny thread which I can empathise with; I often feel the same way when at work and find an empty office to do some training in for five minutes!

I have recently been mixing things up a little in my morning seated meditations and trying out various hand positions. I tend to use placing one plam within the other but of late I have used the 'prayer mundra' (pressing the palms of the hands together firmly). But I really would like to know how everyone else places their hands. I'm nosey! I was looking on Google for some kind of diagram or illustration of this but alas couldn't find anything.

I'd like to read that, do you have a link? I do practise Zhan Zhuang but mostly my meditation is seated. I do find it incredibly difficult to attain one position for more than a few minutes at a time; I guess it's a slow process in understanding.

I used to practise Bujinkan for a few years and I really like the To Shin Do that Hayes has formed. Well I've seen a few videos and like Ninjutsu it seems a really fluid and natural system.

I never knew this; do you have any information to elaborate on regarding Silat and Bruce Lee?

You're joking right? I thought 'Drunken Boxing' was a Shaolin skill used by Monks for a very long time.

Regarding the issue of weight and fatness: Buddha was heavy-set and plenty of people followed him. Okay I know he wasn't a fighter, but still. When I studied Taijiquan in Beijing, one of my teacher's, teacher's top student was quite a large man and carried a few extra pounds, but he was not over-weight. Personally that is no reason to suggest that he couldn't fight, dude controlled me like I was a child and used Fa Jing to launch me about 12 feet backwards. I learned quickly that day. I found out later that this master has spent most of his youthful life at Shaolin and then graduated to Taijiquan specifically so I guess he maybe looked leaner in his earlier days. As someone pointed out a fight can be over very quickly and often is most of the time. Comparing the likes of Frantzis to Penn is unfair as in reality if Frantzis is actually as good as is said he would crush Penn in seconds. Frantzis I believe is very good and I have heard some good things and bad things. One thing for sure is he can move quick from the videos I have seen him in. Erle Montaigue is similar in stature and he can move pretty quick too. One final point, someone mentioned that many pro-fighter's use Internal training. Personally I think this is true also as they must have the balance to their training but is there any proof in the form of interviews or video footage of say for example B.J. Penn practising Taijiquan etc? *edited for typo!

In chronological order: Judo - from age 8 to 10 yrs old. Karate (Isshinryu) - from age 12-14 yrs. Qigong from about 20 yrs old. Taijiquan (Yang / Ruyi style) - from age 20 yrs to present. Wing Chun - from age 20 yrs to present, sort of off and on! JKD - from age 22 yrs to same as above Muay Thai - one year practise. Ninjutsu - from age 24 yrs to 26 yrs old. I'm 31yrs old now.

Reiki is in part a healing art. However one is not healing their food when they 'Reiki' it, they are merely putting their Qi (energy) into the food to purify it. This is much the same as using Reiki on a person and equates to purifying through love.

I've studied Taijiquan for over ten years now. Been learning mostly Yang in the process and also of late Tai Yi Wu Xing Quan from Wudang. I've also learned some lesser known Taijiquan such as Ruyi whilst in China. From what I've heard about Taoist Tai Cheese I would say it is fairly basic stuff, and I say this because there is no focus on fighting principles at all. Fair enough you may say: "I only study for health", but Taijiquan is a fighting style and should be taught as such; the health benefits will sought themselves out naturally over time. Re: 'self instruction form videos/books' - If one has been taught by a teacher and understands the principles of Taiji then they can easily pick up other styles from books and videos.

This thread reminds me that I need to 'Reiki' my food; I just completed Level One Reiki at the weekend and this was something that was recommended! Interesting thread.

Is that when you orgasm? Or press 'Huiyin' to prolong stimulation? The reason I ask is I would probably do this about once a week earlier in life, but not so much now! I've never heard that before; so two days a week you refrain from internal practises?

How enlightening!

Did you see Ricardo Almeida fight? He is supposedly one of the BJJ shining lights (in the UFC) and he cannot strike if his like depended upon it. Personally I have found Taijiquan to be the perfect answer to a grappler's techniques; as has been said Taiji is the sneakiest of sneaky arts and the the metaphor of being like water certainly applies to my understanding of Taiji when an opponent is trying a 'hold' of some description!

There are plenty of the above contained within Taijiquan.

I know a little of BJJ and I do think it compliments Taijiquan well as the two are based on balance, leverage and most importantly evasiveness. Taijiquan is really a stand up form of grappling, and designed to floor or drop an opponent; when you know the philosophy/system well then it can be applied to grappling on the ground too. In principle the two are very alike as they are founded upon similar foundations.

Yes the 'classic' posture, there are many others, such as the hands/palms facing outwards. I sometimes begin with a gentle massage (or tap) of the meridians along the body. I used to stand in the Wuji also but prefer sitting now, then move on to Qigong and Zhan Zhuang postures then Taijiquan. I'm not too bad with sitting it's mostly when I stand in Zhan Zhuang, I'm trying to dissolve that energy. My legs are very strong (balanced) from over ten years training in Taijiquan.

I would echo these sentiments, the foundation is important to be correct as there could be problems in wrong practise. I'm not sure about M. Chia, my teacher's are not his greatest fans and I've heard the same form many others. Approach his work with caution, if something does not feel right then don't dwell too much.

Are we talking Zhan Zhuang? If so I would agree on the shoulders and maybe the elbows, the energy just starts to burn after awhile and becomes too powerful and I can't seem to dissolve it. Any recommendations of what to do or focus upon?