The role of qigong in the internal martial arts | ||
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Form
Tai chi, bagua
and xingyiquan use forms to practice combat
movements, build strength and gain agility.
The forms are highly intricate, with many different
levels of skill.
Standing
Yiquan (mind fist)/dachengquan
(the great accomplishment) - an offshoot of xingyiquan - does
not use forms.
Instead, it uses static standing qigong
postures in lieu of form.
The difference
Xingyiquan uses form(s) for power
development.
Dachengquan uses standing qigong. See the difference?
Muddled
up?
What should a tai chi school
do?
The answer is somewhat self evident,
isn't it?
Authenticity
Tai chi is not dachengquan.
It uses forms, not standing qigong
postures.
Read The Tai Chi Classics...
There is no mention of standing qigong but a
whole lot of information about
movement e.g.:
Tai chi is like a great river rolling on unceasingly.
(Chang San-feng)
Cross-pollination of ideas and practices
Traditionally, some people studied more than one
martial art.
For example, students of xingyiquan may have practiced bagua as well.
There are some excellent styles of bagua where linear (xingyiquan-style)
fighting sets have been incorporated into an
otherwise non-linear art.
This is not right or wrong... It is more a matter of individual preferences
changing the nature/tone of the
practice. Read Chinese Boxing by Robert Smith
for more examples.
How come so many tai chi people stand?
Clearly, standing qigong proved popular with some
schools of tai chi and
was incorporated into their training.
This said, qigong is still qigong, and not
tai chi.
Sung
People often think that sung means 'to relax'.
Yes, it does, but that is not all it means.
Sung entails being so relaxed that you no
longer actually feel your own body.
How is this possible?
When you pick up a glass of water, do you notice the
muscles working?
To walk, do you struggle,
strain or exert?
The focus is upon the movement itself,
not upon experiencing the physicality of your own
body.
If you can only feel the movement... this is sung.
Sung comes from form, not from standing qigong.
Combat
When fighting, a person must move
swiftly and accurately.
They must
change direction smoothly and efficiently,
deliver power spontaneously and
effectively.
Tai chi is a martial art so most of the
attention needs to be upon expedience in
combat.
This is why form is paramount in tai chi,
not standing
still.
Sitting duck?
Standing in one place advertises your
position: you are literally a 'sitting
duck'.
You need to move spontaneously and freely, without any
preparation or
preamble. Form trains the habit of movement...
Should you stand?
Only you can answer. It depends on what you personally want to do.
Just remember: standing qigong is qigong. It
is not tai chi.
Worth reading
•
Authenticity
•
Biomechanics
•
Fluid
•
Form is movement
•
Free the movement
•
The internal way of moving
•
Neijiaquan
(internal martial arts)
•
Reeling silk
• The role of qigong in a
tai chi
class
Page created
18 April 2005
Last updated
16 June 2023
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