It was 1998, and one couldn’t find websites about Tai Chi online, and Chen Style Tai Chi was not well known in most countries. Then I met Chen Xiaowang.
Continue readingMeeting Chen Xiaowang
Posts by publ_edu
Life takes a sharp turn
Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang invited me to stay in his home in Sydney in 2000, to learn Tai Chi from his son. It turned my life around.
Continue readingFirst time in Chenjiagou
I went to China to train Tai Chi for the first ime in 2002, and stayed in my master’s family home. It was an incredible time, when i was welcomed in his family.
Continue readingFibromyalgia
A research paper published on the New England Journal of Medicine showed Tai Chi can benefit patients suffering from Fibromyalgia.
Continue readingTaijiquan and your Brain
Meditation increases gray matter in your brain, and Tai Chi practice includes Standing Meditation.
Continue reading5th Duanwei
Beijing
Back to China, after 8 years, organizing of a group trip that took 39 to the craddle of Chinese martial arts, training Tai Chi in Chenjiagou and Huashan.
Continue readingChenjiagou 2011
We visited Chenjiagou, cradle of Tai Chi in China. This is the village where Chen Wangting lived in when he created Tai Chi in 17th century.
Continue readingShaolin
We visited the Shaolin monastery after the Tai Chi seminar. It is famous for its history and for martial arts legends that involve it.
Continue readingHuashan
After three days of Tai Chi practice, we climbed the Huashan mountain range, where Taoist hermits of old used to take refuge to meditate.
Continue readingPostural Stability and Parkinson
New England Journal of Medicine published an article arguing Tai Chi improves postural stability in Parkinson patients.
Continue readingCanadian Family Physician magazine on Taijiquan
The official magazine of Canadian Family Physicians Association featured an Article strongly recommending Tai Chi.
Continue readingInflammation reduction markers
Tai Chi helps reduce inflammation response; research found that a molecule responsible for inflammation is less present in cells of Tai Chi students.
Continue readingCopyright
All rights on this website and all of its content are reserved to Eduardo L. Molon (excepted where noted). Photos with the WCTA-Br watermark belong to that association and are used under its consent. Some photos of Master Chen Yingjun belong to his personal archives and are used under his consent. No part of this… Continue reading
Privacy Statement
We have a policy of respect for our readers’ privacy. Data collected on this website is only the data normally collected by the WordPress publishing platform. We don’t use any plugins to track you around. If you contact us by email, we will write your name and email in our address book, along with other… Continue reading
Liability Release / Waiver
Coming to Class When coming to your first class, you are required to sign a Liability Release. Please download it here, print it, complete the form at the and, date and sign. If you don’t have a printer, please don’t worry, i have some forms with me – but please read the text in advance… Continue reading
Glossary
Tai Chi employs a few special words from Chinese language. Here is a glossary on Tai Chi main terms.
Continue readingTai Chi, or Taijiquan ?
The most used transliteration system used to be Wade-Gilles, and it wrote Tai Chi Chuan. In 1979 the Chinese government adopted Pinyin.
Continue readingHistorical Origin of Taijiquan
Tai Chi Chuan was systematized by Chen Wangting, a military commander in the district of Wen (Wenxian), China, in the 17th century.
Continue readingDaoist influence on Taijiquan
Presence of Taoist ideas in Taijiquan (Tai Chi) is source of controversy. Chen Wangting received influence from Taoism, but Tai Chi was certainly created in Chenjiagou.
Continue readingFriends in Taijiquan
These are Taijiquan (Tai Chi) (Tai Chi) teachers that i wholeheartedly recommend. I am lucky that we have become friends by following the same road in life. WCTA-Br This is the association that represents Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang in Brazil, where i worked for 9 years as manager. Here you can find the contacts for Taijiquan (Tai Chi) (Tai Chi)… Continue reading
Yin and Yang
Nature is described as resulting from interaction of two forces, Yin and Yang, with four basic characteristics that every Tai Chi student should be aware of.
Continue readingAcupuncture
Tai Chi is in accordance with Acupuncture theory. Outside and extremities are Yang, inside and center is Yin. The body is linked by Three External Harmonies.
Continue readingQigong or Chi Kung
Qigong (Chi Kung) applies to any exercise influencing the circulation of vital breath or energy in the human body. Tai Chi practice includes Qigong.
Continue readingPrinciples, didactics, teaching, and method
A clear map of how Tai Chi is taught is needed for learning efficiency. Principles are the basic rules that guide our practice.
Continue readingHow to improve
Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang teaches the proper mindset to improve in Tai Chi practice.
Continue readingNaturalness
Naturalness is the first pinciple in Tai Chi. There’s a subtle natural order in the universe. We can choose to follow this order, or to follow our own whims.
Continue readingThe role of relaxation
When coupled with correct posture, relaxation will result in natural distribution of power, which is the best possible one. This is the goal in Tai Chi.
Continue readingBody Posture
Good transmission of power in Tai Chi is dependent on good alignment and precise movement of the joints. Tai Chi optimizes existing connections in your body.
Continue readingStanding Meditation
Meditation is a natural state of human mind. Through posture corrections and knowledge, Tai Chi can help you naturally reclaim it.
Continue readingPengjin
This teaching from Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang is a deep explanation of how power is generated in Tai Chi.
Continue readingMovement Principle
The governing principle of Tai Chi movement is: Dantian moves, and the hands follows.
Continue readingSilk Reeling Qigong
Tai Chi in one way is Chi Kung (Qigong), because we try to make Qi flow in the whole body. Silk Reeling is the pinnacle of Tai Chi.
Continue readingGeometric Instructions
Relying on geometric instructions for Tai Chi practice is a mistake. Bone shape varies greatly in people. How to be sure of the precision of a posture, then?
Continue readingQi
The concept of Qi, central in Tai Chi, is fundamental to many aspects of Chinese culture, but it is still surprisingly misunderstood in the west.
Continue readingMeditate
Meditation is a natural state for human beings. If the Qi sinks down, meditation ensues naturally in Tai Chi.
Continue readingQi sensations
Questions regarding feeling Qi (energy) circulation are common among those starting Tai Chi practice. The feeling of Qi is described as being of a warm flow.
Continue readingQigong and Taijiquan
Master Chen Yingjun’s words about how Qigong (or Chi Kung) relates to Tai Chi, and how Qigong is present inside Tai Chi training.
Continue readingMicrocosmic Orbit
Microcosmic Orbit is a Qigong and meditative practice also known as: Divine Sky Circulation, Neidan, Small Heavenly Circulation. The actual Chinese name is 小周天.
Continue readingBeginner’s Mind
This is the attitude we should adopt when learning Tai Chi: complete non-attachment to what we think we already know.
Continue readingStanding and One Hand Silk Reeling
Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang’s original standard instruction for Tai Chi Standing Meditation and Silk Reeling Qigong, with explanations.
Continue reading9 Posture Form
Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang created the 9 Posture Form form just some years ago as an introduction to Chen style Tai Chi.
Continue readingPain
When there’s no Qi blockage, there’s no pain. Tai Chi respects this well established Traditional Chinese Medicine principle.
Continue readingIt will make him strong
Trying to protect children from all discomfort is natural in humans, but it is possible to overdo it. A tough stint makes one strong!
Continue readingFajin
One of the goals in Tai Chi practice is to become able to concentrate whole body spiral power a single impact point, in an explosive move.
Continue readingPostural Stability
Tai Chi is famous for the postural stability it confers to practitioners. A Tai Chi Master is very difficult to push.
Continue reading19 Posture Form
Chen Xiaowang created the 19 Posture Tai Chi Form, about 30 years ago, to introduce new students to Chen family Tai Chi. Here is the instructional video.
Continue readingTiredness
To understand this teaching, it’s neccessary to emphazise context. For a beginner, Tai Chi is a complete reeducation of posture and movement.
Continue readingADHD
Martial arts practice, such as Tai Chi, is starting to be considered as an alternative for medication for coping with ADHD.
Continue readingLiving teachings
Tai Chi teachings are not static entities. Didactics employed by a Tai Chi Master will change according to conditions and level of the students.
Continue readingDon’t try to use your legs
You should relinquish your old body mechanics, to learn the new way to move the body that Tai Chi will teach you.
Continue readingLaojia Yilu
Master Chen Yingjun demonstrates Tai Chi’s Laojia Yilu, leading a group of students. This was the first time Chen Yingjun allowed his Taijiquan (Tai Chi) to be recorded.
Continue readingHip positioning
Hip positioning in Tai Chi practice is one of the most important points to be understood by those starting their learning.
Continue readingSkill and appearance
Skill in Tai Chi must be earned and honed by practice, and refined by the understanding of internal movement that dedicated practice fosters.
Continue readingShape of the Spine
The fundamental organizing principle in Tai Chi is naturalness. Physiology and natural shape of the spine must be respected.
Continue readingWhen you learn the most
At the end of a very tiring Tai Chi practice session is when you will face the biggest challenges have the best learning opportunities.
Continue readingPractice Shoes
When practicing Tai Chi, choose flat (zero drop), wide toe box shoes, and let your feet do their thing.
Continue readingPush Hands Essence
Chen Yingjun explains the foundation of Push hands in Tai Chi, what to aim for, and why it is important.
Continue readingHow the Body Works
Tai Chi is about how the body works, not simply about copying some moves. Tai Chi changes you body from the inside.
Continue readingYou can’t teach a skill
One does not go to a Tai Chi class to acquire knowledge, rather to learn how to practice. What is taught is how to cultivate knowledge, how to practice.
Continue readingLight Arms
When practicing Tai Chi, you should have your arms and hands light, and your feet heavy.
Continue readingSpeed of practice
Many variables influence the speed in Tai Chi. You shouldn’t practice so fast that you can’t keep the quality, nor so slow that Qi won’t circulate fluidly.
Continue reading