The Yang and the Wu Style of Tai Chi Chuan use internalized movements from day one. This internalization process exists in Chen style, containing as it does both larger and more subtle methods of movement.

In any system of Tai Chi Chuan one first has to make sure that circular motion is clear and present; through regular practice and guidance from a competent teacher the movements and forces created can be be internalized to the point when applied martially, it appears as though the practitioner is throwing an opponent without much or indeed any movement.

Internalized movement

Lets clear up one of the major misconceptions about Tai Chi Chuan which is prevalent amoung practitioners; This concerns the magical belief that the Tai Chi master throws an opponent using his/her  Qi ( Internal energy) sometimes without even touching the person. Movement is always present even when in a fixed position, and there has to be contact with the other person to issue force.  Even when a master seemingly throws a person with no movement: in reality the master did actually move but not in the normal sense. It is incredibly difficult to see how a master practitioner has yielded to an opponents force, disturbed that persons centre of gravity and then re-directed that force so that the opponent effectively throws themselves. Movements have been internalized to a degree that it looks like there is no movement, but movement is there none the less. Slow form practice is an essential process in gaining  deep internal control of your body. Without the ability to feel inside your body and to correct blockages there is no real benefit to be gained from your form and the form will be empty.

When observing a Tai Chi player moving slowly it is conceivable that the slow resonant motion may have a profound effect, in the mind of the observer. This is much like the effect that the movement of running water can have in the being of a person. One could almost begin to believe that Tai Chi Chuan is a mystical/ spiritual art. But truly it is no such thing. My teachers ( many of whom are or were world class, authorities of classical Tai Chi ) had never made any claims to promote such beliefs about Tai Chi. These interpretations arise because the quality of movement highlights the discrepancy between the tension of the observer and their unrealized potential for relaxation.

Back to slow form practice

Practicing slowly allows one to pattern the brain and whole nervous system more efficiently, much as in the hypnotic process, correct imbalances whilst in motion, check ones motivation and focus, discover new potential for movement and expression of body, mind and energy, deepen diaphragmatic breathing and importantly conserve energy. 

Real time Testing/ martial arts

Many experienced martial artists have grave misconceptions about the the purpose of slow forms, those who are addicted to tension and the use of maximum force will dismiss Tai Chi Chuan based purely from seeing some documentary of some old boy wafting their ams about.True, there is much more armchair Tai Chi Chuan out there than the real stuff, but the real stuff is wonderful if you take time to search it out. Slow forms lead to enhanced bio-mechanics and more whole body integration. Real Tai Chi Chuan, has to be applied to be understood This is where you test out your practice under controlled conditions, you start dealing with pre-arranged attacks like any other martial art later move onto spontaneous attacks. The experience gained from this method then informs your slow form practice.

Slow form Training method

Forms are a mode of practice not the end in themselves. Those who truly understand Tai Chi Chuan are not attached to techniques. Techniques arise out of an integrated mind and body created through intent drenched, felt sense experience of how one expresses natural forces existing in and around our physical being.

Speed is an illusion

Tai Chi forms may be practiced at varying speeds, indeed the original style of Yang Lu Chan the founder, innovator of what came to be known as Tai Chi Chuan, involved variable speed, spherical motion.

There is an expression in the Tai Chi classics writings that states,you attack first, I arrive first".  What this refers to specifically is the skill of perceiving, which includes the felt senses and mind. A persons attack can be be perceived before the physical action, this allows the defender to gain time even though an attack is initiated seemingly ahead of any defensive action. Enhanced perception allows one to steal time and gain subtle angles that can deflect or even merge with the incoming attack, thus redirecting the the incoming force and using it against the initiator. This literally steals the gross advantage of an attacker. I agree its not so easy to pull off and there are clear training methods to develop this skill and you have to have the internal strength to remain present under fire. But what I am saying here is that without slow forms one cannot develop the acute awareness necessary to give you the edge over opponents who may be faster and physically stronger.

Gross and subtle signs of Forcing

Fact: Tense, forced and tight movements inhibit speed, when a tense person attacks a relaxed grounded artist, the result is that the relaxed smooth movement allows the relaxed person to gain time over the attacker!! So you move first, I arrive first.

Sustainable Practice

Many accepted forms of exercise lead to exhaustion, strain, pulls. soreness and even mood swings. (By this I refer to the process where one feels uplifted or even high when practicing and then become irritated and depressed post training)  One best leaves training uplifted, grounded and more connected to other people in a positive, life affirming way. Slow form practice allows for healing of injuries to take place and increase the efficiency of deeper layers of connective tissue right down to the organ level. An increases in the conductivity of the brain and nervous system is also aided by slow form practice. 

Slow forms seem paradoxical, yet they can enhance every aspect of ones being and nourish health. Slow forms are great warm up and cool down and are a fantastic cross training tool for any sportsman, athlete. Slow forms can help overcome performers block and give the edge needed for competitive sports. Slow forms allow time to process your limitations so that you can transform them and move forward positively toward you chosen goal.

Crc.  copyright 25.08.08

Dragon and Tiger, although hailing from the Shaolin monastery has the classic characteristics  of Taoist Qi Gong. Chris Ray Chappell, trained in Frantzis's methods from 1988 and was qualified to teach Dragon and Tiger in and re-certify instructors since 1997.

Click on clip to see a basic set presented at a one day workshop on the 19.0.08, note this clip is not definitive of complete energy line tracings, nor does it comprise of energetic pushing and pulling of qi. It shows a basic beginner introduction, from a specific workshop and is produced as a reminder of the basic choreography.  More information can be accessed  at follow up workshops, on retreat or in a phase of Dragon and Tiger classes due to start in September 08 at our London studio.

They found that a 12-week programme of T'ai Chi led to a 'significant' fall of 8 per cent in blood sugar levels in those suffering Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity

Researchers from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, also discovered that the exercises boosted the body's immune system.

Diabetics have been urged to try Chinese exercises, such as T'ai Chi

This is significant because an improved immune system damps down the chronic inflammation of the body's internal organs which is associated with diabetes.

In a separate study, researchers from the University of Queensland found that a 12-week programme of T'ai Chi and Qigong - another Chinese exercise - resulted in a significant fall in blood glucose levels in a dozen middle aged to older adults.

Insulin resistance also improved significantly. The studies are published today before being printed in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

T'ai Chi involves moderate exercise using flowing movements and deep breathing using the diaphragm.

It is practised by millions of Chinese daily as way to health which can continue into old age. Around 1.8million in the UK suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

Why diabetics should try Chinese exercises | Mail Online »

I have been involved in martial arts practice for approximately 35 years, with interludes as a professional actor, classical dancer, dance and fight choreographer. I have talked and met and trained with well known martial arts people this side of the Atlantic and in China. Martial Arts in general like the bulk of athletic pursuits could be viewed as neurotic outlets for people who have a need to create a strong ego image of themselves.

The general public begin a martial art practice for many reasons, interestingly, people seldom realize that they are not always privy to their unconscious motivations. The same holds true for all performers, actors, dancers, musicians, ( well anyone in any profession ) Our ego has sophisticated methods of conning us to our real motivations or purpose for practicing anything in life. There is a strange mechanism that occurs with human thinking, this mechanism consists of opposing thoughts battling for expression.

For example, lets say a person who takes up martial arts as a teenager due to a beating believes that consciously that he/she needs to be secure in future instances of personal danger.( Obvious of course I hear you say)  But lets say that during years of training many people react to that person by admiring them and holding the in awe of their skill, ( consciously that person may still believe that personal security is the reason they practice, whereas the pay off has grown into an unconscious desire for glory and admiration ) The attention being received over the years is translated to the unconscious as a pleasure that alleviates feelings of insecurity and suffices to offset a negative self image. This may make up for a lack of self esteem superficially, but when other people contradict the deeply held belief and do not react as anticipated with acceptance and admiration then insecure feelings which have been glossed over can re surface, indeed egotistical needs deepen insecurity, the very thing one started the art to overcome is strengthened albeit unconsciously.

If the mind is not not at peace then the psychology of the individual breaks down. They may resolve to be even better and further add to this egocentric bastion of unconscious self protection through further unconscious ego striving. Simply put this equates to: What I want to think about myself vs what I really think about myself. They are not always the same.

These inner demons limit creative expression. This is only one  scenario and obviously human beings are made up of many conflicting thought complexes. By illuminating our unconscious hang ups and limitations to ourselves is an essential and vitally important part of Martial Arts practice. A skilled teacher and method of training can challenge and expose unconscious and unrealistic ego ideas of ourselves so that we can grow and develop through our practice.

One can reflect that in the past people practiced a martial art out of necessity whereas now it is from a need to act out some fantasy. Internal martial arts people sometimes run the fantasy of developing some internal magical force that will switch on like a light bulb if they were to be attacked.

At the other extreme are the so called external martial artists, the pseudo-macho, sadistic type want only to train for real, they over train without science and bash the crap out of their students and fellow colleagues. This  mindset can be be perpetuated and encouraged by like minded people.

I can honestly say that some people I have trained with in martial arts were borderline psychotic. Truly one plank short, yet at the same time utterly real and ironically inspirational ( at times ) talking reverentially of their personal mission. They would open your head up and then congratulate you for your  blood let and fortitude.   

I remember a night at St Thoma's Hospital in 1980 getting stitched up after a training session with one of the legendary MMA masters of the time in the UK. (way before the MMA was coined)  This same master claimed in a article that he never hurt anyone he taught!!  But, I learned something valuable from him, I learned to really get hit and to train hard to survive in his club. I won his school title and went on to fight in the then PKA, (Professional karate Association) However, that's just a story of a young guy who while seeking out Iron John stumbled into Mad Steve.

But ring fighting no matter what kind, is rule limited and never can substitute spontaneous street violence. No matter what competitive thing I did I always was left empty, vulnerable to random events. Its no good being cool in the ring I thought and yet not be stable enough to deal with the spontaneous acts of aggression.

Getting to the heart of why we want to train in martial arts is an essential element of training, if most people knew what subconsciously motivated them then they may well learn to give up negative habits enjoy the art just for arts sake and maybe their art will serve them well in a real situation.

In relation to  the Internal arts ( so called soft! arts practice): there are indeed certain fringe benefits to be gained form the pursuit of for example Qi Gong or Tai Chi practice. These being heightened body awareness, a capacity to identify internal weaknesses in body structure and recognition of habituated  levels of stress ( which subconsciously undermine personal practice, and life in general). By addressing these two areas one can heal injuries, reverse habitual patterns of tension and relieve mental stress. This is achieved using progressive relaxation which can be experientially conditioned into your forms etc.

The Internal arts are increasingly becoming the arts of choice for external martial artists whose body's and careers are threatened through an unscientific use of the body.  The internal martial art traditions when implemented will ensure that you can practice your art into old age and retain martial skill and excellent health.

I guess what I am trying to convey here is the necessity to self reflect and to explore what makes each of us tick. This may mean facing up to our self limiting attitudes, moving forward we can make new choices that help us to evolve as a martial artist and a human being. 

There are two sides to martial arts teachers and many shades in between. One aspect of teaching is becoming powerful and strong so as to dominate your environment. Many neurotics are attracted to the big tough macho guy martial arts instructor. He/ she becomes the facade to hide behind and typically people of this type love to talk of past glories and put faith in image, rhetoric and so forth. They may even send there students to intimidate or bully others. I have come across these people so many times over the years. They say that water finds its own level, these instructors fulfill an unconscious function to the doting student as the dominating father, protector, Savior etc. 

At the other end of the spectrum there are  skillful teachers who teach appropriately to the students real level and ability. It is possible to meet an instructor who has done his research, training and has real skill, these skills are not being limited to martial techniques. The real benefits of progressive long term training are mental strength, emotional stability, character development and importantly to learn how to self generate your practice. This means you can embody your own aspiration and develop personal discipline. A good teacher will help you to challenge your perceptions as well as your body.

How you practice determines what you become. Who you train with determines your access to a skill base. It is good to think about how skill is developed. It is done slowly and progressively. There are no quick methods in learning any martial art. Those that promise the world generally leave to feeling like you have been betrayed. But if you are honest with yourself you can get past the self betrayal that attracts you to hide behind styles, methods and businessmen martial art schools.

Teachers worth learning from are unlikely to be at the end of your street. You may need to seek out good teachers. You may need to research and be willing to travel. Good luck, and to young aspiring martial artists, may you find iron john instead of some other guy. ciao crc

In a quite amazing about turn, Kathy has turned limitation into success.

I met Kathy when she came for a private consultation in the hope that she could gain some relief from the chronic knee problems that were now threatening an early end to her wrestling career.

Due to the severity of her knee problems it has not been plain sailing. Kathy had clear problems with sinking her weight through her pelvis, hips and legs, resulting in severe pain when she lets go of compensatory tension. She has unconsciously learned to offset the knee problems by limiting her range of motion and using her upper body strength to pull off her technique, however the knee problems obviously remain.

For both myself and Kathy, working together on her knee problem through Internal Arts-Qi Gong practice has been problematic due to an operation she had called a Lateral Release Operation where the Ilio-tibial tract is partially is cut in an attempt to re track the Patella.

Experiential knowledge of whole body exercise and integrative exercise could negate the need for such surgery ( I believe that this type of surgery has been discontinued ) It is my opinion that this surgery compounded the problem she initially presented prior to surgery.

Underpinning all physical problems are the phycho-emotional issues that surface when you are faced at giving up your sport. These need to be addressed in some way so that a new pattern of feeling and moving within yourself is established.

We experimented with various Qi Gong movements but getting her weight to ground produced a lot of pain. We however found that standing meditations were the most rewarding for Kathy, as much for  relaxation and from the standpoint of emotional calming and strengthening.

Is the world about to be running on empty?

Anyone who has researched the "Peak Oil' phenomenon will know that the scenario we are all in right now was predicted way back in the 1956 by the oil expert M.King Hubbard. At that time he predicted the decline in US oil production which was immediately ridiculed by that special type of expert who in childlike fashion exclaims,  'No its Not  ". Furthermore, Hubbard predicted a global decline in the 1970's and his prediction was only postponed due to the 1970"s  Opec price wars that slowed world production at that time.

Peak oil is intrinsically linked to peak consumerism, peak binge drinking, peak drug taking, peak narcissism, peak arms trading, peak war mongering and to top them all peak unawareness and peak distraction.

What has this peak oil phenomenon have to do with you or me?  Well, think for one moment about a collapse in world food production and transportation as consequence of oil scarcity with no viable alternative replacement energy source in sight.  Once the circus of abundant resources falters we will all have to reflect on our daily survival and consider what we can do ourselves to maintain our health and strength.

Our body is part of the planet we are exploiting and the body we inhabit will inevitably return to the earth sooner or later. If you ignore your body the way governments and corporations ignore  the environment then you are in a worse position than you may think.

How long do you think it will take for the health system to collapse. Once oil hits $300 a barrel, forget the $200 a barrel the press is talking then the lives of the majority people without substantial wealth could revert to a pre-industrial standard. There will be no middle class.

Forget about posing in your trunks at the gym, and as the for body sculptors out there, the human growth hormone will be too expensive to ship in, you will be too busy growing cabbage and tomato's on your balcony to worry about growing large pecs!

Our lives are run by Corporations with the complete consent of government. Do you think that the people involved in corporations care one jot about your health, your mind and well being. Even if our government wanted to take back some control they can't because they are as much a slave of the debt system as we are.

We cannot change the process that was set in motion since the start of the industrial revolution, but you can control your mind and your body through the practice of mind-body energy arts.   

Much of our attitudes are shaped by a modern convenience mentality, we become fair weather sportsmen or athletes, armchair practitioners, fad exercisers, or worse still voyeurs rather than doers. Taking time to establish some inner peace, for example through Tai Chi practice will keep you incredibly healthy, relaxed and potentially give you mental stability in the crazy times ahead. Your investment to your inner health is worth more than your Sky subscription. Equally, if you develop some internal power and martial skill it may literally save your own bacon when you have to fight off the looters breaking into your house.

Grandmaster Wang has 20 inner door students, but has taught 10,000 plus people in his life time. Master Wang is not well known outside of China. His more famous contemporaries are Chen Zheng Lie and Chen Xiao Wang. Master Wang is a self effacing, calm and generous man who can demonstrate the higher level skills of Tai Chi Chuan. What he clearly can do to an exceptionally high level is Chinna ( locking and seizing skills ) and his push hands skills are extraordinary.

Wang Zhang Hai consistently turns out push hands champions. How so? take a look.

Chris Ray in China with Master Wang 1

We can join a church or follow a religion, but that does not mean we are spiritual. Being a spiritual being means that one at least connects to other human beings at some meaningful level, but first one has to connect to oneself. Thats the tough part.

Beyond the ego structures we create lie intuition and awareness. Unknowing its name, yet knowing its presence, it is the space we seek to reside in during the daily unfolding of our lives. Awareness through movement, breathing, meditation can certainly shift our vision of the world, not because the world has changed but simply because our vision of it has. In that sense we become spiritually, intuitively active, "awake", maybe, as the Buddha's name infers.  Making living your ordinary that little bit extra-ordinary.

Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Ba Gua  and Hsing-I are not spiritual practices in and of themselves, they are presence-based bio-mechanical exercises that upgrade the physical body that can liberate the life force of an individual. The intention of Taoist body arts is, contrary to some popular notions, not to elevate oneself from the earth or transcend it, but to embody (literally) the teachings; to fully feel, taste, smell and accept life in all its shades.

Being spiritually aware arises from the knowledge that everything we experience is temporary and ultimately without meaning (meaning is something we impose upon events); our opinions and attachment to ideas leads to suffering and conflict. The longer we remain rigid and conditioned by our temporary existence the less chance we have of becoming spiritually aware. 

The slow movements of some internal arts can have a calming effect on the observer and the practitioner alike, but appearing calm is different from being calm. Appearances can be very deceptive. I have had people recoil in disbelief at the idea that Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art, because they think in cliches when evaluating slow, graceful movement. Movement done mindfully, however, can be liberating and provide a base from which one can then later learn to cultivate presence and form a connection to others.   

This felt sense of calm can be initiated through a Qi Gong practice, but one must have meditative practices to develop spiritually. Practicing any movement will not move you closer to universal consciousness ; indeed, these Chinese Internal arts were never intended for that purpose.

People practiced Tai Chi and Ba Gua to develop martial skill. Qi Gong was practiced to fulfil a doctor's prescription for healing the sick or was developed by meditators to keep them alert and healthy. People who yearned for spiritual knowledge meditated, studied scripture and sought a life of contemplation.

You can of course practice Qi Gong as a support for your meditative regime, but for those people who need to project a fantasy of pseudo-spirituality onto Qi Gong, the truth is that this is simply not its function.

  One must take care not to project spirituality onto objects, people or so called energy arts (like tai chi). To manifest a spiritual life, one needs a caring attitude for all sentient beings and presupposes a capacity to relax. Qi gong can help achieve this, but true spiritual realisation can only happen by letting go of    conceptual thinking, the cultivation of bodily presence and awareness, meditative discipline and other qualifications but it must be emphasised that this can only arise through a contemplative life, which doesn't mean running away to a cave. True contemplation can take place in a the bustle of any metropolis. 

Published: April 29, 2008

Randi considers the Y.M.C.A. her lifeline, especially the pool. Randi weighs more than  300 pounds and has borderline diabetes, but she controls her blood sugar and keeps her bright outlook on life by swimming every day for about 45 minutes.

Benefits of Exercise - Medicine and Health - Jane Brody - New York Times

After arriving in the city of Zhengzhou, which is located in Henan province, China, I head straight for the Hotel to sleep off the jet lag. Rising again at 6am I prepare to meet Grandmaster Wang Zhang Hai and master Ma Bao Guo for the first of 8 days push hands. training....

Grandmaster Wang is a humble unassuming man, a famous Chen Style Tai Chi Master within China who studied directly under Chen Zhaokui  ( son of Cha Fa Ke) and Feng Zhi Qiang and was the senior classmate of Chen Xiao Wang.

The lesson is conducted by both masters, we get practice with each master in turn as they take us through an accumulative course in Chen style push hands, locking and anti locking.

Today we went through the 8 Kao's or 8 leanings which are basic methods  to bring force and the mind to various points in the body. The goal is to be able to sense and eventually feel
where there is a break in an opponents structure and capitalise on it. The Kao's are in the sequence of knee, hip, elbow, shoulder, back, chest, forearm, circular leaning walk.

So the purpose is to be able to issue force from any part of the body. Grandmaster Wang will be accompanying Master Ma in June 2008 and they will jointly conduct seminars in London sponsored by The Real Studio.

Apologies but the website is not accepting uploads Photos at present I will keep trying so keep posted and you may get to see some locking and anti locking techniques. Stay tuned for Grandmaster Wang's Biography.