>>In Chinese tradition, a "Xuesheng" is a student - someone who attends training casually and may come and go as they please. They are not bound by obligation beyond their personal interest. A "Tudi", however, is something more. A Tudi is a Disciple - someonewho has been personally selected and accepted by a Shifu, or Master. This acceptance marks the beginning of a lifelong relationship built on mutual trust, respect and responsibility. By becoming a Disciple, you are no longer simply learning a martial art - you are now a living representative of the Chen family's Taijiquan lineage. << *From "entering the Door" I, Barend de Vlaming, am deeply humbled and honored to have received this gift.

Wuji is central to Daoist teachings. Wuji is the great emptiness that contains nothing, yet everything. Every choice, every decision, every consequence. Wuji is perhaps described as stillness, harmony, and tranquility. When you disturb Wuji, you create chaos, and imbalance (imagine pouring a shot of cream into a cup of coffee to visualize the disturbance). Your life, and the choices you make, create the disturbance in the void. Ying and Yang are the forces to return to it's base value of peace and tranquility. This is called Taichi (Taiji). Taichiquan is a physical expression of Taiji. It's motions are calm, balanced, controlled. It's intent is focused, smooth, relaxed. Of course, the Dao also says that when you try to define it, you're wrong. So there's that.

One's approach/methods towards martial art training will have a direct effect on interactions in daily life. Martial art is not about winning or beating or controlling an opponent. It is about learning how to control oneself in all situations one is faced with. Martial art training is not about competing with others. It is about learning how to cooperate with others. Martial art is not sport. It is not about the superficial short lived winning of tournaments or trophies or titles or hierarchy of rank. It is about cultivating that which can not be seen regarding outer physical appearances. Martial art is not about forcefully throwing someone to the ground or hurting others through conflict, aggression, or resistance. Martial art is not about being faster and stronger than another but rather how to cultivate sensitivity to follow and yield to it. To avoid at all cost manifesting this type of situation. Martial art is about resolving confict peacefully. Understanding and applying kindness always. Not meaning harm to another who means harm to you. Violence will never lead to peace. If your methods of training involve hurt or be hurt mentality, you are missing the big picture, you are stuck in an endless downhill abyss. If your martial art training includes methods to toughen your body through painful solo and partner exercises, over the long term you are causing great damage that may be irreversible with aging. Body toughening is not necessary to develop real skills in martial arts. Only for those who believe resistance is the key to success. If this sounds at all like what you feel from your martail art training, you need to change course. Martial arts teach us to avoid conflict at all cost. To yield to external force but not collapse to it. To be in harmony with outside foce applied to our body. This involves the actual training methods. Learning how to use softness to overcome hardness. This last point needs to transfer and be applied in ones daily life - using softness to overcome hardness.

As a contemplative practice, tai chi can help increase concentration and reduce stress. I have had students improve their COPD symptoms from doing simple qigong exercises, and others with PTSD and anxiety disorders find relief from tai chi and qigong. And I have worked with people with Parkinson's Disease, and they have found it beneficial. Tai chi won't help with weight loss, and it is not a substitute either for cardio exercise or resistance/weight training.

In olden times the new Taichi student could spend hours just standing (postural alignment) before anything else! If you truly want to learn TaiChi, fundamentals are key. Posture, movement, rotation, and relaxation. Without them, you after just moving. #Taiji #Taichi #taichiquan #hiddendragontaichi