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The Art of War
The 1988 Shambhala version of
The Art of
War has a superb introduction by Thomas Cleary.
He explained how The Art of War was an attempt to employ Taoist
principles in real life
combat.
Cleary mentioned how tai chi ("absolute
boxing") sought to incorporate the very same insights...
Related reading
Miyamoto Musashi's excellent The Book of Five Rings has nothing directly to do with
tai chi but is a very relevant read, as is Eugen Herrigel's Zen in the Art of
Archery. 36 Strategies is a must.
Styles
It is important not to get too hung up on tai chi styles. The Tai Chi Classics
were written by Chang San-feng, Wang Tsung-yueh and Wu Yu-hsiang.
Wu created Hao style, but there are no known styles attributed to Chang or Wang.
How come?
Styles, school and
instructors...
When seeking tai chi instruction, make sure that you look for the right
things. Nationality, popularity or fame are not important.
You need an instructor who can competently perform and teach all aspects the
art.
You will begin to feel that your tai chi practice
goes beyond simple form training, and you will be able to perceive things as
energetic combinations, rather than as static physical objects. Your
training partners will appear to your senses as dynamic patterns of energy,
rather than as clumsy physical bodies. When this happens, you can skilfully
switch strategy and tactics in any situation.
(Yang Jwing-Ming)
3 considerations
Keep these three facts in mind:
• Tai chi arose from Taoism
• The training follows The Tai Chi Classics
• Tai chi is a
martial art
It stands to reason that any bona fide instructor
must possess expert knowledge and skill
in all three areas.
Lineage
People often name drop or take credit by association. In the Taoist
tradition this is regarded as being embarrassing. If you know something, you
can do it yourself. If you cannot do it, you do not know it.
A real instructor offers a full repertoire of skills. They
understand all aspects of the training and can easily and readily illustrate
points from Taoism, The Tai Chi Classics and martial skill.
Value substance over style
Authentic tai chi is not just random slow motion exercise or fragments of
the art. It is a classical martial art with functional, realistic,
reproducible martial skills.
There are tangible, concrete fitness benefits.
Ability is everything in tai chi
Remember this - martial arts are a meritocracy. Ability is everything. Not
knowledge. Not time served. Ability. If you can do it, then you can advance.
5
missing pieces
Many tai chi classes lack 5 important elements necessary in order for
tai chi to function as a martial art:
Neigong (whole-body strength)
Martial concepts (what combat constitutes and how to do it effectively)
Chin na (the art of seizing)
Shuai jiao (take downs)
Jing (whole-body power)
Without these 5 components, tai chi is lacking something and may not work in
combat.
Tai chi for health
Tai chi for health is not authentic tai chi; it is tai chi without the
martial content. This is not a bad thing in itself; after all, not everyone
is fit enough to learn a martial art or necessarily wants to.
The main consideration to keep in mind is that the teaching does not deviate
too far from the original purpose of the art.
Watering down the art contains a risk: many vital methods, insights and
skills can easily be lost.
Tai chi without the Tao
In the 1950's the People's Republic commissioned the creation of a
simplified tai chi exercise sequence devoid of martial and unpolitical
Taoist influences.
This was the 24 step (it looks like a tai chi/yoga hybrid. Later,
performance art tai chi emerged; a series of entertaining forms devoid of
martial intent and purpose.
In the 1980's shibashi qigong tai chi became the latest example of empty
practice.
Newcastle Tai Chi
We explore an advanced
version of
the old/classical
Yang style tai chi.
When a master of tai chi
faces an opponent he brings to the confrontation thousands of years of
philosophical, martial and practical thought. He has lived most of his life
according to the principles established centuries ago and in the process, he
has strengthened his body and probably earned a long and healthy life.
(Howard Reid)
Page created 21 May
1996
Last updated
16 June 2023
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