Although many people have heard of Tai Chi nowadays, there are still
many misconceptions. People cannot fathom how doing these slow
movements can be an exercise. Many still look upon Tai Chi as an
exercise for the elderly. As practitioners, we know how much Tai Chi
works on all the joints of the body. We enjoy the freedom of movement
and the mental calmness it brings. Our more mature students often
comment that they wish they had started Tai Chi when they were younger.
Tai Chi is considered by Taoists to be a high level health and martial
art. It trains jing (essence), qi (energy) and shen (spirit). This
means that it can affect our mind, body and spirit in a positive way.
Attitude is an important component when learning any internal arts – Tai
Chi, Xing Yi or Ba Gua. If our mind is not focused and we are not
willing to give it a good try, we won’t receive the maximum benefits.
It is easy to say, ”it’s too hard,” or “I’m not good at this”. Many
people are impatient and want instant results. When this does not
happen, they lose interest. They may not see that just simply doing the
training is already a positive result. Lack of patience often means we
do not see the context of the situation. Everyone’s circumstances are
different. Something that appears to be an obstacle today will be
different in a year’s time. Determination and perseverance are
qualities we cultivate as part of the training process. Learn to see
the big picture. Instead of focusing on the difficulty, be glad that we
are doing something to improve the quality of our lives. Focus on the
results that we desire and it will help us to persevere. One day at a
time. The effort we put forth will determine the benefits we receive.
Developing patience and being optimistic will not only have a bearing on
the end result. It is also mind training and ego taming.
In the
Wu Dao Gong Martial Arts Course we teach, students eventually learn San
Ti, a standing meditation practice with weight mainly on one leg. This
targets the body’s weaknesses. These are first experienced as weak
muscles, joints, tendons, organs and mind. In the beginning, standing
for 2 or 3 minutes can be very difficult. It takes students on average
6 to 12 months to reach the 10 minute mark. A student of the famous
Xing Yi master, San Lu Tang, did nothing but this type of practice for 3
years. This form of training helps to change a person’s body, mind and
spirit. It is training for life.
The
first level of training in any internal martial arts is the physical
body – strengthening the joints, ligaments and muscles and improving
coordination between the upper and lower body. This involves training
the waist. The waist must become alive. Most people cannot feel the
waist when they commence training. It takes time before you can relax
and strengthen the waist. This area includes Dan Tian (below the navel)
and Ming Mun (opposite to the Dan Tian towards the back).
As our
body relaxes and strengthens, we become more aware of the physical
aspect of Tai Chi training. We will be able to feel the effects of
Qigong working on the internal. This is the beginning of strengthening
the internal. This process involves improving the function of the
nervous system and the internal organs. Being able to relax mentally
and physically allows our lungs, diaphragm, heart, digestive system and
the glands of the body to function more efficiently. Tests on Qigong
masters have shown separation of well formed blood cells instead of the
poorly formed cells clumping together which contributes to poor
circulation and illness. More and more, we will feel an abundance of
energy and the movements will feel comfortable and powerful.
The
next stage is an awareness not only of our own energy, but also of the
energy of others and our environment. People who reach this level can
sense your intentions. They also have an uncanny ability of diagnosing
imbalances within themselves and illness in others. One of my teachers
said that his teacher could tell what a person was practising, even if
the person was 6 metres behind him.
We
humans have a huge reservoir of untapped potential. By diligently
practising and following the correct training method, we begin to
discover our strengths and train our mind, body and spirit to a higher
level.
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