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    • Join "Beginners Lessons" >
      • Beginners lesson 1: Introduction
      • Beginners Lesson 2:Loose ex1 base mvts
      • Beginners Lesson 3: Loose ex 1 arms
      • Beginners Lesson 4: Open the feet
      • Beginners Lesson 5A: Lessons 1-4 More fluid & Deeper Practice
      • Beginners Lesson 5B: Loose Ex 1 fluid & deeper practice B
      • Beginners Lesson 6A: Preparatory Movement & Raise Hands
      • Beginners Lesson 6B: Loose Ex 2
      • Beginners Lesson 7A: Raise Hands & Close Feet
      • Beginners Lesson 7B: Open feet to transition R ward off part A
      • Beginners Lesson 8: Loose ex 3a & transition L ward off
      • Beginners Lesson 9: Loose ex 3b & L ward off
      • Beginners Lesson 10: Grasp Birds Tail Ward Off a
      • Beginners Lesson 11: Grasp Birds Tail Ward Off b & Single Whip Stand
      • Beginners Lesson 12: Loading Up, Roll-back a & Sngle Whip
      • Beginners Lesson 13: Loose Ex 4 & Roll Back B
      • Beginners Lesson 14: Loose Ex 4 & Push A
      • Beginners Lesson 15: Push B, Push to Single Whip Trans A
      • Beginners Lesson 16: Push to Single Whip Transition B
      • Beginners Lesson 17: Single Whip & Loose ex 5
      • Beginners Lesson 18: Raise Hands
  • MENU - Wee Kee Jin 1 Year Members
    • Stationary Exercises "Introduction to the Taiji Principles (subtitled)" >
      • Stationary Exercises "Open & Close/Up & Down Ex." (subtitled)
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 1 finer points & base movements" (subtitled)
      • "Open Feet & Loose Ex 1 (advanced)"
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 2 with Guided Practice" (subtitled)
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 2 (2010 workshop)
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 3 with Guided Practice" & subtitled video
      • Stationary Ex - "Loosening Exercise no. 4 with Guided Practice (subtitled)"
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 4 (2010 wkshp)"
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening exercise no. 5 with Guided Practice"
    • Form Principles, 1st Set Demo & Guided Practice (subtitled) >
      • Grasp the Sparrow's Tail & Push to Raise Hands & Guided Practice
      • Transferring Weight
      • Form Pt 1 Prep Move to Push Basic Guided
      • The Form "Guided Practice 4 sides - Prep Move to Push"
      • "The Form - Shoulder Stroke to Cross Hands"
      • The Form - "Fair Lady Weaves the Shuttle"
      • The Form - "Fair Lady Weaves the Shuttle to Grasp the Bird's Tail"
      • The Form - "Fair Lady Weaves the Shuttle to Close Feet"
      • The Form - "Experience the Movement in the Set"
      • Advanced Form Instruction - Open the Feet to Push
      • The 2nd Part of the Form - Demonstration
      • The 3rd (a) Part Form - Demonstration
      • The 3rd Part (b) Form Demonstration
    • "Intro to the Taiji Principles" >
      • "Calmness, Stillness, Relaxation & Sinking"
      • "How to Move & Practice"
      • "Issuing the Force"
      • "Experience the Movement & The Taiji Form"
      • "Advanced Push Hands" >
        • "Pairwork - 7 Point Push"
        • "Partner Work - Double-handed Push Hands, Roll-back & Press"
        • "Foundations for Push Hands"
        • "Principles & Important Points, 7 Point Push"
        • "Pairwork: Double-handed Push Hands, Roll-back & Press"
        • "Pairwork - Ward-off, Roll-back, Press & Push"
  • Tai Chi Articles & Videos: Index
    • Tai Chi Articles & Videos: Elderly & Tai Chi, Interview with Master Huang Sheng Shyan >
      • Tai Chi Book Reviews & Recommendations
      • Videos: Wee kee Jin demonstrating Fa jing
      • Videos: Master Huang Sheng Shyan's Fa-Jing Ability
      • Tai Chi Articles: Teaching Tai Chi to the Elderly
      • Tai Chi Articles: Pregnancy & Tai Chi
      • Tai Chi Articles: Tai Chi Posture and Stance
      • Tai Chi Articles: Tai Chi versus Western Exercise
      • Tai Chi Articles: Wang Tsung Yueh on Correct Posture
      • Pair Work
      • Health Benefits
      • Mindfulness in motion - Tai Chi
      • What is "Chi"? Understanding "QiGong" & "Qi"
  • MENU - WKJ Push Hands Workshop 1 Year Members
    • PHW "Introduction" >
      • Huang's Stationary Exercises Practice Part 1
      • Huang's Stat ex Pt 1
      • Huang's Stat Ex Pt 2
      • Loosening Exercises 3, 4 & 5 (advanced points)
      • Huang's Ex pt 2 loose ex 2&3
      • Huang's Stat Exer Pt 3
      • Huang's Loosen Ex 4 & 5 Practice
    • Correct Attitude to Practicing & Training Taiji >
      • Attitude to Learning & Practicing
      • PH & Taiji Classics
      • Relaxation Process in the Taiji Movement
      • Advanced Aspects of Fixed Partner Work
      • Absorb & Shoot the Arrow
      • PH Essentials
    • Don't Shift to Transfer the Weight >
      • Advanced Points in the Form
      • Don't Walk Through the Form
    • Form 1st Section Advanced Points >
      • Taiji Classics & The Form
      • Form Practice: Begin to Stork Cools its Wing
      • Practice 1st Part of Form a
      • Form Practice: Play Guitar to Cross Hands
      • Practice 1st Part of the Form b
    • The Form Pt2 to Wave Hands Like Clouds >
      • Practice Form pt 2 to Fist Under Elbow
      • Practice Form pt2 Fist Under Elbow to Wave Hands
      • Slanting Flying & Demo 2nd Pt Form to Single Whip
      • Practice 2nd pt Form Fist Under Elbow to Single Whip
      • 2nd Form Repulse Monkey to Single Whip
      • Form pt2 Repulse Monkey to Single Whip
      • Practice Form pt2 to Single Whip
      • The Form: Snake Creeps Down to Single Whip
      • Snake Creeps Down to Separation of Left Leg
      • Separate Leg Left to Single Whip
    • Approaching Fixed-Step Partner Work >
      • Partner Work & The Taiji Classics
      • Fixed Single Hand Push Hands Practice
      • Roll-Back Push Hands Exercise
      • Fixed Roll-Back & Press Push Hands
      • Practice Fixed Roll-Back & Press Exercise
      • Double hand body & Roll-Back Push Hands Exercise
      • Divert Lead & Roll-Back Push Hands
      • Roll Back Round Arms PH ex
      • Practice Roll-Back Round Arms & Push
      • Practice Roll-Back, Round Arms & Body Push
      • Sensing & Yielding Push Hands Practice
      • Issuing & Push Hands
      • Issuing Push Hands Practice
      • Release in Sinking Practice
      • Practice Fixed Double-Handed Body Push
      • Step-in Issue Push Hands Practice
      • Folding & Sinking Into the Root
  • MENU - Complete WKJ Wkshp & Push Hands 3 yr members
    • Stationary Exercises "Introduction to the Taiji Principles (subtitled)" >
      • Stationary Exercises "Open & Close/Up & Down Ex." (subtitled)
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 1 finer points & base movements" (subtitled)
      • Huang's Stationary Exercises Practice Part 1
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 2 with Guided Practice" (subtitled)
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 2 (2010 workshop)
      • Huang's Stat ex Pt 1
      • "Open Feet & Loose Ex 1 (advanced)"
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 3 with Guided Practice" & subtitled video
      • Huang's Stat Ex Pt 2
      • Stationary Ex - "Loosening Exercise no. 4 with Guided Practice (subtitled)"
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening Exercise no. 4 (2010 wkshp)"
      • Stationary Exercises - "Loosening exercise no. 5 with Guided Practice"
      • Huang's Stat Exer Pt 3
      • Huang's Loosen Ex 4 & 5 Practice
    • Form Principles, 1st Set Demo & Guided Practice (subtitled) >
      • Advanced Form Instruction - Open the Feet to Push
      • Form Pt 1 Prep Move to Push Basic Guided
      • The Form "Guided Practice 4 sides - Prep Move to Push"
      • Grasp the Sparrow's Tail & Push to Raise Hands & Guided Practice
      • "The Form - Shoulder Stroke to Cross Hands"
      • Form 1st Section Advanced Points
      • Form Practice: Begin to Stork Cools its Wing
      • Practice 1st Part of Form a
      • Form Practice: Play Guitar to Cross Hands
      • Practice 1st Part of the Form b
    • The Form - "Experience the Movement in the Set" >
      • Advanced Form Instruction - Open the Feet to Push
      • Transferring Weight
      • Don't Shift to Transfer the Weight
      • Advanced Points in the Form
      • Don't Walk Through the Form
    • The 2nd Part of the Form - Demonstration >
      • The Form Pt2 to Wave Hands Like Clouds
      • Practice Form pt2 Fist Under Elbow to Wave Hands
      • 2nd Form Cross Hands to Single Whip
      • Practice Form pt 2 to Fist Under Elbow
      • Slanting Flying & Demo 2nd Pt Form to Single Whip
      • Practice 2nd pt Form Fist Under Elbow to Single Whip
      • Form pt2 Repulse Monkey to Single Whip
      • Practice Form pt2 to Single Whip
      • The Form: Snake Creeps Down to Single Whip
      • Snake Creeps Down to Separation of Left Leg
      • Separate Leg Left to Single Whip
      • The Form - "Fair Lady Weaves the Shuttle"
      • The Form - "Fair Lady Weaves the Shuttle to Grasp the Bird's Tail"
    • The 3rd (a) Part Form - Demonstration >
      • The 3rd Part (b) Form Demonstration
      • The Form - "Fair Lady Weaves the Shuttle to Close Feet"
    • "Introduction to the Taiji Principles (subtitled)" >
      • "Calmness, Stillness, Relaxation & Sinking"
      • "How to Move & Practice"
      • "Issuing the Force"
      • "Experience the Movement & The Taiji Form"
      • Correct Attitude to Practicing & Training Taiji
      • Attitude to Learning & Practicing
      • Relaxation Process in the Taiji Movement
      • Absorb & Shoot the Arrow
    • "Foundations for Push Hands" >
      • "Advanced Push Hands"
      • PH & Taiji Classics
      • PH Essentials
    • Approaching Fixed-Step Partner Work >
      • Partner Work & The Taiji Classics
      • Fixed Single Hand Push Hands Practice
      • "Partner Work - Double-handed Push Hands, Roll-back & Press"
      • "Pairwork - 7 Point Push"
      • "Principles & Important Points, 7 Point Push"
      • Practice Fixed Double-Handed Body Push
      • Roll-Back Push Hands Exercise
      • Divert Lead & Roll-Back Push Hands
      • Roll-back Round Arms PH ex
      • Practice Roll-Back Round Arms & Push
      • Practice Roll-Back, Round Arms & Body Push
      • Sensing & Yielding Push Hands Practice
      • Issuing & Push Hands
      • Issuing Push Hands Practice
      • Release in Sinking Practice
      • Step-in Issue Push Hands Practice
      • Folding & Sinking Into the Root
  • PH Essentials
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Explaining "Chi" or "Qi" or "Ki"

A very good explanation of "Chi" or "Qi" and "QiGong" from: Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming

Physical Arts That Cultivate "Chi/ Qi/Ki"

In Waysun Liao's book he made the point that Qigong & Tai Chi were the only physical arts left in the world that focused on, cultivated & sought to move the "Chi" around our bodies as a way to promote health/longevity etc. This (I thought) was a very significant (and very bold) statement given that much of the Chinese culture/way of thought has been based/influenced by this concept of "Chi" (I-Ching, Ying and Yang/Daoism, Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture etc). Given that the amount, balance and quality of "Chi" plays a major role in your mind and body health (not to mention martial arts). How could something so valuable as "Chi" be neglected by other physical arts? My first thought was that he was not objective & just a bit closed-minded & biased towards Qigong & Tai Chi. 

To start cultivating your own "Chi" try my "Relaxed Mind Tai Chi: Beginners Lessons" online course - CLICK HERE.


There other exercise/physical arts that talk about the importance of "Chi/Ki" (like Aikido) but as far as I know they don't focus on cultivating it. There are also other lesser known arts - but you could argue that they were formed as an offshoot of Tai Chi or Qigong so for argument sake we can neglect both of them from this question. So Yoga was the obvious argument against Liaos' assertion that came to my mind. I mean Yoga also has its roots as an ancient art of mind-body health discipline, and to my limited knowledge of Yoga, I know that there are many, many kinds. Some traditional with spiritual objectives, some with just a cosmetic goal (good for getting a "tight butt" I was told), some focusing more on moving, some focused more on breath, relaxation, toning, balance, flexibility, etc. Over the course of several months I casually but determinedly asked people whom I knew who had/have been practicing their chosen forms of Yoga (some for  over 30 years, some for a couple of years, some students, some long-time teachers of Yoga) questions to determine whether they get the same (or at least similar) warm, relaxed, vital feelings of "Chi" flowing through their bodies as we do from Tai Chi - by the end of their Yoga session. The responses were invariably that their feelings of well being were "different". A few of the people I asked are Tai Chi students of mine so they would know exactly the feelings of well-being that I am talking about. Almost everyone talked more about "relaxation" that came as a result of the hard work done stretching and holding postures but not about this warm "flow" of Chi through their bodies, and of course they  don't feel the grounding or "rooting" aspect of Tai Chi  as they are often lying down in Yoga. 

​So, from my small little qualitative research project, I am starting to believe that Waysun Liao may be right in his claim and that Qigong and Tai Chi  maybe the only exercise/physical arts left in human culture that cultivate and move this precious "Chi" within our bodies for health and martial arts purposes.  All the more reason to treat the Tai Chi principles with even more respect like a torch bearer protecting the flame.

To start cultivating your own "Chi" try my "Relaxed Mind Tai Chi: Beginners Lessons" online course - CLICK HERE.

​Lee Chang Tye
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