Undivided Tai Chi

Tai Chi has only become Tai Chi (or Taiji) quite recently and only in the West. Tai Chi was originally (and still is) Tai Chi Chuan the martial art but since it’s rise in popularity in the USA and the UK a lot of the martial side has been forgotten in favour of the “relaxing”; the yang removed in favour of the yin. Tai Chi Chuan is martial Chi Kung (qigong) and so remove the martial side and you are left with Chi Kung and the Tai Chi form becomes merely a dance with little purpose or reason. Add a basic knowledge of the move back into the form and suddenly it becomes a focused meditation, exchanging waving arms for purposeful motions, mere stepping for thoughtful, well placed movements.

Like many other martial arts Tai Chi Chuan uses the opponents force against them, rather than your own. Many of the applications need little strength but mindful purpose and movement. To learn the applications does not automatically lead the practitioner to fights in Tai Chi Chuan tournaments, though it can if so wished, but will lead to stronger mind, body and spirit and the eventual ability to control your Chi to heal or defend.

LotusLeaf Tai Chi’s “Undivided Tai Chi” Retreats aim to provide students with a starting knowledge of the whole of Tai Chi Chuan. Not just the relaxing and health giving movements of Chi Kung but the intricacies of the form and some basic applications, so that it will provide a step into the vast ocean that is Tai Chi Chuan. Students will learn the wonders of grounding, of making oneself immovable and the differences between strength of body and strength of mind. The Retreats are designed for those who have not realised how wide an art Tai Chi Chuan is, though they may have practiced the forms so some time. We do not pretend that the Retreats will answer all your questions or give you a complete guide, after all that would take years rather than hours, but we do hope to just give you a starting boost.

A final note to ease minds; the martial applications are practiced in a controlled and slow manner so that no harm should to come to anyone. There are no throws shown and most applications can be demonstrated and practiced on stationary opponents.

In 2007 we are running a One Day workshop and a two day Retreat of our Undivided Tai Chi, see the website or dates sheet for further information. Any questions please contact us on:
katie@theseedlingleaf.co.uk or 01594 861871