Tai Chi - Beyond the Form
Discover the internal aspects of Tai Chi
Beyond the FormForm can be defined as slow, integrated movements that energize the body by moving Chi energy through a series of fluid motions. Yang Style, Daoist Style, Wu Style are some more popular forms in the many types practiced by Tai Chi enthusiasts. Correctly practiced ‘form’ is internal with a full sense of the Chi. Movements can vary as long as each movement is enlivened with Chi and contain the seven principles: Relaxation, Concentration, Coordination, Centre, Circle, Balance, and Proportion. Form requires daily dedication to practice and study before the full benefits are fully achieved.
James Milne, a senior student, has been teaching Master Wang’s version of the Yang Form for the past 25 years. During the last five years, James has focused on the flow and control of Chi often missing by those practicing the Tai Chi form. While many students of Tai Chi, practice form faithfully, it is only when they are given 'hands on instruction' about how to control the flow of energy, that their form becomes ‘full’ and internal. Just practicing form, regardless of style, will not enable the student to achieve the internal benefits of Tai Chi. Once form has been memorized, a teacher, who is sensitive to the movement of energy, can guide students to experience the sensations of Chi movement and eventually the control of Chi energy for themselves. To help his students experience this illusive sensation of Chi movement, Master Wang invented the practice of Search Center*. Similar to “Push Hands”, a traditional Chinese competition that demonstrates the Martial Art skill level of each participant, Search Center is a minimal physical activity between two people who take turns generating and receiving Chi. The goals of Search Center are to sense and then match each other’s energy auras while searching for opportunities to uproot and move your partner using Chi. Each person needs to take turns searching and then hiding the center of this Chi aura. Simple Search Center exercises guide students to distinguish between the use of physical energy and Chi contact of the auras in their pushes. * Master Wang became an expert in Push Hands while in Taiwan, winning many competitions before he realized he was using Physical Strength for his success. James Milne has been practicing and teaching Master Wang’s Search Center for the past 25 years. In the past 10 years, he has found students needing more guided practice with this flow of energy than just the exercise created by Master Wang. From the feedback of his students and study of other Tai Chi masters, James has developed a series of additional exercises to help students experience the movement of Chi. These exercises form the body of James’ classes. He then applies these insights to Master Wang’s form, but these same principals can also be applied to any other version of the Tai Chi Form. |
James teaches in Comox during the summer:
Juniper Studio 740 Radford Road Comox, BC V9M 3V8 James teaches during the winter months:
La Manzanilla |
"A Juniper tree has it's roots planted deep in the heart of the earth"
Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh