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Tai Chi and Ba Gua

Wu style Tai Chi
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Wu style Tai Chi Chi Kung is one of many styles of Tai Chi that are practiced around the world today. It evolved from the popular Yang style, and indeed was considered a part of that style until the early twentieth century. 


The founder of the Wu style was a practitioner named Chuan Yu (1834–1902). He learned the art from the Yang master Yang Pan-Hou (1837–1892), the second son of Yang Lu-Chan (1799–1872). More details on the history, its moves and principles can be found in our text called 'Tai Chi Wu Style'. Videos to accompany the book are linked below. 

The Short Wu Style 3 Direction Form
Applications Short Wu Form
Basic

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Beijing 24

Students start by learning a the Beijing 24 form. It involves consolidating the principle of Chi Kung though students may do this class with no prior training in Chi Kung. Applications of the moves are taught so that students retain the meaning of each form. The 24 form is really the standard international beginners Yang form. There is abundant literature, videos and competitions with this form. Students can be reassured that they can find Teachers though out Australia.

Tai Chi Wu Shen

"Fan through the Back": Beijing 24

Intermediate

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Beijing 42

Students will learn the Beijing 42 which is the standard form throughout the world. This form is an amalgamation of forms from the Chen, Sun, Wu and Yang styles. At present made by private arrangement.

Advanced
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Chen Style

The first recorded Style of Tai Chi was the Chen Style. The Chen family in Honan province practised their own particular form of Martial arts which was used to train soldiers not only for combat but also for discipline and mind control. Around 1750 A.D. Wang Tsung Yueh an infamous adventurer, challenged and beat many of the Chen family's best combatants. Wang stayed in the village teaching the essence of his soft internal style and it became known as Chen style Tai Chi. It is characterised by a more martial and intense chi in the lower abdomen which is released in explosive outbursts. There is much emphasis on internal power and spiral force (chan ssu jin). Chen Style is more demanding physically and usually executed with a lower stance. There are fast and slow movements intermixed with softness and hardness complimenting each other. At times it is outwardly gentle and inwardly strong and other times vice a versa. Chen style is liked by both younger more physical students as well as experienced Tai Chi practitioners wanting to increase their Tai Chi vocabulary. The style taught is the Chen 56 which is a merger of the Traditional Routines No 1 and 2. It is the Internationally accepted competition routine which will hopefully presented at the next Olympics.

Tai Chi Wu Shen
Tai Chi Wu Shen

"Tuck in Robes" : Chen Style

"Cover arms and Strike with Fist Right style"

: Chen Style

Students can also learn from a range of Tai Chi forms including: Yang 40, Chen 56, Sun 73, Wu 45, Sword 32 or 42 and Bagua, Hsing Yi, Spear or Sabre. At present arranged by private arrangement.

Sword 32

The most popular Tai Chi form practiced throughout the world and used as a competition form.

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The Preparing Form and Starting Form

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  1. Dragonfly Touches the Water

  2. Big Chief Star

  3. Swallow Skims over the Water

  4. Bring along Sword to Right Side

  5. Bring along Sword to Left Side

  6. Gauge the Depth of the Sea

  7. Hold the Moon against the Chest

  8. Resting Bird Enters the Wood

  9. Split down the Sword with Legs in Empty Stance

  10. Blue Dragon out of Water

  11. Wind Blows the Lotus Leaf

  12. Lion Shakes Its Head

  13. Tiger Holds Its Head

  14. Wild Horse Jumps over the Stream

  15. Lift Sword with Left Leg in Empty Stance

  16. Lift Sword with Right Leg Bent

  17. Shoot Wild Geese

  18. White Ape Offers up Fruits

  19. Clean up Dust in the Wind - Left

  20. Clean up Dust in the Wind - Right

  21. Clean up Dust in the Wind - Left

  22. Push Boat with the Current

  23. Shooting Star Chases the Moon

  24. Swallow picks up Mud with Its Beak

  25. Raise the Screen

  26. Left Wheel Sword

  27. Right Wheel Sword

  28. A Roc Spreads Its Wings

  29. Swallow Enters the Nest

  30. Hold the Moon against the Chest

  31. Wind Blows away the Plum Flowers

  32. Compass

      

 The Closing Form

Tai Chi Boxing Class
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Apply the basic forms of Tai Chi into  effective combat. Use the principles of Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Push Hands along with 4 basic forms (Willow Tree, Cross Hands, Closing the Gate and Kick with outer edge of Foot ). This introductory 4 week course will inspire those as the effectiveness of Tai Chi as a martial art. Previous Tai Chi or martial art experience preferred.

Yin and Yang Technicals
Tai Chi Boxing Course: 4 Week Introduction by Dr Andrew Jan

 

Tai Chi Boxing probably originated with the founder of Tai Chi called Chang Sen Feng. This was passed down through the generations to a Master Li who started the Wu Tang school of Chinese Boxing. The martial side of Tai Chi is now rarely taught. As Tai Chi has been relegated to the disciplines of healing and health. However Tai Chi is a martial art and for those that are interested in its true origins will study the martial as well. The content of these classes is based on the teachings I received from John Yuen in Melbourne during the 80’s. His masters were Master Ken Yue Kwong and Master Cheng Tin Hung .

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Tai Chi Boxing is an intelligent form of martial arts which relies heavily on the principles of the Tao or nature. By using the body to its most intelligent or efficient. The weak can beat the strong and the slow beat the fast. Where 4 ounces can topple a 1000 pounds.

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Students come to study Tai Chi Boxing not because they are pugilist but because they are interested in developing their spiritual, philosophical and physical aspects.

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From the Wu Chi or nothingness came the Yin and Yang - the 2 primary forces of movement. This is akin to the formation of Heaven and Earth. From Heaven and Earth came the 5 elements which govern all matter. The Tao is the nameless one that binds them. To develop one’s innate vision, ones original strength and primordial magic of being one need’s to open the gate and enter the Tao. Upon opening, one will see existence as a series of symbols always reducing back to Heaven and Earth or Yin and Yang. A strike is Yang while a defence is Yin. The circle is the one that binds them. Within this circle are the five forces (Chi (water), An (fire), Tsai (wood ) Lieh (lightening), Chou (water) and Kou (mountain)) beneath Heaven and Earth (Peng and Lu ) which dictate the connections between the two. Learn the Limbs and movements as symbols an interactive dance of the 5 elements and the Yin and Yang. And then you will find your original source and the Tai Chi.

 

Skills in this 4 week class will include: Most Forms are based on the Wu style of Tai Chi

 

Week One

1. Brush knee with fast adaptation, mitt work and application

2. Parry and Punch with fast adaptation, mitt work and application

3. Continuous punching with fast adaptation, mitt work and application

4. Continuous Parrying (drawing of silk) with fast adaptation, mitt work and application

5. Cross Hands with fast adaptation, mitt work and application

6. Push Hands Introduction, Iron Shirt Chi Kung, One Handed and application

 

 
Introduction to : Peng, Lu, Chi, An, Tsai, Lieh, Chou and K’ao

 

The 4 primary Hands:

Peng is Tai Chi ‘s Boxing essential Energy. The Body becomes like a spring, when pressed it recoils immediately. Peng is generated from Iron Shirt Chi Kung.

Lu is collecting. Usually the hand is on top. It sucks in the force or is the inward drawing of silk. It is yin only to change to an attack or Yang.

Chi is the use of supporting force when there is not enough peng chi. This is used in the press in the birds tail.

An Ching is the sinking force while remaining centred and still listening and adhering.

 

The 4 corner Hands:

Tsai you must draw silk towards the back and incline downwards, using 2 hands, one guides while the other grasps. It is like grabbing a branch and taking the fruit with the other.

Lieh Ching is the chief striking energy. It is balanced by an equal and opposite drawing of silk energy to both create more power as well as preserving balance. The Lieh ching is a commitment and therefore creates vulnerability.

Chou is when you are off balance and being drawn by the wrist you can save balance by striking with the elbow and returning to centre.

Kao is the 3rd line of defence when Chou fails. Strike with the shoulder when over extended.

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Chen Tin Hung, a Wu master who taught Dr Andrew Jan

Fa Jin Eight Gates
Fa Jin Eight Stages
Ba Gua Zhang
Basic Beginners Ba Gua Zhang Form
Advanced Form UHT Ba Gua Zhang
Advanced Form UHT Ba Gua Zhang
Performed slower for easier understanding

Circle Walking, was developed by Chinese shamans some 5000 years ago. Later this was adapted by Taoist monks in the millennia to follow to form Bagua Zhang. They had in mind many intertwined purposes. They needed to create a system whereby adepts could undo the false conditioning of their childhood upbringing and socialization. To do this they needed to get adepts to unravel from the inside out. The basic tool or medium was chi or energy. They realized that there were different energies that originated from the centre of every human being. Each of these energies had a particular purpose that governed emotions, thought, movements and the interaction of self. Emotions were designed to protect and teach the human being how to not only interact with themself but how to interpret and interact with the complex existence of life. Likewise, there are thought patterns that vary according to various circumstances. There is a time to look at the bigger picture, a time to focus on a detail, a time to retreat and a time to move forward. With each of these thoughts and emotions is the obligation of movement – whether it be a small or large, explosive or fluid like, upward or downward, linear or curved and so on.

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So in order for a person to heal each adept needed to identify these energies, learn what thoughts, emotions and movements are associated with them and establish a healthy way for them to interact and work as a team. Ba Gua Zhang was the ideal safe vehicle for the adept to enact these profound teachings. Because of its martial connections a safe but constructive use of the yang, animal or seemingly negative emotions is utilised. When the negative emotions become constructive, the virtuous emotions become free to unite and develop compassion. From there the adept would engage in life with more skill, motivation and positive purpose. Thus the changing patterns and forces of Ba Gua Zhang are both the ground work and metaphor for understanding the multiple dimensions of health, mind, relationship and spirituality.

Table: Bagua Highlights the principles of the Fusion meditations but placing these in a more physical and combat format. The eight forces are categorized as eight palms which are represented by the similar eight forces except this time we give them shape as animals and certain postures.

Tai Chi Wu Shen

"Basic Ba Gua Stance"

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