Tai Chi has been shown to improve aerobic capacity, increase energy, and build muscle strength.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265507.php

The Health Benefits of Tai Chi - Harvard Health Publications(May2009)

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2009/May/The-health-benefits-of-tai-chi

Understanding of Tai Chi (Taiji)

"Most of principles of Tai Chi comes from Tao Te Ching. It teaches us to be more aware of Nature; the changes of the seasons, the smooth flowing of a river, the majestic standing balance of the mountain, the softness of the petals, the deep stillness of the air, the gracefulness of the changing clouds, the warmth of the sun and the rhythmic and gentle movement young grass as the soft wind blowing. Many people asked me what is Tai chi and why I learn Tai chi through out my life. The above understanding of Tai chi makes my life so fulfilled".

by Master Chow

8 Jings & 5 Directions (八 勁 五 行)

The transcendental path begins with Tai Chi Chuan thirteen steps; known as "Eight Jings and Five Directions (八勁五行)." "Eight Jings and Five Directions" happen naturally, some does without even knowing them. However, knowing them makes the method even more certain.

Jings(勁)are mental power which utilize Qi to maintain the body postures. "Eight Jings" are Peng (掤), Lu (履), Ji (擠), An (按), Cai (採), Lie (列), Zhou (肘), and Kao (靠), which are eight principles and techniques to use Qi to move and to reshape the body on a static footing.

Peng (掤), is to pressurize the body and to project the Qi to the outside edge of the body (like a toad expands itself before a fight). The foundation of Peng is the Bow and Arrow stance. The Bow and Arrow stance is front leg "Bow" (bent) and back leg "Arrow" (straight). As the back leg pushes straight, we are neutrally forward. Some practice Peng with a bent rear knee to maintain the flexibility. However, such "improvement" does not concur with the nature of Peng-to Peng like "the way air fills the void."

Yielding and resisting at the same time, Lu (履), is to reduce the Qi from the outer edge of the body without losing contact of the outside forces. The key to Lu is to shift the weight back to the back leg and maintain the balance with it.

Ji (擠), is to squeeze; Ji is robust, covering space-time without "a hair spread of separation."

An (按), is to push; expanding the Qi like a running stream, subtle but last, the way of An is to push intensively but steadily.

Cai (採), is to pick, formless but delicately balanced.

Lie (列), splits or spins. Lie is to spin by rotating the hips.

Zhou (肘), elbows, means using elbow for shorter distance.

Finally, Kao (靠),; Kao is to strike like "falling mountain," unstoppable yet no bouncing. Kao illustrates the idea of "being there at the right time and the right place."


Doing Tai Chi Chuan, by the ancient Tai Chi Chuan classics, is actually "feet stepping Five Directions and hands wielding Eight Jings" (Jiao Cai Wu Xing, Shou Hui Ba Jing , 腳踩五行 ,手揮八勁) to deliver the Qi to go where we want it to go. In Tai Chi Chuan, power, as Qi, is "issued from the feet (heels)," (Fa Yu Gen, 發於跟) "controlled on the waist," (Zhu Zai Yu Yao, 主宰於腰) and "displayed in the hands" (Xing Yu Shou, 形於手).

To achieve the maximum effect of Qi, Qi must be expanded along the least resistant path. As the Qi issued from the heels travels upward through knees, hips, back, to shoulders, elbows, to wrists, and displayed in hands, Eight Jings are used to open, close, move, and twist the joints to provide a proper channel (body posture) for the Qi to flow through.

As Eight Jings synchronize the body movement with the Qi, the least resistant path is reached when the body movement matches the Qi it delivered. As they do, Eight Jings transcend the whole body into interwoven of Qi, that is shaped by expanding, contracting, twisting of the joints along the lines from heels to the fingertips.

With thanks from article: "Of Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan" by Ichin Shen.

Do not try to outwit your Master

Last night at our usual Taiji practice, I picked up a very valuable lesson from the Master that I want to share with all:

While training and practising, never harbour the thought of trying to outwit the Master. If you do, you will never learn the skill properly.

I like to add:

This is because you will:

1. only be choosing what you want to learn but not everything that is taught to you.

2. you have a narrow mind and will be bias, not appreciative and impatient.

3. worse still, you will be combative, egoistic, harbour more anger, not compassionate.

I figure out this applies to Taiji, learning other forms of martial arts, in sports and even at our job - such as to be better than your boss so you can collect his pay and take over his position. You will be deadly wrong for you will not have anyone to teach you anymore.

Your other colleagues will also stay away from you.

Do understand that all of us have a talent that in one way or another will be better than others and similarly each and every other person also has some talent that is superior to our own. And this is why we all must co-exist harmoniously. No one person as an island can survive.

In all cases, if you train, practise and perform diligently, your skills will improve. The day will come when you become better than your Master, your Teacher, your Boss.

Let that day happen later. Meantime, practice diligently.

A pointer in 'Pushing-Hand'

explained by Master Chow as he demonstrates on 2^nd April 2012.

1. that as the opponent exerts strength, you relax. And as he relaxed, you will exert instead, keeping the Ying & Yang flowing non stop.
2. when the opponent relax, you will have to instigate him to exert strength. You will have to 'tempt' him by exerting (or attempt to exert) strength yourself.
3. Only when the opponent exerts strength then you can make use of his strength (or force) and turn it back against him.
4. And the moment to do so is at the split-second when he is at the tail end of his exertion and just before he can relax. This is the best moment to strike back for it is his weakest moment, when he starts to lose his balance. And he will require double the amount of time, to (i)stop and balance and then (ii)strike back. To be able to sense this moment is the most difficult to master.

Taiji – An Art or A Science?

3^rd April 2012

Last night, during an usual Taiji training session, Master Chow emphasizes again that Taiji is very scientific, citing the continuous 'sparks' firing non-stop in our brain as we develop and increase the 'awareness' in our mind through constant practice of Taiji.

Master was demonstrating how a Taiji exponent should be sensing and reacting to his opponent in a 'pushing -hand' duel. That as the opponent exerts strength, one must reduce and vice versa. As one cannot continuously exert strength all the time, when the opponent relaxes, you will take over. Seize the moment when the opponent has reached the peak of exerting his strength and just when he starts to relax, that's when you must quickly react as quickly as possible to 'push' him off.

This exerting and relaxing cycle – Master calls it 'Positive and then Negative, then Positive, then Negative . . . '. This is not only Science, it is also Mathematics. It is the Binary system of 1,0 (One & Zero).

Master's most senior student Steven also added that as he is mindful of the positive and negative rhythm, he can even feel as if his brain expands on positive and contracts on negative thoughts.

Master also highlighted that this “1,0” sparks are constantly firing non-stop in our brain, keeping us actively thinking, mindful and developing awareness. This touched on Biology. Our brain constantly has electrical and magnetic activities non-stop – Physics.

Other examples brought out by Master Chow during Taiji lessons are:

• positioning our arms must always be circular, sometimes big circles, sometimes smaller circles – to generate 'Qi' flow on the one hand and in 'combat' – the magnetic field generated is a shield against attacks. In an attack, the point of greatest impact has to be sharp – a corner of a triangle – Mathematics & Physics.
• Taiji movements are always 'substantial' and 'insubstantial', ying & yang, positive & negative, action & reaction – Physics.
• By reacting to an on-coming attack, one way is to turn sideways, firmly on our own axis and at the same time making use of the opponent's force to spin him into a fall – Centripetal force vs Centrifugal force causing the opponent to spin off along a tangent from the point of release. (Physics & Mathematics).

There are many more evidences . . .

And therefore – I would state it as:

Taiji is an Art of Appreciating, Understanding and Applying Science and Mathematics.

Our great grand masters of Taiji understood all these so long ago and they put them into practical uses.

Effects of colour - By Michael R. Hathaway

Have you noticed how colour affects your life?

You may find that you are attracted to a certain colour of clothing. See if there is a relationship between what you wear and your moods. It's possible that certain colours may affect your moods positively or negatively.

Here is a list of how certain colours affect some people. How does it compare with your experience? It's possible that you do not respond the same way.

* Blue: Calming, lower blood pressure, decreases respiration

* Green: Mentally and physically relaxing, relieves anxiety and nervousness

* Red: Increases heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and brain waves

* Yellow: Energizes, improves memory, stimulates appetite

* Violet: Peaceful, relieves migraine

* Pink: Relaxes muscles, relieves tension

* Orange: Energizes, stimulates appetite and digestive system

* Black: Enhances self-confidence, power, and strength

 

With thanks to Michael, this is from his web portal:

http://www.netplaces.com/hypnosis/your-mental-makeup/the-sense-of-sight.htm

GrandMaster HUANG - 13 Questions and Answers - Question 13

Q13. How should a student relate to his teacher?
In the present day science is very advanced, affecting all aspects of human endeavour day by day. This gives rise to stress and keen competition in business, having a telling effect on the spirit. This is a common malady. This is why Tai Chi an ancient art, is popular and a common practice. It has no secrets. It is equitable to all as it discriminates against no student. But students often commit errors in practising the art. Students should bear in mind the following pointers:
1 Respect the teacher and accept the philosophy or Tao of the art;
2 Be honest and do not take unfair advantage;
3 Be conscientious and serious, think, observe and feel, or being aware during practice;
4 Progress step by step;
5 Be humble and practice constantly;
6 Follow all the principles mentioned earlier when practising by themselves.

GrandMaster HUANG - 13 Questions and Answers - Question 12

Q12. Some students have been learning and practising Tai Chi for several years and are yet unstable. Why is this so?

A lot of students are using wrong learning and practising technique. Students must start with understanding the Tao of philosophy, then the principles, then using the correct method and finally putting in the effort. Students must understand the relationship of man and his surroundings, or the universe, and use the method of Qi to practice. He must be humble and persistent in his practice. Slowly, rootedness will result and the method of practising be understood. Understand the principles and be aware of the less obvious and unnoticeable aspects in slowing acquiring skill. Being rooted and having internal force can never be observed externally. They can be accomplished through correct method. In practising the movement and developing the internal force, the joints of the body must be loosened and yet linked. The whole body is relaxed and is not easily pushed over by an opponent. Substantiality is distinguished from insubstantiality. Aim to be flexible and pliable like a snake whose tail will come in to help if you attack the head, or vice versa or whose tail and head will assist when the centre is attacked. Be responsive to consciousness (or intent), then tranquillity and pliability can be achieved. It is easier to lift off a 200 catties iron rod than to lift up a 100 catties iron chain [1 cattie = 500 grams]. This illustrates the principles of thoroughly relaxed joints. Students must also understand the application of yin and yang in the movements and push hand exercises. Yin and yang principles are in Tai Chi which encompasses the universe; all movements, whether divided according to upper and lower body, right and left, front and back, internal and external, must not deviate from the principles of substantiality and insubstantiality. Moving and stillness alternate continuously; Yin does not depart from Yang and vice versa. When Yang moves, Yin also moves and vice versa. This principle must be understood when practising the set movements. The body and the character is trained together as is the acquisition of the Tao and the art. Tao is likened to yin while the art or skill is the yang. Yang is evolved from yin at yin's completion. Being relaxed, stillness and being rooted become yin components. Neutralisation of force forms the basic foundation where no strength is used. Stillness is like that of the mountain. No change is seen but it is capable of a lot of changes. The founder has said, "Tao is the basis, art is the consequential". One must therefore acquire Tao by learning not to resist, for only then will the body learn to be obedient. In attacking and defending, one must understand the method, then acquire insubstantiality and quietude. Only then will the defence be solid. Attacking will also be successful as one is naturally comfortable. In pushing hands exercise, one must learn to achieve non-resistance and stickiness. Having achieved stickiness, then one can achieve the ability to neutralise force. With adequate reserves, the neutralising ability is applied with an involuntary exertion of internal force.