Saturday, October 23, 2010

Dare to Shorten Your Tai Chi Training for 10 Years?

I have been searching for different training methods to improve my Tai Chi since day one.

I learned a number of ways from Tai Chi Kung to sparing which has improved my skills dramatically.

They all work. Those are insights of different grandmasters from Chen, Yang, Wu, and Wu-Tang Tai Chi family. But, it will take another life time to just understand it.

However, I found one simple technique which is quite useful and powerful. I learned this from William C.C. Chen when I asked him about the correct way to breath.

“This is how you should breathe when doing the Tai Chi. This will shorten your Tai Chi Training for at least 10 years.”

I was amazed by what he taught me. It’s so simple yet not too many people outside of his circle will even believe him as we always want MORE. I believe it works, not because he is a big name teacher, but because I have learned similar technique when I was a kid.

This is how it works.


1. Focus on your hand when you inhale and focus on your one point (Tan Tien) when you exhale.

2. Inhale when you are raising (Open) your hand and body. Exhale when you are lowering your hand and body (Close). He called this open and close. (Note: This is the same as what has been taught in the Tai Chi Classics.)


This is it. No more struggle.

Now, you have to make a choice whether you will just ignore this technique, or incorporate it into your training and see if this will actually shorten your time of training for 10 years.

However, there is no guarantee.

“If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster.” --- Clint Eastwood