Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi Chuan means 'supreme ultimate fist' and refers to a set of gentle exercises known for their flowing and fluid movements. Gentle flowing movements are combined with deep breathing exercises in order to cultivate the inner energy of the body.

For centuries Taoist scholars doctors and herbalists have investigated the inner workings of the mind and body. Written texts which are still in use today such as the Nei Ching or Yellow Emperor's Classic have been traced back to the Xia dynasty of 2600 BC. Many Taoist works on subjects such as philosophy, science, medicine, alchemy, astronomy, and agriculture, have survived into modern times. Over time they evolved the Taoist philosophy of yin and yang , but above all they discovered that each individual's mental and physical health depends upon their internal energy or life force known as the Chi. All modern forms of Chinese Medicine such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, Herbalism, Taoist Yoga or Chi Gung, and T'ai Chi Ch'uan are derived from these earlier studies.

The major emphasis in Chinese medicine is on prevention rather than cure. Exercise, lifestyle and dietary habits are of primary consideration. From early times Taoist doctors found that natural foods and deep breathing exercises could help the body to store energy rather than depleting it. Rather than treating disease after it had struck they decided to encourage people to take a more responsible and active role in their own well being. They developed T'ai Chi as a popular way for people of any age or level of ability to improve their health and to aid their recovery from illness from the roots by cultivating the Chi.

More recently, as Chinese people have emigrated to other countries, T'ai Chi has become popular throughout the world as an antidote to the increasing pressures of the urban environment. Sometimes called moving meditation the gentle movements can be practiced by young and old alike as there is not the wear and tear on the body associated with more aggressive forms of exercise. Deep breathing and stretching exercises are also incorporated to help rid the body of toxins, but the most obvious benefit to most people is the deep feeling of relaxation which accompanies the practice.

T'ai Chi has become the living embodiment of a philosophical tradition which has been directly transmitted from teacher to student often without recourse to written or oral teaching. Students are encouraged to observe the laws of nature at work spontaneously through their own experience rather than copy something which they have been told or read in a book. Taoist teachers often integrate their studies with other related disciplines such as K'ai Men or Taoist Yoga, Wu Shu or self defence practice, Chang Ming or natural dietary therapy, and the many and various aspects of Taoist medicine and meditation techniques.

T'ai Chi exercises can be practiced anywhere as there is no need for any elaborate equipment, all that is needed is some space, some clean air, and a little time each day. With dedicated practice and an open minded attitude it is possible for anyone to feel the flow of their internal energy and thereby take the first steps along the road towards a lifestyle which integrates the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of their being.

Lee Style

China is such a large country that the many climatic and geographical regions have each generated their own particular T'ai Chi styles. For example in the North where it is mountainous people would ride horses and there was more emphasis on the stances and leg movements whereas in the South where transport was by river the posture and arm movements predominated. Different climatic regions also tend to produce different kinds of diseases and so the Taoist doctors would tailor their exercises to suit the environment. In order to explore the widest possible area the early Taoists decided that each should specialise in a particular aspect of the field and so T'ai Chi styles have also evolved along different paths each reflecting the interests or abilities of a particular teacher.

The modern T'ai Chi styles can be roughly divided into five main groups or families: Yang, Wu, Lee, Chen and Sun. There are also many offshoots and inter-related disciplines such as Chi Gung and Tao Yin or breathing exercises. Some of the styles which have become popular in China in recent years are quite different from those which have been exported to other countries prior to the communist era. Of course every style claims that it is the oldest original style from which all the others are derived. Unfortunately, foreign invasions and two world wars have seen very little preserved in the way of documented records for any accurate chronology to be compiled. Nevertheless the many volumes of Taoist writings which have survived testify to the fact that internal forms of exercise have been popular in China for many thousands of years.

The Lee style was one of the first to come to the West, it was brought to Britain by a Taoist practitioner called Chan Lee who had fled the war torn China of the 1930's. He was the last of his line and so he adopted a young orphan boy called Chee Soo as his 'nephew' as was the custom in order to preserve the art. They opened a T'ai Chi school in Holborn, London which ran for five years until the war in 1939. Chee Soo joined up and fought as a tank commander in Burma where he was captured and imprisoned by the Japanese, and later escaped spending six months in the jungle before finally reaching allied lines. On his return he resumed his Taoist studies and after the death of Chan Lee in the 1950's he became the President of the International Taoist Society. Over his sixty years as a Taoist teacher Chee Soo devoted himself to the promotion of T'ai Chi and Taoist philosophy. For many years he was the only Taoist Grand Master in the West to be recognised by the Masters in Beijing.

The main emphasis in Lee style T'ai Chi is on relaxation and health. The student is taken through a process with nine distinct stages, each level can only be accessed once the previous one has been completed. The class begins with some warming up exercises followed by deep breathing which starts to activate the internal energy. You then learn some movements from the T'ai Chi Dance which is a flowing form designed to stimulate the energy at the start of the session. This may be followed by a variety of exercises which help you to learn how to apply the energy and Taoist principles to everyday situations. One such exercise called sticky hands encourages people to interact with each other in a non aggressive way even when under pressure. As you develop you will also learn the T'ai Chi Form which is a more concentrated and meditative series of flowing movements. If the exercises are done without any physical tension the flow of Chi is stimulated through the energy meridians and it can be stored in the Tan Tien which is a region in the lower abdomen just below the navel. With more practice this store of energy overflows and starts to work its way through the whole body right down to the bones. This process helps to regenerate any damaged tissues in the body and so it can aid recovery from disease and slow down the aging process.

Of course immortality and freedom from disease and worry sound like extravagant claims to westerners who have had to be content with drugs or surgery as their only options, but in reality most Taoist philosophy is based on practicality and common sense, and after only a few classes and some regular practice most people can feel the benefits for themselves. After many years of practice this store of energy can even be used for self defence or to encourage the healing process in others.

The Lee style comprises of 140 movements broken down into 42 sequences named as follows: -

Apart from basic Tai Chi, the Lee style encompasses a number of related disciplines: -

K'ai Men

K'ai Men is usually translated as 'open door' and refers to a collection of Taoist Yoga exercises. A soft and gentle system, the body moves continually at a measured pace and is not put under controlled stress. Each exercise consists of a sequence performed with conscious controlled breathing, and an extension, where the body is gently encouraged to soften and open a little further.

The benefits of K'ai Men include improved general health and physical fitness, greater stamina, increased flexibility and suppleness. In addition it softens the muscle tissues and helps clear the meridians, the channels that carry Ch'i energy throughout the body.

Tao Yin

Tao Yin (Secret Island), are a selection of therapeutic breathing exercises designed to benefit specific ailments. Some of the exercises stimulate and some sedate; others help activate and cultivate Ch'i (internal) and Li (external) energies.

Records of Tao Yin exist from as early as the sixth century B.C. and they are a form of Chi Kung.

Like K'ai Men, Tao Yin are generally taught in conjunction with T'ai Chi. Traditionally classes open with 'Four Directional Breathing' and close with 'Five Lotus Blossoms', both examples of Tao Yin exercise.

The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal medicine, an ancient text of 722-721 BC which is known in Chinese as the Huangdi Neijing, contains the following passage:

"People live in the centre [of China, along the Yellow River]. The area is damp, therefore suffering from tiredness, depression and hot and cold illness [similar to today's ME - myalgic encephalomyelitis or post-viral syndrome] is common. The curing method is Tao Yin and Angio [Stretching]."

Feng Shou

In addition to its health giving benefits T'ai Chi also has martial applications. In the Lee Family System this is expressed in the arts of Feng Shou and Chi Shu. Feng Shou (Hand of the Wind) Kung Fu is an all-round self-defense system and is an internal of 'soft' martial art. The principles of relaxation, movement and balance developed in T'ai Chi are used to overcome force with gentleness. The opponent's strength is redirected to work against them. Feng Shou is suitable for women and men of all ages.

Feng Shou features evasions, ward-offs, locking and grappling techniques. Every ward-off has the potential to become a strike or kick. Initial practice is performed slowly to ensure safety in training. Speed is developed through the practice of form; sensitivity developes through partner practice. A practical, effective and adaptable self-defense system, Feng Shou Kung Fu helps develop confidence and control.

Chi Shu

Chi Shu is the Lee Family throwing art, and is often referred to as the 'breath' or 'energy' art. In Feng Shou every ward-off becomes a strike; in Chi Shu every strike becomes a throw. Like Feng Shou, Chi Shu redirects an opponent's force, throwing them to the ground and immobilising them with joint locks. Students also learn to roll and fall safely.

Chi Shu combines a devastating self-defence system with the softness, sensitivity and balance that epitomises the Lee family System. Practioners develop spirit and agility.