Chris Meistre

The last 2 classes that we’ve had I’ve been learning the Tai Chi 42 Form.  As EVERYTHING is on the Internet these days, I decided to search around and see what I can find about it.

I found two awesome Youtube videos.  Well actually, there are loads more, but I particular like the way these two do it.  If you look closely there are a few slight differences in the way they interpret it, and also a little bit different to the way I’m learning it.  I suppose that is why Tai Chi is so great, you can adjust it slightly to suite yourself once you know it.

I know the moves up to about the 1:10 time mark in the videos.  And I say know, because I still have a LOT of practicing to do before I can move as smooth as this guy and girl does.

The Five Steps in Tai Chi:

• Chin Pu – Forward step
• T’ui Pu – Backward step
• Tsuo Ku – Left step
• You P’an – Right step
• Chung Ting – The central position, balance, equilibrium.

The Wu Xing are an ancient  device for systems with 5 stages; hence the preferred translation of “movements”, “phases” or “steps” over “elements”.

The movements are:

• Wood
• Fire
• Earth
• Metal
• Water

The system of five phases was used for describing interactions and relationships between phenomena. It was employed as a device in many fields of early Chinese thought, including seemingly disparate fields such as geomancy or Feng shui, astrology, traditional Chinese medicine, music, military strategy and martial arts.

Generating

• Wood feeds Fire
• Fire creates/produces Earth (ash)
• Earth bears Metal
• Metal carries Water (as in a bucket or tap, or water condenses on metal)
• Water nourishes Wood

Overcoming

• Wood parts Earth (such as roots)
• Earth absorbs (or muddies) Water
• Water quenches Fire
• Fire melts Metal
• Metal chops Wood

OR

• Wood absorbs Water
• Water rusts Metal
• Metal breaks up Earth
• Earth smothers Fire
• Fire burns Wood

Here follows an excellent example of how the five elements interact with each other:

The Ba gua are eight diagrams used in Taoist cosmology to represent a range of interrelated concepts.  Each consists of three lines, each either “broken” or “unbroken,” representing a yin line or a yang line, respectively. Due to their tripartite structure, they are often referred to as “trigrams” in English.  These eight diagrams represent Heaven, Wood, Water, Mountain, Earth, Thunder, Fire and Lake.

What is it used for, or what is it?

Simply put: A Ba Gua is one of the tools used by a feng shui master, along with a Luo Pan (feng shui compass) to help determine preferred locations, in the home or office, for certain functions; such as wealth, health, fame, love and more.

A bit more info on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagua_(concept)

Here is a nice diagram explaining how it relates to your different body parts, colors and life situations:

Li

Fame / Rank / Reputation

Eye

Red

Kuen

Marriage / Mother

Abdomen Organs

Red / Pink / White

Dwei

Children / Descendant / Offspring

Mouth

White

Chyan

Helpful People / Travel

Head

White / Gray / Black

Kan

Career / Ancestral

Ear

Black

Gen

Knowledge / Self Cultivation

Hands

Black / Blue / Green

Jen

Family / Health

Foot

Blue / Green

Hsun

Wealth

Hips

Blue / Purple / Read

I’m really enjoying being part of a Kungfu school again.  It’s still a long way until I’m on the same level as fitness as what I used to be, but I’m getting there.  I initially found it very strange that we go right into the forms at this school, whereas with the previous school we did a LOT of basics before we moved onto the forms.

But the teacher mentioned something on Thursday evening that made me realise why they do it like this.  The forms and basics we’re learning now are more there to practise our coordination, build on our stamina and get our fitness levels up, rather than for self defence purposes.   I’ve stopped with the Ninjitsu training for now to see how it goes with the Kungfu classes, but I think we’ll carry on with that for the meanwhile.  It’s nice to see the contrasts between the chinese and japanese martial arts.

The Tai Chi classes are very nice as well.  I’m finding it easier to learn with someone being there to show you the way, than trying to work it out from the DVD we’ve got.  I really think the DVD was just not put together well.  There are a lot finer things to it than just imitating moves you see.  The way you walk, the way you move, the way you move your hands, which of your hands your eyes are following, etc, etc.