Articles: Taijiquan
Beyond Your Barehand Taiji Form (太極拳套)
Once you have learned a basic Taiji form, whether you study Yang, Chen, or another style, there is still a great deal that traditional Taijiquan training can offer. More >>
Lessons from the Taijiquan Form Seminar
I had the chance last weekend to teach at the YMAA Boston Taiji Form Seminar. I was tapped to teach the Two Person Fighting Set. YMAA canon maintains that the Fighting Set is the last thing a person trains prior to free sparring. More >>
Shaolin: the Root of Taijiquan
After Bodhidharma (Da Mo) passed down his qigong (chi kung) theory at Shaolin Temple around 550 A.D., the Shaolin monks trained the cultivation of Qi, and realized that muscular power could be enhanced to a tremendous level, which could make martial techniques more powerful and effective. More >>
Taiji Chin Na - Martial Application
Taijiquan was originally developed for combat in ancient times. Its fighting theory is to use the soft against the hard, and to use the round to neutralize the straight or square. More >>
The True Quality of Tai Chi
What is Tai Chi? How does Tai Chi improve health? People ask me these questions all the time. Some ask because they see so many people doing these exercises in the park. Others ask because they can hardly believe there can be any benefits from such slow body movements. More >>
Taiji and Qigong
Those who practice both Taiji and Qigong as separate arts soon realize that Qigong is included among the many layers encompassed by Taiji. Knowingly doing Taiji movement as Qigong not only adds the benefits of Qigong but also improves the quality of the Taiji movements. More >>
Senior Moments #2: Taiji, Happy Toes, and Piano Fingers
So how does one teach Taijiquan to seniors, rehabbers, and the generally unfit? Consult the ancients, "The best leader follows." These people are generally coming to Taiji because of a life urgency (old age, sickness, injury, etc.) which has created an opportunity for change. More >>
Senior Moments #1: "Because we can't"
Back in the day of the last millennia, I had my first venture into teaching Martial Arts to the elderly. I secured a nice gig at the local senior center. There were about twenty intrepid explorers ready for the unknown. More >>
Zhang, San-Feng and the Ancient Origins of Taijiquan part 2
How old are Taijiquan and Taiji philosophy? Recent findings indicate that the basic Taiji movements and Internal Arts theory of breathing and Qi circulation pre-date Zhang and Chen significantly. More >>
Zhang, San-Feng and the Ancient Origins of Taijiquan
The origin of Taijiquan is a controversial issue. Some trace Taijiquan to the Chen family in the 1600's and others trace the art further back to Master Zhang, San-Feng. Both are correct. And neither of them created Taijiquan. More >>
Taijiquan Theory of Reaching Enlightenment
In the practice of Taijiquan pushing hands, Taiji circle sticking hands, and Taijiquan free fighting, etc., you must practice until you have reached a stage where there is no discrimination of the opponent. More >>
Taijiquan Master Gao Tao - Dr. Yang's teacher
Dr. Yang's first Taijiquan master, Grandmaster Gao, Tao (高濤), who Dr. Yang lost contact with after leaving for college and moving to the U.S., has finally been found in Taipei, Taiwan. More >>
Tai Chi Dynamics
Those who study Taiji know that its important concepts are frequently elusive, and, for many practitioners, much of the modern Taiji literature of substantive content is difficult to understand. More >>
Taijiquan Pushing Hands
Almost every Chinese martial style, both external and internal, has its own hand-matching training similar to Taiji's pushing hands. More >>
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Chinese Martial Arts Definitions
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Northern and Southern Chinese Styles
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