1-2. Common Knowledge of Chinese Martial Arts
A Brief History of Chinese Martial Arts—East and West
Northern Styles and Southern Styles
Internal Styles and External Styles
Hard Styles, Soft-Hard Styles, and Soft Styles
Four Categories of Fighting Skills
The Dao of Chinese Martial Arts
1-3. General History of Taijiquan
1-4. History of Yang Style Taijiquan
1-7. Contents of Yang Style Taijiquan Practice
1-8. How Do You Learn Taijiquan?
1-9. Becoming a Proficient Taijiquan Artist
Chapter 2. Qi, Qigong, and Taijiquan
2-1. Introduction
2-2. Qi, Qigong, and Man
2-3. Categories of Qigong
External and Internal Elixirs
Schools of Qigong Practice
2-4. Qigong Training Theory
2-5. Qigong and Taijiquan
Chapter 3. Taijiquan Thirteen Postures (Eight Doors and Five Steppings)
3-1. Introduction
3-2. Eight Doors
3-3. Five Steppings
Chapter 4. Traditional Yang Style Taijiquan
4-1. Introduction
4-2. How to Practice Taijiquan Sequence
4-3. Postures and Taijiquan
4-4. Fundamental Eight Stances (Ji Ben Ba Shi)
4-5. Taiji Qigong
Still Sitting Meditation (Yin)
Still Standing Meditation (Yang)
Moving (Yang)
Stationary (Yin)
4-6. Traditional Yang Style Taijiquan
Chapter 5. Conclusion
Appendix A. Names of Traditional Yang Style Taijiquan Movements
Appendix B. Translation and Glossary of Chinese Terms
Appendix C. Taijiquan Classical Yang Style DVD
About the Author
Foreword
Grandmaster Jou, Tsung Hwa
In 1985, I wrote a foreword for Dr. Yang when the first edition of his book, Advanced Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, vol. 1, was published. Time flies like an arrow, and already fourteen years have passed. During this period, Dr. Yang has published many more books and videos related to Chinese martial arts and qigong. In addition, he has been offering wushu and qigong seminars and workshops every year in America, Europe, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
It is said in Chinese society that “Even separated for three days, we should see each other differently.” This is really true. Dr. Yang, after more than ten years of further study and in-depth research, together with his abundant teaching experience, has written this new book, Tai Chi Chuan, Classical Yang Style. He asked me to write a foreword for him again.
Taijiquan has spread throughout the entire world. Millions of people now practice it. Unfortunately, I believe that almost all the essence of taijiquan has also been gradually lost. Take a look at Wang, Zong-yue’s Taijiquan Classics, where it is said: “There are many martial art styles. Although the postures are distinguishable from one another, after all, it is nothing more than the strong beating the weak, the slow yielding to the fast. The one with power beats the one without power; the slow hands yield to the fast hands. All this is natural born ability. It is not related to the power that has to be learned.” If we look at most of today’s taijiquan tournaments, haven’t they entered the side door, that is, the wrong path? Again, let us read the following sentence from Wang, Zong-yue, where it is said: “Consider the saying: ‘Four ounces repels one thousand pounds.’” It is apparent that this cannot be accomplished by strength. Look, if an eighty- or ninety-year-old man can still defend himself against multiple opponents, it cannot be a matter of speed. Therefore, if we truly wish to learn the real taijiquan, we must free ourselves from the prisons of muscular power (li) and speed. Externally, we must learn to use the body movements to replace the hand movements. Internally, we must pursue and cultivate the real contents of essence (jing), energy (qi), and spirit (shen). To reach this goal and to improve your taijiquan, you are well advised to study Dr. Yang’s books, such as Tai Chi Theory and Power and this book, Tai Chi Chuan, Classical Yang Style.
Jou, Tsung Hwa (1917–1998)
Taiji Farm, Warwick, New York
June 30, 1998
Preface
It has been almost forty years since Master Cheng, Man-ching introduced the taijiquan art to the West. Later, when Bruce Lee’s motion pictures became popular, they stimulated an interest in studying Chinese culture, especially Chinese martial arts. In addition, President Nixon’s visit to the Chinese mainland in the early 1970s led to more intense cultural exchange. The internal healing arts, such as acupuncture and qigong have since become an important part of Western alternative or complementary medicine for illness treatment and prevention.
Qigong is a training system which helps to generate a strong flow of qi (internal energy or known as bioelectricity) inside the body and then circulate it through the entire body. Many martial and non-martial styles of qigong training have been created in the last four thousand years. The most famous martial styles are Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, and Liu He Ba Fa. These are considered “internal” styles (nei gong or nei jia), as opposed to “external” styles (wai jia) like Shaolin Gongfu, because they emphasize heavily the development of qi internally. The best known non-martial styles, which emphasize the enhancement of qi circulation to improve health, are Five Animal Sport (Wu Qin Xi), Eight Pieces