All New Students...Welcome to the Internal Dynamics of Tai Chi

 

 

Ms. E. Marie Koepsell wrote the following article which appeared in Tai Chi Magazine some time ago but I think it speaks volumes about what new students can look forward to in their study. We are also grateful to Rick Matz at Cook Ding's Kitchen for publishing this on a previous occasion. Rick mentions his current training with the Classical Tai Chi DVD's in one of his most recent Blog's...he talks about his training in basic walking using such "Internal Dynamics" (Internal Discipline). Master Stephen Hwa has taken on the difficult but rewarding work that his teacher Young Wabu learned from Wu Chien Chuan. He teaches Classical Tai Chi to hundreds of students worldwide via sets of his great DVD series www.classicaltaichi.com. Teaching primarily at Faust's USA Karate in Rochester, NY, he now teaches in Florida and has certified teachers of Classical Tai Chi in Acton, California, Buffalo, NY, Rochester, California, Colorado and Massachusetts. He is Master Stephen Hwa to his many students since he is truly deserving of the title. 

"The following article is based on the lectures and my studies and discussions with him" (E. Marie Koepsell speaking about Stephen Hwa, Ph.D. when he was teaching Tai Chi at the University of Buffalo). "The internal physical discipline of T'ai Chi Ch'uan" according to Dr. Hwa, "involves the intensive training of the body and mind to develop discipline in movements so that the movements originate from the abdomen (dantien) and back, in addition. the energy flow of these movements are developed in a relaxed body, giving an appearance of effortlessness". As a reference point for correct movement. Dr. Hwa used the example of the movement of children, who use much more of their torso for initiating action. He said when children are using their arms or legs, the motion originates from the torso, the strongest part of the body. He said the arms and legs should he treated as appendages that must be taught to move in coordination with and under the direction of the torso. "As we start aging,” according to Dr. Hwa "less and less of our movements come from the waist and back. We hold our middle stiffly, and more of our movements originate from the shoulders and the hip joints. This puts pressure on joints and we lose strength and mobility. Ultimately, we may stop using these area, of our bodies altogether, Atrophy sets in, creating the major problems of aging.”  

Learning the Internal Dynamics of Tai Chi

Introduction

Although I had studied Tai Chi Ch'uan for a number of years with a few different instructors. I had reached the point where I felt that I could he getting more out of my practice- I did not know what was missing. but I was determined to find out more about the art of T'ai C'hi.

In my quest to understand the art, I attended lectures at the University of Buffalo. which led me to a new realm of understanding. The lecturer, Dr. Stephen Hwa, a retired chemical engineer originally from Wuxi, China. who has been in the (US for 60 years. For 35 years, he was a student of Wabu Young, a student of Wu Chian Chuan

The following article is based on the lectures and my studies and discussions with him.

"The internal physical discipline of T'ai Chi Ch'uan" according to Dr. Hwa, 'involves the intensive training of the body and mind to develop discipline in movements so that the movements originate from the abdomen (dantien) and back, in addition. the energy flow of these movements is developed in a relaxed body, giving an appearance of effortlessness:'

As a reference point for correct movement. Dr. Hwa used the example of the movement of children, who use much more of their torso for initiating action. He said when children are using their arms or legs. the motion originates from the torso. the strongest part of the body. He said the arms and legs should he treated as appendages that must be taught to move in coordination with and under the direction of the torso.

"As we start aging," according to Dr. Hwa "less and less of our movements came from the waist and back. We hold our middle stiffly, and more of our movements originate from the shoulders and the hip joints. This puts pressure on joints and we lose strength and mobility. Ultimately, we may stop using these area, of our bodies altogether. Atrophy sets in, creating the major problems of aging."

He demonstrates this by having students raise their arms to shoulder height and push forward He noted that most people lift and push from the shoulder joint and arm muscle. and there is little strength involved. He demonstrated the way he pushes, using his back and abdominal muscles with the shoulder and arm completely relaxed.  Similarly, When he moved his arm, across his head, his back and abdomen did the work.

Dr. Hwa similarly feels that T'ai Chi steps should involve the muscles of the torso, the large abdominal and pelvic girdle muscles, to lift and push the leg forward and back. He said the leg muscles are used to move the body forward and backward. but the muscles of the torso do the work of lifting and positioning the leg, and planting the foot. The weight shifts after the leading foot is planted solidly on the ground, whether it is going forward or backward.

Turning movements of the body, according to Dr. Hua. are done with the feet stationary and the body swivelling at the waist.  He said it should not be a twisting motion where the hips or legs turn the body. but rather an abdominal movement. When he demonstrates the movement,  his lower and upper abdominal muscles appear to rotate in opposite directions, thus indicating all the power that this movement generates at the waist:

"The unifying principle of the internal physical aspect of T'ai Chi is that all movement and physical energy originate at the waist and back. Those are the strongest parts of the body and its center of gravity as well." Dr. Hwa said.

In discussing the fundamental concept of Yin and Yang. Dr. Hwa said: "In the context of the internal physical aspect. Yang could represent movement while Yin represents the stable structure of the body, against which the movement occurs.”

"Think of a moving door as Yang and the door frame as Yin. The hinge is the junction of Yin and Yang. To achieve internal motion, the primary Junction is always in the torso. It is at these junctions that one senses stretching and the flow of energy. This sensation is called the qi (ch'i)."

"The first goal for the T'ai Chi practitiioner is to have the qi circulate continuously throughout the body, following the Yin/Yang changes of the movements. To achieve the Yin -Yang balance of the body and mind It is essential that these movements of intense energy and stretching be performed in an otherwise relaxed body and mind.”

"The practitioner must not only be aware of the Yin/Yang of individual movements, but also the total Yin/Yang of the body as one goes from movement to movement," Dr. Hwa said.

Learning T'ai Chi, he feels, is more than learning to move smoothly.

"People often admire the smooth-flowing movements of T'ai Chi and that motivates them to start lessons. But one cannot really learn T'ai Chi by just imitating the smooth-flowing movements. One has to start with an isolated movement to learn the Yin and Yang of that movement and then thread the movements together to achieve the effect of continuous motion. The difficulties lie in the first part of that exercise. Once one learns the Yin -Yang, the rest is easier."

In fact, Dr. Hwa said he learned  T'ai Chi as a "square form" first, breaking down the postures into individual, simple moves, preceding and ending each movement with a full stop. When he demonstrates the "square form," it looks discrete, precise and mechanical, completely opposite from the familiar flowing "round form" T' ai Chi movements. The purpose of learning the square form, he explains, is to tame the body, establishing communication and command so that each part of the body can follow a command to move cleanly and effortlessly. This is a foundation for learning internal discipline in the "round form." He also feels that the "square form" provides a template for the "round form" by pinpointing extreme positions of the form movements. It is also very effective flexibility training, loosening many of the key joints essential to the form.

Many students, however, will only learn the "round form." Even with the "round form," he dissects the movements into basic elements for teaching. Many times, he says, a seemingly continuous move is in fact a combination of several distinct moves, merging into each other so that each distinct move becomes almost imperceptible. And yet each has its purpose. The concept of yi, the Chinese word for intention, is also very important in T'ai Chi, Dr. Hwa said.

"It is yi that ties the movements together and provides a purpose and soul to them. Yi is developed based on the knowledge of the form movement, the internal physical and mental discipline and the martial arts origin of T' ai Chi. To integrate this knowledge into a cohesive, singular yi is an essential element in the practice of the T' ai Chi form. The processes of developing the yi and mastering the T' ai Chi form are intertwined. Sometimes the practitioner grasps the essence of yi before one can actually put it into practice. In this case, the yi guides the development of form practice. Sometimes it is the repetition and focus of the form practice that cultivates the yi.

"For the advanced T'ai Chi practitioner, the form itself becomes less expansive externally (so-called "small circle" or "compact form"), and more angular. As such, yi takes on increasing importance in playing the form. There is less movement and more yi. Also, to have smaller external movements and yet reach to all angles in the form requires greater internal movement, more stretching at the Yin- Yang junctions, and more internal energy flow. This is the next level in T' ai Chi."

Dr. Hwa describes the beginning of the T' ai Chi learning process as a highly conscious exercise in which one struggles to move this way and that way and must use the entire mind. But yi is fragmented.

"Gradually, yi becomes more unified, and the movement becomes more fluid. One begins to be able to enjoy some of the qi flow in the body. Eventually, yi and the movements become entirely subconscious. The practitioner is now in a semi-meditative state with only the qi circulating through the body, providing very enjoyable feedback to the practitioner. To achieve this level takes several years of work. But from every step of the journey, very significant benefits will be derived," he said.

I have taken only a few steps on the path of learning, but I am amazed by the richness of the art. My prior T'ai Chi exposure was enveloped in a philosophical and abstract context. But now I see that T'ai Chi can be explained in scientific, concrete terms and it is no longer such a mystery to me. I have developed even more respect and admiration for the art. Unquestionably, the internal physical discipline, with its power to bring out the inherent potential in a person, has been, for me, a most significant discovery.

 E. Marie Koespsell