Old masters did not explain this!

Old Masters did not explain this!

Or this!           

Or this!

Or this!

Why? The Tai Chi “Families” reserved it for their family and what are known as “Indoor Students”.

Tai chi internal discipline: by master stephen hwa

Internal Discipline is the most challenging aspect of learning Tai Chi. The central element of the practice dictates how a movement should be made from the body's internal core—the abdomen and the back—not from the external parts of the body, such as arms and shoulders.

This discipline is essential to obtain the full benefits of Tai Chi. Without it the entire logical structure of Tai Chi disintegrates and can no longer be considered an internal martial art.

Tai chi is known historically as an internal martial art with a legendary reputation of cultivating neigong or internal energy and thereby achieving exceptional health benefits. Unfortunately, this art has been lost in most modern tai chi teaching.

When the legendary Master Wu Chian Chuan taught Tai Chi to Grand Master Young Wabu, Wu taught him the methodology of cultivating neigong through Internal Discipline. Wu learned the Tai Chi from his father who learned from the Yangs—without alteration. The Yangs learned the art from the Chens. Internal Discipline should be a common thread through all the classical tai chi forms. And is of particular importance when one wants to develop the full health benefits of Tai Chi and to learn martial arts applications of Tai Chi.

The concept and practice of the core element of classical Tai Chi, Internal Discipline, is discussed extensively by Master Stephen Hwa. A brief discussion is presented here in word and video at the above links:

Internal Discipline enables you to initiate movements from the body's internal core (the abdomen and back) rather than from the external parts of the body (the limbs). It cultivates and mobilizes your internal energy for health benefits and martial arts applications.

Classical Tai Chi, or Taiji, utilizes the philosophy of yin and yang in every aspect of its practice. This philosophy asserts that every entity needs to coexist and interact with a counterpart of opposite nature to achieve balance and vitality. For every internal movement, a moving part of the body (yang) works against a stationary part (yin) that provides support and power for the move. The junction between yin and yang is always located in the torso.

• The junction is around the upper-quarter body area for the arm push forward movement described above.
• In the case of the turning movement, the junction is in the waist region.
• The junction is at the lower-quarter body region above the pelvis for the step forward movement.
• If one pushes the hand forward with the arm, the junction is at the shoulder.
• If the turning movement is accomplished by crossing the legs, the junction is at the legs.
• If the step forward move is done with the leg, the junction is at the hip. (These later cases are not internal movement.)

When you perform an internal movement correctly, you will feel the sensations of stretching and intense energy flowing across the junction in an otherwise relaxed body. Classical Tai Chi, or Tai Ji form, teaches students how to use Internal Discipline in every move so internal energy circulates continuously throughout the body during form playing, tuning, and cultivating internal energy in the body. From the martial arts point of view, playing the classical Tai Chi form is, among other things, practicing the mobilization and delivery of the internal power until it becomes instinctive, spontaneous, and instantaneous.

The appearance of internal movement is very deceptive. Most uninitiated observers will think it is a small, unremarkable, and simple movement and may opt for a more showy style. In fact, internal movement is demanding to learn, both mentally and physically. But, the results of the effort will be unparalleled in improving health and well-being, martial arts applications, and sports performance.