|
|
|
De-Mystifying Fly Fishing
I remember the first time I saw someone fly fishing. I think I was five years old. My father, my sister and I had back packed to a remote alpine lake. My trusty Zebco with the closed face push button casting reel, cork bobber and jar of Puatzke’s,...
How to Get Certified In Scuba Diving
The first two steps in getting certified in scuba diving is to make sure that you are a reasonably proficient swimmer and you get medical clearance from your doctor to take up the sport. As for the swimming, you don't have to master every type of...
Is Aikido A Martial Art ? : Part Three.- Conclusion.
The Converted
In articles parts one and two I have covered the introduction of Aikido to the West, and the impact on other Martial Artists, Aikido progressed and developed in the UK by visiting existing dojos of all the various Martial Arts and...
Newest martial arts study today
When we say martial arts, we think of the much publicized
Chinese Kung Fu that is graceful yet powerful. Ever since Bruce
Lee hit the screen with his Kung Fu flying kicks, people of the
West has been mesmerized and in awe of the martial art...
The Aikido Biography of Sensei Henry Ellis
The Biography of Sensei Henry Ellis
5th dan
Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman - 2000
Henry Ellis was born May 3rd 1936 in a tough coal mining town in the County of Yorkshire, North of England. This was pre-war Britain, and growing up as...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Origins of Ti Chi
The Origins of Tai Chi
The principles of Tai Chi were established by Taoist hermits and evolved as a martial fighting art called Tai Chi Chuan.
The early Tai Chi teachers were mystical figures however; the exception was Chang San-Feng, who was the first major figure in Tai Chi history.
The Ming Dynasty places his date of birth at 1247 and he is credited with being the founder of the fighting art called Wudang Kung fu.
He is believed to have studied under a Taoist recluse living in the mountains of Northwest China; he then studied at a Shaolin temple.
The Shaolin temple is credited as the originator of fighting martial arts such as Shaolin temple boxing and Kung Fu.
After watching a fight between a bird and a snake, Chang was impressed by the ability of the snake to dodge and counter attack the larger crane.
Chang observed this ability to defend and counter attack and then modified his Kung Fu fighting technique.
From this point on the soft or internal Chinese marshal arts were born including: Ba Gua, Hsingi and Tai Chi Chan.
Chen Style
The 17th century in China was a time of war and Tai Chi was developed as a fighting discipline. The most famous of these was the Chen style of Tai Chi founded by Chen Wang T'ing who served under general Chi Chi-Guang.
General Chi Chi-Guang is credited with writing the "classic of Kung Fu" which, set out the principles of what has now become the Cheng style of Tai Chi.
T'ing is credited as being the first person to refer to Tai Chi Chuan rather than Wudang kung fu.
Yang Style
Yang Lu-Chan found work in the household of Chen Chang-xing and secretly spied on Tai Chi Sessions of his master.
One day he offered to fight a stranger in
front of Chen, who was unaware of his fighting skills.
Chen was so impressed by his performance that he accepted Yang as a student, Yang then travelled throughout China as Chen's representative and in any fights he took part in legend has it he was never beaten.
Yang adapted the Chen style to be a gentler version of Tai Chi. Today, Chen is acknowledged as the oldest of the three Tai Chi styles but it is Yang's style is more popular.
Wu Yu Hsiang Style
The third major style of Tai Chi was developed by Wu Yu-Hsiang, who studied with Yang and Chen.
His style incorporates features of both styles and these three styles form the base from which many other styles have flourished.
Modern Developments
The government in Peking in 1949 established the Wushu Council to formulate a style that would popularise Tai Chi, improve people's health and make it a competitive sport.
The Wushu style is responsible for popularising Tai Chi and bringing it to a greater audience than ever before.
A new style called the Beijing 24 step form came from this research and has become popular worldwide.
The most famous of the Tai Chi masters of the 20th century was Chen Man-Ching; he simplified the Yang style big form of 108 postures cutting it to just 37.
This style is easier to learn and established Chan Man Ching as the most influential Tai Chi master of the 20th Century.
About the Author
Re Vitalise offer a warm welcome to both novice and experienced pupils. In addition to offering
regular tuition there are several Tai Chi weekend breaks available.
To learn more about our services go to:
www.re-vitalise.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
|