Tai Chi For Martial Artists

Many people remain confused about how to access the power of internal energy for martial arts use. If you come to us as a martial artist or as someone wishing to become an martial artist, we show you how from the first lesson.

Initially the training is similar to what the Tai Chi for health students do. Typically, however, the martial artist will train much harder and more seriously so that they quickly gain the understanding of energy and foundation of health and power necessary for the tough training associated with advanced Tai Chi Chuan practice.

 

In many ways it is a personal journey for each student, with the way clearly marked by the instructor. The onus is on the student to develop the foundation allowing them to pass through the gate of truly understanding internal energy - after all the instructor cannot do the training or 'do' the understanding for them. There is a famous book about Tai Chi master T.T. Liang called 'Steal My Art'. This title sums up the attitude required to succeed in getting true internal martial arts transmission.

Some people say that knowledge is hidden or kept secret. This is less true these days. A bigger factor is that the art is extremely subtle and the usage of internal energy is difficult to copy from looking at the external shape someone adopts - it is all about what is happening inside the practitioner. Access to this can only come through following a teacher over a period of time and behaving in such a way that they want to work with you, naturally revealing their art. After a while you can understand enough so as to be able to 'feel' what they are doing when they apply Tai Chi Chuan on you , reverse engineer how it is being done and then re-create it in your own mind/body system. This is hands-on transmission - the only real way to pass the subtleties of the art to the next generation.

So as many Masters say, "Do your Chi Kung, study your Form and practice, practice, practice".

© ChungGong