Tai
ji chuan as a complex system of health-keeping, by
lic. Phil. I Boris Nicolaj Bühler
Tai ji chuan (the ultimate supreme boxing-system)
form(s) consists in a fixed complex of movements,
which is exercised in a slow, regular and continiously
floating way. The form, as the complex is called,
consists in a certain number of single parts, which
are combined with each other in a way that they build
a complex unit. The meaning of all of these movements
consist in diverse technics of self-defence, which
were in acient times destinated for real fighting
and tai ji was therefore established in China as a
very high leveled system of Chinese gong fu (never
ending hard work or self-mastery). Because Chinese
medicines found out, that the slow movements of the
tai ji-form is also a great system of preserving health
even in high ages, the applications for self-defence
and fighting were in modern times often left aside.
So the transforming of tai ji from a fighting art
to a health-keeping art had begun. Today there are
many – mostly those styles, who are described
as «modern» – styles of tai ji,
who concentrate mainly on «energetic»
health aspects and who neglect the applications contained
every movement of the form. But aside of these «modern»
schools, there is also a number of so called «authentic»
schools. One of these «authentic» schools
of the Yang family tradition goes back to grandmaster
Cheng Manching, who was the teacher of Lawrence Galante
(NYC). In this «authentic» school in the
tradition of Cheng Manching, the form is teached together
with its applications for self-defence; this means,
that not only the 37-step (short-) form will be thought
correctly, but also a rich selection of applications
contained in the different parts. So, one can say,
that in authentic traditional forms, all the applications
for health-keeping remain included and are teached
to the students, no matter if it concerns times of
«peace» (the form is only done as a way
of moving qi gong) or war (the applications of the
form will have to be used to neutralize an attack).
In this meaning, Yang tai ji (after Cheng Manching)
is a style of so called «soft» or «inner-style»
gung fu. (The significant separation between «authentic»
traditional schools and «modern» schools
is, that in traditional schools, the tradition is
known. This means, that the line of transmission from
teacher to teacher/generation to generation is known.
As an exemple: our class is based on the direct knowledge-transmisson
of Grandmaster Yang Cheng Fu, who was the direct teacher
of master Cheng Manching and Cheng Manching was the
direct teacher of Lawrence Galante and Lawrence Galante
is the direct teacher of Boris Bühler. If you
check out «modern» schools, then you may
often remark the missing of such a traditional line
of teaching.)
How
works tai ji as a system of health-keeping?
To
understand the functionalism of tai ji, it is necessary
to know the principles of traditional Chinese medecine:
through the slow movements of tai ji, which are combined
with the qi kung (breathing-controll) technique, the
body is transporting so called «inner energy»
(chi, qi, ji or in Japanese spelling ki) through the
meridians of the body. Through this method, possible
blockades in the meridians-system will be released,
the energy-supply of inner organs will be improved
and they will be strengthened in their functions.
In the same time the mind will become calm and gradually
more and more free from «stress». It is
also a fact, that through the regular exercising of
tai ji the concentration and the memory will become
stronger. So, when tai ji is done regular and correct,
the psychic and physic health will improve definitely.
This is in between proven also by western medical
studies. Beyond of all that, there are a lot of other
positive aspects directly linked to tai ji: the form
can be considered as the «inpersonification»
of the Taoist philosophy, of the Tao.
For
what kinds of diseases and health problems is tai
ji preventive or curative? Under what conditions is
tai ji working properly? What difference makes the
age of a tai ji student?
In
China many diseases are known, for which tai ji can
applied as a remedy or way of preventing them. As
exemple: tai ji is good to prevent or cure arthritis,
bronchitis, catching a cold, diabetes, heart-problems,
high blood pressure, kidney problems, tuberculosis,
rheumatic problems, «stress» or being
tired/lack of concentration. The form can be applied
to prevent all these diseases or as a remedy to cure
them. But not only that! Tai ji is also a effective
way of keeping you younger, the process of getting
older will slow down. This is one of many reasons,
why in China mostly older people are every day exercising
tai ji in public parks. The regular exercise of a
tai ji form (which can be considered as a method of
moving qi gong or moving meditation) strengthens your
circulation, strengthens your balance, bones and improves
the flexibility of the whole body and mind. Tai ji
is therefore a Chinese kind of an individual free-health-care
«insurance». It is the best individual
method of health-keeping in every age. In front of
this (modern) background, it’s comprehensive,
that some of the younger, «modern» schools
of tai ji concentrated the teaching of the form on
an «energetic» way. But to have a curative
or health-preventing effect through tai ji, there
are some must conditions: 1. the form must be done
correctly. No matter, which style (chen, yang, sun
or wu) you do. 2. the form must be done with correct
qi kung. 3. tai ji must be exercised regular and continuous.
If only one of these must-conditions is missing, there
can be no success guaranteed. In contradiction to
that, the age of the student of tai ji is not really
important. In the daily praxis, there might be a selective
treatment of older and younger students: the younger
students are teached to do the form deeper than older
students and eventually the younger students will
learn a little bit quicker than older ones. But on
the other hand, people with a higher age often have
more discipline and so they have a good chance to
compensate a lot of the quicker learning of younger
students. However: the grain of tai ji is a rich gift
to all existing ages and sexes without any exeption.
By the way, the orign of the students is as irrelevant
as their age! If Chinese people want to have the profit
of tai ji for their health, then the will have to
learn the form in the same way Western people will
have and they will be confronted with the same problems
of discipline and technical aspects.
A
question about self-defence applications contained
in the tai ji form: is it not a contradiction if training
for health is combined with self-defence?
No.
In a western way of thinking, this may be in fact
rather be considered as a contradiction, but in fact,
it is just a question of interpretation. Self-defence
is at the end also a way of health-keeping, even if
it is a rather exceptional way applied only in special
situations. But because self-defence is something
we need very rarely and only exceptionally, it is
comprehensible, that not all of the different schools
of tai ji teach also applications. There are many
modern schools who don’t teach (any) applications
for self-defence. Our opignion is different. I think
that it is absolutely correct, to teach the tai ji
form up to 80 or 90% in a peaceful matter with full
concentration on peaceful health aspects, but regarding
the rest, the tai ji students should learn also efficient
applications for self-defence because in our modern
times the risk of being one day attacked by someone
might increase. As an exemple, the daily happening
robbery of older people is a fact nobody can neglect.
So, in my eyes, it is reasonable to teach first and
with most importance the aspects of health strengthening
and only secondary the health preventing through tai
ji. First, we strenghen our health (inside), then,
if necessary, we prevent it from violent damage (from
outside). To teach application aspects of tai ji,
there was created the tui shou (pushing hands) system.
Tui shou is a peaceful way of learning different aspects
of close combat, but it is done in a completely non
aggressive way. (It is done less aggressive than the
chi sao/the sticking hands of the Wing Chun style
gong fu, but follows exactly the same principles).
Tui shou therefore looks rather like the dancing of
two people together than a fight between two enemies.
Mostly older people are exercising tui shou in public
parks in China and usually look like they have a LOT
of fun doing it! Nothing appears like a aggressive
fight, they smile and they push very relaxed. If you
don’t know, what they do, you would never think
of an exercise to learn real close combat principles,
which can be applied deadly or at least very dangerous
for aggressors.
Short
biography of the teacher Boris Nicolaj Bühler:
Boris
Nicolaj Buehler was born in Zurich 1965. He started
1978 with Kickboxing (at the formerly Sportschule
Thai in Zurich-Örlikon and later at Modern Karate
Center, MKC in Zurich). He autodidactically studied
different styles as principles of Wing Chun and Jeet
Kune Do (the style of Bruce Lee). Since 1992 he started
learning qi gong as a student of the Shaolin Grandmaster
Michael P.S. Thng (Singapore Seow Tin San Athletic
Association, Sek Koh Sam Sect) and started learning
also Yang style tai ji from Lawrence Galante (Center
for holistic arts, NYC). Since 1997 we attained diverse
classes of Dan Inosanto & Udo Müller (JKD).
Since 1995 Boris got his permission to teach qi kung
(from M. Thng) and 1997 he got the permission of teaching
tai ji (from L. Galante). 2000 Boris graduated as
a licentiatus philosophiae in history at the University
of Zurich with the work «The history of Karate
in Switzerland» under Prof. Dr. Jakob Tanner.
2001 he also graduated the test as a full instructor
for tai ji, gong fu and qi gong under Lawrence Galante.
Now, Boris teaches tai ji and qi gong in Zurich.
Adresses:
My
private Address is:
lic.
phil. I Boris Nicolaj Bühler
Brahmsstrasse 60
CH-8003 Zürich
Tel
044 401 11 09
If
you have questions, please give us a call.
Training
schedule:
Private
or compagny requests are always very welcome:
Get
your offer or informations under: 044 401 11 09. (We
also teach in english/french).
NEW
BEGINNER CLASS FROM 26th of August 2010:
Test
doubble lesson for CHF 30.- (approx. 90 minutes)
On
thurseday 26th of august 2010 you can check out, if
you like our taijiquan for the price of CHF 30.-.
This class will be realized when at least 5 persons
will subscribe.
Attention:
If the class is takeing place, it will begin on 16.
september 2010 and it will end on 16. december 2010.
Price: CHF 350.- for 20 lessons (45 minutes each).
Adress
of our training: Schulhaus in der Ey, in
der Ey 20, Zurich Albisrieden (training in gymnastic
hall). You get can find the map to our place here.
Beginning:
16th of september untill 16th of december 2010. Please
notice that the class will take place only from 5
people subscribing in minimum. In doubt, please call
me.
Content:
We do the 37 Zheng Manqing forms, the 13
pattern forms from Mantak Chia, intense warm up, basic
qigong breathing exercises (walking and standing),
applications for a better comprehension of the patterns
and push hands (tui shou), a gentle sensitivity and
moveing coordination exercise performed by two persons.
Private
lessons or group training? Self-defence? Fitness-boxing
or technical kickboxing? No problem!
Please give us a call (044 401 11 09) and we will
inform you of our possibilities, conditions and prices.
Teaching in english, german or french.
