Wude

 

                                                 “Martial Virtue and Heroism”

In practicing any Martial Art, the aim is NOT to use the Art as an aggressor, but rather as a means to counter those who are aggressive. As such, the Chinese word/term “wude” embodies the basic characteristics of all Martial Arts.

Wude is a Mandarin Chinese word which combines four,(4) aspects of  the “True Virtue” of the Martial Arts. Without understanding and practicing all four, a martial arts student is said to be lost. Thus, it is very important for students of the martial arts, including T’ai Chi Ch’uan, understand and use “wude” as a means of learning and in every day life. The principles are as follows..,

Gon - Everyday, without neglect, to always keep training.

Dan – Always be brave and remain calm in order to make the correct decision.

Jie – Judge yourself without conceit and do not show moves thoughtlessly.

Yi – To act without hesitation, always do what is right.

These principles should not only be followed and practiced in your martial arts studies, but also throughout life.

Now, let’s look at some Training and Techniques now that you understand what is expected in your learning, shall we?

The basic, or Core, training of T’ai Chi Ch’uan involves two features. The Taolu and the Tuishou.

 

Taolu, these are the “Solo” forms of studying which involves the use of slow sequences of movements emphasizing a straight spine, a natural and fluid range of motion and abdominal breathing.

Tuishou, this feature involves different styles of the “Pushing Hands” techniques for which T’ai Chi Ch’uan is known for and these practices involve using the Solo exercises with a partner and the use of T’ai Chi Ch’uan in a more practical manner.

Another form of the T’ai Chi Martial Arts form is what is known as Qigong. This is the style most people are familiar with as this is the practice of using the style and art of T’ai Chi Ch’uan but not as a defensive art, but rather as an exercise routine. Qigong is used primarily as a health and meditation practice and not as a martial art.

http://learning-tai-chi.info/24-posture-short-form-tai-chi.html

The “Solo” forms have two styles, Empty Hand and Weapons. For now we will only deal with the empty hand practice. The main thing to concentrate on in practicing your solo form is your center of gravity.  In preforming the solo routines, through repeated practice, a student will learn to retain posture, maintain flexibility in their joints and encourage circulation through out the body. If a student is off balance they are more likely to practice the basic moves improperly and thus not be learning at all. Above all else, if one is learning T’ai Chi Ch’uan and not concentrating, or they are not committed to the art as it is meant to be studied, then all is for naught. This is a serious and skilled martial art and as such, it should not be taken lightly.

In my next posting, we will discuss, for a brief period, Qigong and breathing techniques but then we will look at the “Push Hand” partnered study and exercises a bit more in depth.                                                                                                     J. Parker

                                                       “What it all Means.”

                                                                  J. Parker

As we have been looking back on who it was that created this style of Martial Arts, perhaps it is time to take a look at, what it all means. There are “MANY” Masters and although the roots of T’ai Chi Ch’uan go back centuries, the principles remain the same.

We know that T’ai Chi in Chinese philosophy means “Supreme Ultimate” and when combined with the word Ch’uan, the words mean Supreme Ultimate Fist.  The practice of T’ai Chi Ch’uan embodies two central cores in the human body.  Wuji, two Chinese characters meaning “boundless and infinite” and the Yin and Yang, “receptive and active”.  In other words, T’ai Chi Ch’uan can be interpreted as an “Inner” harmony used in conjunction with the Fist. 

There are 5 different styles of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, all of which are named after the family from which it originated. Starting from oldest to the most recent they are as follows,

Chen style, from Master Chen Wangtin (approx. 1580-1660)

Yang style, from Master Yang Lu-ch’an (1799-1872)

Wu (Hao) style, from Master Wu Yu-hsiang (1812-1880)

Wu style, from Master Wu Ch’uan-yu (1834-1902), followed by his son Chien-ch’uan (1870-1942)

Sun style, from Master Sun Lu-t’ang (1861-1932)

All the above styles adhere to the T’ai Chi Ch’uan Martial Arts, however, the only difference in the 5 styles is their approach to training.  As T’ai Chi has now become a Global form of Martial Arts, there are new styles and hybrids emerging with every passing day however, the styles listed above are considered the “Traditional” groups when practicing T’ai Chi Ch’uan.

In T’ai Chi Ch’uan, there are 3 basic aspects when practicing this art.

Health: Good physical fitness is an essential and important aspect in studying this art. T’ai Chi Ch’uan requires a good body core in order to relieve the stress on the body and mind when practicing the art. The same is said with “calmness” when practicing the routines.

Meditation: As T’ai Chi Ch’uan is considered a “Soft” form of the martial Arts, in that the goal is NOT to use physical force, but rather use an “inner” balance or flow when practicing the form, an stress free mind is optimal when doing the routines. A strong mind and inner peace are needed when studying.

Martial Art: The study of T’ai Chi Ch’uan is NOT the use of “Attacking” force but rather it involves the use of outside force as an advantage. It is the study of “Yielding” to an incoming attack and countering this attack in a way , as such, to “counter” this attack by changing the attacks force.

Think Bird and Snake. Study your opponent’s moves and intentions and then use your mind and body to counter their movements in such a way as to make their attack obsolete and futile. 

In the 3 basics mentioned above, there are Five (5) Elements involved in the study and training of T’ai Chi Ch’uan:

Taolu- Solo hand and weapons forms.

Neigong and Qigong- Meditation, breathing combined with movement and awareness exercises.

Tuishou- Response drills.

Sanshou- Self defense applications.

Although T’ai Chi Ch’uan may be known for its Slow, Rhythmic movements, some styles do incorporate faster exercises. Yang, Chen and Wu styles for example are among those which require a faster pace at times..

So, with this background on what all is involved in T’ai Chi Ch’uan and it’s disciplines, we will next begin to look at some of the techniques and training. But, you will have to tune in, same channel, different day, for that!!