Year of the OX, Obama, Tai Ji Quan in Schools

Happy New Year of the Ox!

The Ox ( 牛 ) is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Ox is denoted by the earthly branch character 丑. In the Vietnamese zodiac, the water buffalo occupies the position of the ox.

In Chinese class today we learned the word president and Obama

总统， or 大总统 (zong3 tong3, da4 zong3 tong3)


Obama 的中文名字是什么？就是奥巴马！

We also talked a bit about the idea of "Incorporating Mind/Body Tools into Public Education to Save Trillions in Future Health Costs."
Looking forward to more Tai Ji at New Roads! Zai Jian!

The Ox Walk

In Japan, Buddhist monks do what's called the "Ox Walk" in busy city centres. They will walk deliberately slowly and ring a bell each time they take a step. If someone gives them alms, they will stop and recite a prayer for them, then continue their "Ox Walk". It's meant to be a reminder to the people to slow down and not rush, but live in the moment. Here's a video of a Tokyo monk Ox Walking in the CDB.

Source:
http://ecumenicalbuddhism.blogspot.com/

These Seniors are AMAZING! And you thought my class was tough, New Roads 9th & 10th graders might be able to keep up with these veteran tai ji students!

Pushing Hands - Tui Shuo

Nice display of a choregraphed push hands set

Pushing hands, (推手, Wade-Giles t'ui1 shou3, pinyin tuī shǒu), or sticky hands, is a name for two-person training routines practiced in internal Chinese martial arts such as Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan), Liuhebafa, and Yiquan.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Overview
* 2 History
* 3 Training pushing hands
* 4 See also
* 5 External links

[edit] Overview

Pushing hands is said to be the gateway for students to understand experientially the martial aspects of the Internal martial arts (內家 nèi jiā); leverage, reflex, sensitivity, timing, coordination and positioning. Pushing hands works to undo a person's natural instinct to resist force with force, teaching the body to yield to force and redirect it. Health oriented tai chi schools may still teach push hands because there is a limit to the amount of physical conditioning available from performing solo form routines, so pushing hands adds the weight of the training partner's pushes onto the legs of the student. Training with a partner also allows a student to develop ting jing (listening power), the sensitivity to feel the direction and strength of a partner's force and thereby avoid or redirect it. In that sense pushing hands is a contract between students to train the defensive and offensive movement principles of their martial art; learning to generate, coordinate and deliver power to another and also how to effectively neutralize incoming forces in a relatively safe environment.

[edit] History

Pushing hands is said by Tai Chi's Chen family to have been created by Chen Wangting (1600-1680) the founder of the Chen style Tai Chi Chuan and was originally known as hitting hands (da shou) or crossing hands (ke shou). Chen was said to have devised pushing hands methods for both empty hands and armed with spears. Other Tai Chi schools attribute the invention of pushing hands to Zhang Sanfeng. Okinawan karate has developed their own version of pushing hands, called kakie. It is used to develop close quarter combat skills.

In recent history push hands has become a part of modern martial arts tournaments, especially those devoted to internal arts. Within this context, pushing hands is not an exercise to develop skill but a competitive sport.[1]

[edit] Training pushing hands

In Tai Chi Chüan, pushing hands is used to acquaint students with the principles of what are known as the "Eight Gates and Five Steps," eight different leverage applications in the arms accompanied by footwork in a range of motion which proponents say will eventually allow students to defend themselves calmly and competently if attacked. Also known as the "13 original movements of tai chi", a posture expressing each one of these aspects is found in all tai chi styles. Training and push hands competitions generally involve contact but no strikes.
The practitioner on the right demonstrates how péng can be used to resist a push

The Eight Gates (八門 bā mén):

P'eng (掤, py péng) - An upward circular movement, forward or backward, yielding or offsetting usually with the arms to disrupt the opponent's centre of gravity, often translated as "Ward Off." Peng is also described more subtly as an energetic quality that should be present in every taiji movement as a part of the concept of "song" (鬆) -- or relaxation -- providing alertness, the strength to maintain structure when pressed, and absence of muscular tension in the body.
Lü (履, lǜ) - A sideways, circular yielding movement, often translated as "Roll Back."
Chi (擠 (simpl.: 挤), jǐ) - A pressing or squeezing offset in a direction away from the body, usually done with the back of the hand or outside edge of the forearm. Chi is often translated as "Press."
An (按, àn) - To offset with the hand, usually a slight lift up with the fingers then a push down with the palm, which can appear as a strike if done quickly. Often translated as "Push."
Tsai (採, cǎi) - To pluck or pick downwards with the hand, especially with the fingertips or palm. The word tsai is part of the compound that means to gather, collect or pluck a tea leaf from a branch (採茶, cǎi chá). Often translated "Pluck" or "Grasp."
Lieh (挒, liè) - Lieh means to separate, to twist or to offset with a spiral motion, often while making immobile another part of the body (such as a hand or leg) to split an opponent's body thereby destroying posture and balance. Lieh is often translated as "Split."
Chou (肘, zhǒu) - To strike or push with the elbow. Usually translated as "Elbow Strike" or "Elbow Stroke" or just plain "Elbow."
K'ao (靠, kào) - To strike or push with the shoulder or upper back. The word k'ao implies leaning or inclining. Usually translated "Shoulder Strike," "Shoulder Stroke" or "Shoulder."

The Five Steps (五步 wǔ bù):

Chin Pu (進步 jìn bù) - Forward step.
T'ui Pu (退步 tùi bù) - Backward step.
Tsuo Ku (左顧 (simpl.: 左顾) zǔo gù) - Left step.
You P'an (右盼 yòu pàn) - Right step.
Chung Ting (中定 zhōng dìng) - The central position, balance, equilibrium. Not just the physical center, but a condition which is expected to be present at all times in the first four steps as well, associated with the concept of rooting (the stability said to be achieved by a correctly aligned, thoroughly relaxed body as a result of correct Tai Chi training). Chung ting can also be compared to the Taoist concept of moderation or the Buddhist "middle way" as discouraging extremes of behavior, or in this case, movement. An extreme of movement, usually characterized as leaning to one side or the other, destroys a practitioner's balance and enables defeat.

The Eight Gates are said to be associated with the eight trigrams (Bagua 八卦 bā guà) of the I Ching, the Five Steps with the five elements of the Taoist Wu Hsing (五行 wǔ xíng); metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. Collectively they are sometimes referred to as the "Thirteen Postures of T'ai Chi Chuan" and their combinations and permutations are cataloged more or less exhaustively in the different styles of solo forms which Tai Chi is mostly known for by the general public. Pushing hands is practiced so that students have an opportunity for "hands-on" experience of the theoretical implications of the solo forms. Traditional internal teachers say that just training solo forms isn't enough to learn a martial art, that without the pushing hands reflex and sensitivity to another's movements and intent are lost. Each component is seen as equally necessary, yin and yang, for realizing the health, meditative, and self-defence applications.
Czech students push hands

Pushing hands trains these technical principles in ever increasing complexity of patterns. At first students work basic patterns, then patterns with moving steps coordinated in different directions, patterns at differing heights (high, middle, low and combinations) and then finally different styles of "freestyle" push hands, which lead into sparring that combines closing and distancing strategies with long, medium and short range techniques. These exchanges are characterized as "question and answer" sessions between training partners; the person pushing is asking a question, the person receiving the push answers with their response. The answers should be "soft," without resistance or stiffness. The students hope to learn to not fight back when pushed nor retreat before anticipated force, but rather to allow the strength and direction of the push to determine their answer. The intent thereby is for the students to condition themselves and their reflexes to the point that they can meet an incoming force in softness, move with it until they determine its intent and then allow it to exhaust itself or redirect it into a harmless direction. The degree to which students maintain their balance while observing these requirements determines the appropriateness of their "answers." The expression used in some Tai Chi schools to describe this is "Give up oneself to follow another." The eventual goal for self-defense purposes is to achieve meeting the force, determining its direction and effectively redirecting it in as short a time as possible, with examples provided of seemingly instantaneous redirections at the highest levels of kung fu by traditional teachers. Pushing hands also teaches students safety habits in regard to their own vital areas, especially acupressure points, as well as introducing them to the principles of chin na and some aspects of the manipulative therapy or tui na also taught in traditional Tai Chi Chuan schools. At a certain point, pushing hands begins to take on aspects of chi kung, as the students learn to coordinate their movements in attack and defense with their breathing.

[edit] See also

* Chi Sao
* Ching
* Dantian
* Nei chin
* Silk reeling
* Taijitu
* Tao Te Ching
* Wudangshan

[edit] External links

* Chen style.com An online resource pertaining to Chen style, showing several of the Eight Gates in Chen push hands application.
* Patience Tai Chi push hands discussion A Cheng Man-ch'ing lineage school discusses the practice of push hands.
* Tai Chi Classics A translation of the Tai Chi Classics, which deal with the application of Eight Gates
* Antonio Graceffo writes about learning Pushing Hands in Taiwan
* Chee Soo writes about Lee style T'ai Chi sticky hands

Tai Ji Ruler

Video Link of Ziboce Tai Chi Ruler 1 邵保勝太極尺

"The Taiji ruler is one of several forms of qigong attributed to the tenth-century Daoist
recluse Chen Xi-yi. Chen lived on Mount Hua, the Daoist sacred mountain in Shenxi
Province. The Jade Spring Temple at the foot of the mountain designed by Chen and
contains a statue of him." Chen Xi-yi taught the form to Zhao Kuang-yin who later
became the first emperor of the Song Dynasty and encouraged the practice of the
Taiji Ruler among members of the imperial family. Zhao Zhong-dao (1844-1962)
was a master of the Taiji Ruler, and "in 1954, founded in Beijing "The Gentle Art
of the Taiji Ruler Health Society," the first school to publicly teach the Taiji Ruler. The
Society was like a university teaching hospital." Notes by Kenneth S. Cohen,
The Way of Qigong, p. 210.

"The first person to teach this technique publicly, Zhao Zhongdao lived to age 118.
Taiji Ruler is attributed to Taoist recluse Chen Xiyi and was until the 1950s a secret
of the Chinese imperial family. It consists of easy-to-learn rocking movements that
build qi in the feet, lower back, abdomen, and hands. It may be practiced for self-healing
or to increase the power of healing touch. The QRPC is one of the few schools in the
world that teaches the complete system of Taiji Ruler, including the solo exercises,
two person exercises, strength training techniques, and meditative Ruler."
- Qigong Research and Practice Center (Kenneth S. Cohen)

Source: http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/ruler.htm

On Wu Ji

Why is Wuji So Important for Improving Health?

by Gaofei Yan and Jude Smallwood

In Chinese philosophy, the meaning of Wuji is absolute quiet, void of any movement, thought or activity, and complete nothingness. Wuji is the quiet before the very beginning or after the very end. Taiji comes from Wuji and returns to Wuji and is represented by the center circle within the large circle of the Taiji symbol. The exercise discussed in this article is based on this philosophy.

The immediate result of Wuji is the reduction of tension, even deep unconscious body tension, which usually goes, undetected. Often we are unaware of these “background” tensions but by the time we discover their unhealthy effect on us, it is too late. By then, they have contributed to minor discomforts like headaches, indigestion, high blood pressure and other ailments common in our high stress society. When these deep tensions continue unchecked, they eventually can result in serious illness, disease or injury.

Chinese Medicine teaches that tension (stress) will block the continuous smooth flow of chi. Because chi is the “leader” of the blood, poor chi circulation will negatively influence the blood circulation causing the body to grow improperly. Without the nourishment provided by a strong chi/blood movement, our body becomes “dry” and stiff, unable to optimize organic performance. Good chi and blood flow enable the body’s systems to be “fluid” and soft in order to be successfully functional. Without good chi/blood circulation the total body, its organs, and its systems (nervous, circulatory, digestive, etc.), falls out of natural harmony resulting in sickness, weakness, systemic breakdowns, stress related illnesses and disorders. Chi flow stimulates blood flow and together they are vital for a good interchange of the internal energy necessary for good health.

When you develop the ability to relax completely and go into a deep “quiet,” in time, you will reduce and eventually reverse the damage produced by pressure and emotional or physical strain. Initially it may appear that nothing has changed outwardly but, in fact, much has changed internally. After practicing Wuji, many people discover that their face and hands become warm and red, and the flesh (as in the hands) appears more “puffy” and softer to the touch than usual. These traits are evidence of good chi circulation.

Today, we are more aware of how unhealthy emotions, like anger, worry, fear, sadness and insecurity affect our physical well-being. Modern medicine emphasizes that stress and tension are the largest contributing factors for the alarming increase in heart disease, nervous disorders, weakness, mental failure, and general health breakdowns. The greatest killer in this country is stress and related illnesses or conditions.

According to the theory of Chinese Medicine, each emotion is directly related to a specific bodily function or organ, and that “quietness” or harmony helps the kidneys to heighten the hormonal system. It considers the kidney the most important organ of the body and directly connected to the hormone system. When the mind is quiet and relaxed, the kidneys become stronger and more stable, and stimulate hormone production. Due to this increased hormonal surge, more energy/chi is manufactured. Then all bodily systems and organic material like bones, organs and skin in turn feast on the chi and blood. If the kidney is denied quiet and stillness, energy decreases producing ill side effects like loss of strength. As a result, each organ and system, like the “domino effect” is adversely affected one after the other.

The “Domino Effect” of Stress On Our Health

Step 1 - Mind is out of harmony

Step 2 - Kidneys become weak

Step 3 - Hormone production decreases

Step 4 - Less energy/chi manufactured

Step 5 - Entire organic body receives insufficient nourishment from chi & blood

Step 6 - We weaken and become sick

The Best Natural Way to Improve Health

Step 1 - Mind is quiet and in harmony

Step 2 - Kidneys become stronger

Step 3 - Hormone production increases

Step 4 - More energy/chi is manufactured

Step 5 - The entire organic body feasts on the chi & blood

Step 6 - We become stronger from the inside to the outside

Popular and professional opinions unanimously agree that a nutritious diet, proper exercise, fresh air and correct sleeping habits are necessary to preserve good health. Physical exercises like body building, and aerobics can draw chi to specific areas and also increase circulation. However, this represents a short term solution for long term health. This concept is better explained by the analogy of the ordinary battery.

When the battery’s circuit is properly connected and the voltage is increased, the tester bulb brightens. However, if the battery is not recharged or changed to a stronger one (see steps: The Best Natural Way to Improve Health), the bulb stays lit for a shorter period of time because the battery will be drained of power more quickly. Likewise, you can generate chi with exercise but if you do not include these steps, you are attempting to “light the bulb” without improving your battery. Based on this theory even people who make absolutely no effort to maintain a long healthy life and are just “easy going” can actually out live the proverbial health fanatic. This is because the efforts of these health conscious people start after step five (5) and although they will burn their bulb brighter, it will burn for a shorter time with the same battery. An easy going person will burn his bulb at a consistently lower voltage for a longer period with the same battery (longer life).

Everyday we witness the many situations in which harmony plays a critical role in maintaining good health. We often hear of a person, who, in spite of making all the right choices to maintain good health, unexpectedly suffers a severe injury or crippling disease, or even dies prematurely. And yet, we observe the opposite where people survive to an old age even though they have abused their body or had physical habits, which would normally guarantee disease or even an early death. But somehow they live a long time with little or no suffering despite their poor living. Why? It is simple. Quite often the latter, for one reason or another, was able to give minimal attention to their stress and emotional challenges. Therefore, without realizing it, they were able to reduce or eliminate their worry and anxiety tremendously benefiting mental and physical health. People who can relax do not “empower” their daily tensions and are better able to nourish their “internal” body and physically resist the potential bad effects from such negative pressure. They automatically enjoy better health.

An old Chinese saying, “kind people have a long life”, has very sound physiological reasoning. By understanding the important role peace and quiet has on our health, we can see why people in harmony (kind people) have a long life. They obviously and perhaps unknowingly, took good care of their peace of mind and were able to “let go” of internal obstructions. They experienced “quiet.”

Wuji really is a simple exercise and you just have to follow the steps listed:

1. Stand naturally with the feet placed apart to the width of the shoulders. Place your hands to your side with the palms facing inwardly.

2. Close your eyes and smile a little. The tongue should naturally touch the roof of the mouth. Make certain that your body is straight with minimal or no muscle tension.

3. Imagine “taking a shower inside your body”; meaning that warm water at the top of the head would slowly trickle down while cleansing the whole body and exit from the bottom of the feet. Repeat this mental exercise three times.

4. Gently focus your mind on the lower abdomen (dan tian) but do not force the attention. Visualize a calm, peaceful place like the middle of the ocean, top of a mountain or deep in the forest. Keep your focus there as long as you can.

5. Finish with the Wuji closing exercise.

6. Walk around for one or two minutes.

This exercise is a wonderful exercise! The goal is reach a state of nothingness, calmness encountered only when you completely relax and release all tension and internal stress. The correct Wuji standing posture can be learned easily and with minimal daily exercise, it will soon benefit you mentally and physically. Good Wuji does not require a strict scheduling or special timing. You can start with three or five minutes at a time and do it as often as you can gradually increasing your practice time at your own pace. There is no rush to excel; the main objective is “quiet”.

Successful meditation can help you gain tranquility but some styles of meditation do not really produce serenity as intended. They can consist of a series of complicated movements, imagination activity, visualization exercises, breath control techniques, and various other aversions. Most people need to relax deeply but are unable to and so they tend to pursue these meditations and exercises to help them. However, it is possible to be misled by a technique, which will defeat the main purpose - the attainment of peace and quiet.

Chinese Medicine has taught for thousands of years that, for all intents and purposes, proper exercise and nutrition are good but the most significant factor in good health is to first have peace and quiet, internal harmony. This is the key point emphasized by Chen Xin, 16th generation Chen Family in his great works, Illustration of Chen Style Tai chi:

“The mind is the director and control center of the body; the kidney is the source of life (the building and rejuvenating energy of the body). We must clear our mind of all desires and distractions in order to build, protect and maintain a well-developed foundation. When our foundation or “root” (mind and kidney) is stable and strong, our body is also stable and strong like a well-rooted tree, which produces flourishing leaves and healthy limbs. With a strong foundation, our body will perform well at anything we choose. This is the most important principal.”

“No matter how many theories and concepts are practiced, there is none more important than clearing our minds of all distractions in order to build a good foundation. A good foundation increases Original Chi and is the source of our body’s life force. As your body becomes stronger, your practice will develop much better than someone who doesn’t understand and apply this primary principal.”

When your mind is calm, you will experience conscious and unconscious changes. As you “let go”, you release muscle tension and distractions like pain and mental “chatter”. You then begin to enjoy the benefits of Wuji. Try it. See how deep into this quiet state you can go and what sensations you can experience.

SOURCE: http://www.wujimind.com/

Master Zheng Man Qing

鄭子太極拳 鄭曼青 Cheng Man Ching