Tai chi chuan Quotes

“Traditional Chinese medicine”

“Neijia”

“Tai chi chuan is the art of softness containing hardness, of a needle concealed in cotton.”

“Wikipedia: Tai chi chuan”

“Wikicommons: Tai chi chuan”

“Although the martial arts are a minor path, we can by means of the lesser glimpse the greater.”

“It is very sad that the elders in the tai chi family have passed. They devoted their lives to the development of tai chi chuan in China and everywhere. To the whole world.”

“There are three levels of skill in pushing hands: non-awareness, awareness after the fact, and awareness before the fact.”

“Too much talk about tai chi chuan is not good. It is much better to spend one's time practicing the form. It is through practicing the form that one actually comes to understand the sayings about tai chi.”

“If we see a solid opportunity and fail to take advantage of it, how can it be said that our art is complete? If we do not practice according to the applications of the principles, we can work forever without developing a superior art.”

“Home movies of Wu Dakui son of Wu Gongyi demonstrating Wu style tai chi chuan pushing hands, sword form and throws”

“on three levels of development: 1) Practice in order to learn what tai chi is and make sure all the movements and ideas are clear. 2) Reach the point where one understands tai chi in one's practice. 3) Use it freely and experience it at a mysterious and wonderful level.”

“We have to pay attention to the relaxation of our chest. ...If our chest is stiff, it will be filled up with our qì. Once our chest is full of qì it cannot coordinate the movements of the whole body, and then we will certainly be beaten in any contest.”

“The meaning of the tai chi symbol lies in the mutual production of yin and yang, the complementary exchange of hard and soft, the thousand changes and the ten thousand transformations. This is the basis for tai chi chuan. Push hands is the embodiment of the tai chi symbol.”

“The painbody is to some extent mitigated by the widespread practice of t'ai chi... Every day in the streets and city parks, millions practice this movement meditation that stills the mind. This makes a considerable difference to the collective energy field and goes some way toward diminishing the painbody by reducing thinking and generating Presence.”

“Who would have thought that the art of the Chens of Henan
Would be given to the world by the Yangs of Hebei?”

“Whenever one moves, the entire body is light and nimble, and each part of the body is connected together like a string of pearls. Qì resonates like a drum, the spirit internalizes.
...
If there is above, there must be below, if there is a front, there must be a back, if there is a left, there must be a right. As intent rises it also descends.”

“Two hands rise, separating into yīn and yáng
Left and right like a yīn and yáng fish

Movement springs from extreme stillness, opening then closing
Relax the shoulders and sit on the leg as if embracing the moon

Two hands form into yīn and yáng palms
Two palms crossed over for locking joints

Wait for opportunity before moving, watch for changes
Create opportunity by following the opponent's force”

“Between the first and second level, the requirement is to get rid of the stiffness in the body. Only when one has completely gotten rid of that tension does one pass through to the second skill level. Passing through to the third skill level is the time a person passes through the "tai chi gate". Without going through this process a person could never go through the gate because it is not easy. That is why you have ten thousand people and maybe one or two are really good.”

“Wu Gongyi had great technique, body art, and internal jìn (power). He had many, many techniques. Ma developed yì (intent) and qì (breath) force, not moving outside, not having many techniques but having strong zhōng dìng (central equilibrium).”