I have studied tai chi intermittently for years. In the mid and late 1980s I attended a number of London local authority classes. Also attending was Paul Read, pictured right, who subsequently became an accomplished tai chi instructor, initially in London but more recently in Spain. He has recently completed his first book: “The Manual of Bean Curd Boxing”, which is an amusing and insightful contribution to the canon of literature on tai chi.
At times I have taken up tai chi, only to stop because of circumstances at work or home, often without having mastered the form(s) fully.
In Indonesia it has been my pleasure to study with a number of instructors. Elchomsyah Bandi (pictured right) has been most generous with his time and expertise. There were two of us studying under him. I am sure we would both agree that Elhi, as he is better known, is a dedicated, disciplined practitioner of tai chi and an excellent teacher.
Currently I study with Gunawan Rusli, a seasoned expert of many tai chi arts. He is a great source of information and learning. I also regularly attend the Wisdom Tai Chi sessions once a week at the “Taman Kota” or City Park in BSD, Tangerang, Indonesia. This group is mostly concerned with health applications and practices the 8, 16 and 24-move forms to a soundtrack of traditional Chinese music. While the 8 and 16 styles are rarely seen elsewhere, they have recently been certified in Indonesia. They make for, at least, a few minutes of practice if students have little time for the longer forms.
Of those from whom I have learned indirectly, Dr.Yang Jwing Ming has released some excellent videos, and the best book I have used is Handbook of T'Ai Chi Ch'Uan Exercises (1996) by Fuxing Zhang. Michael Gilman (pictured right and featured in posts below) has an authoritative website (http://www.gilmanstudio.com/) filled with excellent resources. These include free online courses (valuable aids to individual practice), articles and other resources. Michael, a published author with many tai chi titles to his name, has an extensive tai chi teacher training program and a DVD-based system to support it. I have benefitted from email contact with him over the years. From time to time I will post on other people who have been instrumental in my tai chi path.
The Tai Chi Form
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Tai Chi and Music
Many practitioners of tai chi like to use music to accompany their practice; while for some, this is anathema. I have been a member of a number of groups whose teachers typically use music on CDs and cassettes to accompany their form. There are a great many products to choose from for those who do like to be accompanied by music. Most composers appear to stress the meditative, ambient qualities of tai chi. That is not to the taste of all, however. To the right you can see some of examples from my own collection.
Some tai chi enthusiasts are put off by music, arguing that it interferes with practice by requiring practitioners to complete the form at a given pace. The tai chi form, they argue, should not be dictated by “new age” sounds and beats.
At one session I regularly attend, the group practices the form to a soundtrack of traditional Chinese music especially composed for tai chi. I have argued with the group’s leaders that for me, it is off-putting to be led by the music, however pleasant. I find that wherever I am in the form, I am obliged to wait for the beat and perform certain moves at certain points in the soundtrack. We all practice the form at slightly different paces, and I feel slightly disturbed that I have to pause at certain points so that the music can catch up, or speed up in order to be at one with the soundtrack.
While I am not too rigid on the matter, I would prefer a silent format, as I find this more conducive to development and good practice. Amusingly, I recall that some instructors under whom it has been my pleasure to train, have been absolutely horrified at the very thought of tai chi set to music!
Of the music pictured to the right, the one I would say has most merit is Lou Reed’s Hudson River Wind Meditations. Designed for all manner of body work and other applications, it imposes no set rhythm or beat and is a pleasant, non-intrusive backdrop to practice.
Some tai chi enthusiasts are put off by music, arguing that it interferes with practice by requiring practitioners to complete the form at a given pace. The tai chi form, they argue, should not be dictated by “new age” sounds and beats.
At one session I regularly attend, the group practices the form to a soundtrack of traditional Chinese music especially composed for tai chi. I have argued with the group’s leaders that for me, it is off-putting to be led by the music, however pleasant. I find that wherever I am in the form, I am obliged to wait for the beat and perform certain moves at certain points in the soundtrack. We all practice the form at slightly different paces, and I feel slightly disturbed that I have to pause at certain points so that the music can catch up, or speed up in order to be at one with the soundtrack.
While I am not too rigid on the matter, I would prefer a silent format, as I find this more conducive to development and good practice. Amusingly, I recall that some instructors under whom it has been my pleasure to train, have been absolutely horrified at the very thought of tai chi set to music!
Of the music pictured to the right, the one I would say has most merit is Lou Reed’s Hudson River Wind Meditations. Designed for all manner of body work and other applications, it imposes no set rhythm or beat and is a pleasant, non-intrusive backdrop to practice.
Lou Reed: A highly celebrated Tai Chi practitioner and promoter
September 27th, 2010 5:28 pm ET
I was recently able to interview the world-renowned rock star Lou Reed and the famed Tai Chi Master Ren Guangyi in West Village, New York City.
In the late 1960s, Lou Reed started his career as a guitarist, vocalist and lead songwriter for the legendary Andy Warhol-sponsored band, The Velvet Underground (inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996). After that, this avant-garde musician’s career took off, and he has been influencing rock music for four decades and continues to reinvent himself. Many music critics consider him as the founding father of punk rock even though he repudiates any affiliation with punk music. He has performed for Pope John Paul II as well as U.S. presidents. This year Lou and his musician wife and performing artist Laurie Anderson took over Vivid Sydney/Vivid Live at Sydney Opera House and ran the largest annual festival of music, light and sound (May 27 - June 21) with great success in Australia.
Most of Lou’s fans know that he is multi-talented. Outside of his music career as a singer, songwriter, and music radio host (NY Shuffle on Sirius), he appeared in a few movies either as himself or a fictional character. He is well accomplished in photography (Emotions in Action, Lou Reed's New York, and Romanticism), poem writing (i.e., his version of The Raven and Laurie Sadly Listening), movie production (Red Shirley), martial arts and others.
Lou has been studying martial arts since the 1980s. First he was studying Eagle Claw and Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi with Sifu Leung Shum. In 2002, after Sifu Leung retired, through word of mouth, he found Master Ren Guangyi, who is a grand champion and most prominent disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, the 19th generation of Chen Family and a lineage holder of Chen Style Tai Chi. Chen Style is the origin of all modern Tai Chi styles. It is the most revered and complete of all Tai Chi styles. Tai Chi’s philosophical and medical roots dated back over 2,000 years and it was created by legendary Chen Wangting (1600 – 1680) about 400 years ago in Chen Village (Chenjiagou), Hernan, China. It encompasses spiritual enrichment, body nurturing and martial arts applications. It is a healing art as well as a powerful combat/self-defense martial art. Lou fell in love with it when he saw Master Ren demonstrate it and has devoted himself to it since.
According to Master Ren, Lou grasped complex Tai Chi theory very quickly. He is diligently taking private lessons daily and even practicing on the road. He has learned Old Frame (Lao Jia) Routine One (Yi Lu) and Two (Er Lu), New Frame (Xing Jia) Routine One and Two, Chen Style 19 Form (created by Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang), Chen Style 21 Form (created by Master Ren), Push-Hands, Chin Na (Joint Lock), straight sword, broad sword and many other weapons including the challenging Guan Dao. Guan Dao is a long staff with a broad sword at one end and a spear at the other end. It is extremely difficult to practice and requires a high-level internal energy Qi, powerful muscle strength and a strong core. And it happens that Guan Dao is Lou’s favorite. Chen Tai Chi practitioners know that “Punching Toward the Ground” (Ji Di Chui) is punching the right fist downwards to the left knee height; some advanced students can punch all the way down to the floor. But Lou touches the ground with his elbow. That’s totally awesome (see the slide show)! To any talented Tai Chi practitioner, learning so many forms in eight years is remarkable and is an outstanding accomplishment.
But Lou’s Tai Chi accomplishments are beyond the form study. His understanding and interpretation of Tai Chi enables him to compose songs for it. In April 2007, he completed Hudson River Wind Meditations, his first record of ambient music for Tai Chi and meditation. When I first listened to it, it seemed different and a bit odd. Once I settled down and focused on my practice, it has an amazing calming effect and is very spiritual. In July 2010, Reed, Master Ren, guitarist Sarth Calhoun and director/producer Scott Richman released Power and Serenity: The Art of Master Ren GuangYi - a 70-minute Chen Style Tai Chi instructional DVD featuring six new music tracks composed and performed by Reed and Calhoun.
After eight years of study with Master Ren, Lou Reed's health shines. Now he is energetic and healthy. His eyes radiate with brilliance. At age 68, he is busier than ever with shows and exhibitions around the world nonstop. He thinks that every hospital and clinic should offer Tai Chi classes to fundamentally change people’s health.
According to him, Tai Chi has benefits in every conceivable way. He thinks that is the best thing “you can do for yourself.” Why? Tai Chi can cultivate and nourish the vital energy Qi which is essential for life. To raise the awareness of Tai Chi, he has been passionately promoting Tai Chi and Master Ren tirelessly since 2003. He has invited Master Ren to perform on stage with his band. He even made personal introduction to Master Ren and Tai Chi. They have been touring together on more than 150 shows including a Hal Willner produced Halloween performance-art extravaganza devoted to Edgar Allan Poe (Los Angeles), the 2006 Winter Olympic Games Opening (Torino, Italy), the David Letterman Show, Carnegie Hall (New York), and Vivid Live. He also narrated Master Ren’s teaching video Chen Taijiquan (Tai Chi) Lao Jia Yi Lu & Straight Sword.
“Unfortunately, young people (in this country) do not understand Tai Chi,” Lou lamented. Chen Style Tai Chi is dynamic and has so much explosive power. To prove a point he showed me a clip of Grandmaster Chen’s Fa Jing video (click here) from YouTube on iPad. Watching Grandmaster Chen unleash his internal power and throwing strikes with his fist, elbow, or shoulder, or kick, Lou repeatedly expressed his enthusiasm at the incredible nature of Tai Chi.
http://www.examiner.com/tai-chi-in-national/lou-reed-a-celebrated-tai-chi-lover-and-promoter
I was recently able to interview the world-renowned rock star Lou Reed and the famed Tai Chi Master Ren Guangyi in West Village, New York City.
In the late 1960s, Lou Reed started his career as a guitarist, vocalist and lead songwriter for the legendary Andy Warhol-sponsored band, The Velvet Underground (inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996). After that, this avant-garde musician’s career took off, and he has been influencing rock music for four decades and continues to reinvent himself. Many music critics consider him as the founding father of punk rock even though he repudiates any affiliation with punk music. He has performed for Pope John Paul II as well as U.S. presidents. This year Lou and his musician wife and performing artist Laurie Anderson took over Vivid Sydney/Vivid Live at Sydney Opera House and ran the largest annual festival of music, light and sound (May 27 - June 21) with great success in Australia.
Most of Lou’s fans know that he is multi-talented. Outside of his music career as a singer, songwriter, and music radio host (NY Shuffle on Sirius), he appeared in a few movies either as himself or a fictional character. He is well accomplished in photography (Emotions in Action, Lou Reed's New York, and Romanticism), poem writing (i.e., his version of The Raven and Laurie Sadly Listening), movie production (Red Shirley), martial arts and others.
Lou has been studying martial arts since the 1980s. First he was studying Eagle Claw and Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi with Sifu Leung Shum. In 2002, after Sifu Leung retired, through word of mouth, he found Master Ren Guangyi, who is a grand champion and most prominent disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, the 19th generation of Chen Family and a lineage holder of Chen Style Tai Chi. Chen Style is the origin of all modern Tai Chi styles. It is the most revered and complete of all Tai Chi styles. Tai Chi’s philosophical and medical roots dated back over 2,000 years and it was created by legendary Chen Wangting (1600 – 1680) about 400 years ago in Chen Village (Chenjiagou), Hernan, China. It encompasses spiritual enrichment, body nurturing and martial arts applications. It is a healing art as well as a powerful combat/self-defense martial art. Lou fell in love with it when he saw Master Ren demonstrate it and has devoted himself to it since.
According to Master Ren, Lou grasped complex Tai Chi theory very quickly. He is diligently taking private lessons daily and even practicing on the road. He has learned Old Frame (Lao Jia) Routine One (Yi Lu) and Two (Er Lu), New Frame (Xing Jia) Routine One and Two, Chen Style 19 Form (created by Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang), Chen Style 21 Form (created by Master Ren), Push-Hands, Chin Na (Joint Lock), straight sword, broad sword and many other weapons including the challenging Guan Dao. Guan Dao is a long staff with a broad sword at one end and a spear at the other end. It is extremely difficult to practice and requires a high-level internal energy Qi, powerful muscle strength and a strong core. And it happens that Guan Dao is Lou’s favorite. Chen Tai Chi practitioners know that “Punching Toward the Ground” (Ji Di Chui) is punching the right fist downwards to the left knee height; some advanced students can punch all the way down to the floor. But Lou touches the ground with his elbow. That’s totally awesome (see the slide show)! To any talented Tai Chi practitioner, learning so many forms in eight years is remarkable and is an outstanding accomplishment.
But Lou’s Tai Chi accomplishments are beyond the form study. His understanding and interpretation of Tai Chi enables him to compose songs for it. In April 2007, he completed Hudson River Wind Meditations, his first record of ambient music for Tai Chi and meditation. When I first listened to it, it seemed different and a bit odd. Once I settled down and focused on my practice, it has an amazing calming effect and is very spiritual. In July 2010, Reed, Master Ren, guitarist Sarth Calhoun and director/producer Scott Richman released Power and Serenity: The Art of Master Ren GuangYi - a 70-minute Chen Style Tai Chi instructional DVD featuring six new music tracks composed and performed by Reed and Calhoun.
After eight years of study with Master Ren, Lou Reed's health shines. Now he is energetic and healthy. His eyes radiate with brilliance. At age 68, he is busier than ever with shows and exhibitions around the world nonstop. He thinks that every hospital and clinic should offer Tai Chi classes to fundamentally change people’s health.
According to him, Tai Chi has benefits in every conceivable way. He thinks that is the best thing “you can do for yourself.” Why? Tai Chi can cultivate and nourish the vital energy Qi which is essential for life. To raise the awareness of Tai Chi, he has been passionately promoting Tai Chi and Master Ren tirelessly since 2003. He has invited Master Ren to perform on stage with his band. He even made personal introduction to Master Ren and Tai Chi. They have been touring together on more than 150 shows including a Hal Willner produced Halloween performance-art extravaganza devoted to Edgar Allan Poe (Los Angeles), the 2006 Winter Olympic Games Opening (Torino, Italy), the David Letterman Show, Carnegie Hall (New York), and Vivid Live. He also narrated Master Ren’s teaching video Chen Taijiquan (Tai Chi) Lao Jia Yi Lu & Straight Sword.
“Unfortunately, young people (in this country) do not understand Tai Chi,” Lou lamented. Chen Style Tai Chi is dynamic and has so much explosive power. To prove a point he showed me a clip of Grandmaster Chen’s Fa Jing video (click here) from YouTube on iPad. Watching Grandmaster Chen unleash his internal power and throwing strikes with his fist, elbow, or shoulder, or kick, Lou repeatedly expressed his enthusiasm at the incredible nature of Tai Chi.
http://www.examiner.com/tai-chi-in-national/lou-reed-a-celebrated-tai-chi-lover-and-promoter
Understanding Tai Chi: an interview with Michael Gilman
Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, Winter, 2008
Michael Gilman, current president of the International Society of T'ai Chi Ch'uan Instructors, is a longtime teacher in the human potential movement. Gilman began his studies of Tai Chi Chuan in 1968 with Master Choy Kam-man in San Francisco. Master Choy's father, Choy Hok-peng, is credited with introducing Tai Chi to America in the 1940s. Master Choy taught the full Yang Style curriculum, and that is the system that Michael still practices and teaches.
The American Psychotherapy Association recently conducted an interview with Mr. Gilman to learn more about this unique art form.
1. For those readers who aren't familiar with Tai Chi, can you briefly explain what exactly it is?
When I am asked what Tai Chi is, I am reminded of the story of the blind men who, never having encountered an elephant, are asked to describe what it is. One touches the trunk and says, "An elephant is like a large snake." Another touches a leg, and says, "No, an elephant is like a tree." Another, touching the flank says, "No, an elephant is like a wall."
They are all correct, yet their individual answer is incomplete due to their not having all the information necessary to make an informed decision.
Talking about Tai Chi Chuan is much like the elephant problem. Tai Chi Chuan is a very complex art, with three main roots that go back hundreds, if not thousands, of years into Chinese history. If you ask someone who is interested in martial arts, he might respond that Tai Chi is definitely an effective self-defense system. If a person on a spiritual path were asked, he would probably respond saying it is a meditative art. And if someone who was involved with health and wellness was asked, he might answer that it is a physical culture/healing practice.
All are correct, yet Tai Chi cannot, and should not, be limited to one field of study. All of the roots are of equal importance and make Tai Chi Chuan one of the most popular physical activities in the world.
The name, Tai Chi Chuan, literally means Supreme Ultimate Martial Art. Today, in order to gain popularity worldwide, the art generally is known as "Tai Chi," eliminating the word "Chuan," which means martial system. I can understand the reason. Most people are not interested in martial arts and would certainly turn their backs on this marvelous exercise. But to fully understand its evolution, we must include the Chuan aspect.
The first root is the Martial Arts. People have always needed to defend themselves, whether from animals, or other humans. China is a crowded place, with much chance for confrontation. Many martial systems evolved. Tai Chi Chuan, as a martial art, emerged from the Taoist Wudang temple sometime between 500 to 1000 AD. The distant past is clouded, partially because of the idea that mystery and myth will add to its appeal. Because it was very effective, it was passed from father to son and never shared with strangers. It was not until the introduction of guns that hand-to-hand martial arts lost their effectiveness. At this time, in the early 1800s, Tai Chi started to move into the general population and gain popularity as a physical exercise.
The oldest root, going back several thousand years, is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), or the health and rejuvenation aspect. The Chinese have been using exercise to maintain wellness, cure disease, and strengthen the body for many thousands of years.
TCM theory is based on the idea of balance--balance in all aspects of one's life. Overall fitness and well-being is not just the absence of disease. It was derived by a balance between the physical, mental, and spiritual. TCM sees the whole person and uses various modalities as a way to eliminate the blocks in our system that tend to cause excess or deficiency. Balanced, relaxing exercise is one of the ways. I remember one Tai Chi instructor telling the class, "Don't make your heart sweat." This relates to the Chinese belief that internal balance is favored over physical appearance. This approach is quite different than the traditional Western idea of fitness.
The third root is Spiritual Development, namely Buddhism, Confucianism, and especially Taoism. These philosophical systems have played an important part in the lives of a majority of Chinese people and their cultural development. The Taoists look to what is natural, a blending with the forces of the Universe, to achieve supreme health and a long life filled with a strong feeling of contentment. In much the same way that TCM achieves physical health through eliminating tension and extremes, Taoism eliminates beliefs as an obstruction to seeing reality. Meditate, relax, and find your inner balance; all will become clear. Decisions will be based on seeing what is, not acting on how one thinks it should be. The Taoists didn't have a creed, an all-powerful God, or rules. Each person is responsible for his or her own personal achievement.
The Taoists developed the philosophy of Yin and Yang and Tai Chi. By observing nature, the Taoists saw that nature was a manifestation of complementary opposites--day and night, up and down, hot and cold, sun and moon, male and female, etc. It is this interaction of forces or expressions of energy that cause movement, and movement indicates life.
Michael Gilman, current president of the International Society of T'ai Chi Ch'uan Instructors, is a longtime teacher in the human potential movement. Gilman began his studies of Tai Chi Chuan in 1968 with Master Choy Kam-man in San Francisco. Master Choy's father, Choy Hok-peng, is credited with introducing Tai Chi to America in the 1940s. Master Choy taught the full Yang Style curriculum, and that is the system that Michael still practices and teaches.
The American Psychotherapy Association recently conducted an interview with Mr. Gilman to learn more about this unique art form.
1. For those readers who aren't familiar with Tai Chi, can you briefly explain what exactly it is?
When I am asked what Tai Chi is, I am reminded of the story of the blind men who, never having encountered an elephant, are asked to describe what it is. One touches the trunk and says, "An elephant is like a large snake." Another touches a leg, and says, "No, an elephant is like a tree." Another, touching the flank says, "No, an elephant is like a wall."
They are all correct, yet their individual answer is incomplete due to their not having all the information necessary to make an informed decision.
Talking about Tai Chi Chuan is much like the elephant problem. Tai Chi Chuan is a very complex art, with three main roots that go back hundreds, if not thousands, of years into Chinese history. If you ask someone who is interested in martial arts, he might respond that Tai Chi is definitely an effective self-defense system. If a person on a spiritual path were asked, he would probably respond saying it is a meditative art. And if someone who was involved with health and wellness was asked, he might answer that it is a physical culture/healing practice.
All are correct, yet Tai Chi cannot, and should not, be limited to one field of study. All of the roots are of equal importance and make Tai Chi Chuan one of the most popular physical activities in the world.
The name, Tai Chi Chuan, literally means Supreme Ultimate Martial Art. Today, in order to gain popularity worldwide, the art generally is known as "Tai Chi," eliminating the word "Chuan," which means martial system. I can understand the reason. Most people are not interested in martial arts and would certainly turn their backs on this marvelous exercise. But to fully understand its evolution, we must include the Chuan aspect.
The first root is the Martial Arts. People have always needed to defend themselves, whether from animals, or other humans. China is a crowded place, with much chance for confrontation. Many martial systems evolved. Tai Chi Chuan, as a martial art, emerged from the Taoist Wudang temple sometime between 500 to 1000 AD. The distant past is clouded, partially because of the idea that mystery and myth will add to its appeal. Because it was very effective, it was passed from father to son and never shared with strangers. It was not until the introduction of guns that hand-to-hand martial arts lost their effectiveness. At this time, in the early 1800s, Tai Chi started to move into the general population and gain popularity as a physical exercise.
The oldest root, going back several thousand years, is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), or the health and rejuvenation aspect. The Chinese have been using exercise to maintain wellness, cure disease, and strengthen the body for many thousands of years.
TCM theory is based on the idea of balance--balance in all aspects of one's life. Overall fitness and well-being is not just the absence of disease. It was derived by a balance between the physical, mental, and spiritual. TCM sees the whole person and uses various modalities as a way to eliminate the blocks in our system that tend to cause excess or deficiency. Balanced, relaxing exercise is one of the ways. I remember one Tai Chi instructor telling the class, "Don't make your heart sweat." This relates to the Chinese belief that internal balance is favored over physical appearance. This approach is quite different than the traditional Western idea of fitness.
The third root is Spiritual Development, namely Buddhism, Confucianism, and especially Taoism. These philosophical systems have played an important part in the lives of a majority of Chinese people and their cultural development. The Taoists look to what is natural, a blending with the forces of the Universe, to achieve supreme health and a long life filled with a strong feeling of contentment. In much the same way that TCM achieves physical health through eliminating tension and extremes, Taoism eliminates beliefs as an obstruction to seeing reality. Meditate, relax, and find your inner balance; all will become clear. Decisions will be based on seeing what is, not acting on how one thinks it should be. The Taoists didn't have a creed, an all-powerful God, or rules. Each person is responsible for his or her own personal achievement.
The Taoists developed the philosophy of Yin and Yang and Tai Chi. By observing nature, the Taoists saw that nature was a manifestation of complementary opposites--day and night, up and down, hot and cold, sun and moon, male and female, etc. It is this interaction of forces or expressions of energy that cause movement, and movement indicates life.
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