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| yang family secret transmissions: Tʼai-chi Touchstones Douglas Wile, 1983 Three generations of Yang family masters lifted the art of T'ai-chi ch'üan from a closed courtyard in Henan Province to the status of a national treasure and made of it, like India's yoga, a gift to the world. Yang Lu-ch'an in the nineteenth century, followed by his sons and their sons, have given T'ai-chi ch'üan the theoretical and practical standard which still defines and shapes the art for a majority of practitioners today. This book draws together the written and photographic record of their teachings, a legacy spanning more than fifty years of published material. The contents include oral instructions, mnemonic verses and training songs, commentaries to the T'ai-chi Classics, essays autobiography, and family legends, much of which has not been previously translated. |
| yang family secret transmissions: T'ai Chi Touchstones Douglas Wile, 1983-01-01 |
| yang family secret transmissions: Yang family secret transmissions Douglas Wile, 1986 |
| yang family secret transmissions: Anatomy of Yang Family Tai Chi Steffan De Graffenried, 2007-12-20 This important resource for both students and teachers exposes the true meaning behind the flowery, esoteric language of Tai Chi's classic Chinese texts, and offers concrete examples of the principles of Tai Chi in action. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals Brian Kennedy, Elizabeth Guo, 2008-01-08 Secret training manuals, magic swords, and flying kung fu masters—these are staples of Chinese martial arts movies and novels, but only secret manuals have a basis in reality. Chinese martial arts masters of the past did indeed write such works, along with manuals for the general public. This collection introduces Western readers to the rich and diverse tradition of these influential texts, rarely available to the English-speaking reader. Authors Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo, who coauthor a regular column for Classical Fighting Arts magazine, showcase illustrated manuals from the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and the Republican period. Aimed at fans, students, and practitioners, the book explains the principles, techniques, and forms of each system while also placing them in the wider cultural context of Chinese martial arts. Individual chapters cover the history of the manuals, Taiwanese martial arts, the lives and livelihoods of the masters, the Imperial military exams, the significance of the Shaolin Temple, and more. Featuring a wealth of rare photographs of great masters as well as original drawings depicting the intended forms of each discipline, this book offers a multifaceted portrait of Chinese martial arts and their place in Chinese culture. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Tai Chi Fa Jin Mantak Chia, Andrew Jan, 2012-02-08 A guide to the seemingly effortless yet explosively powerful martial art techniques of Fa Jin • Explains how to collect energy within and discharge it for self-defense as well as healing • Explores how to counter the natural instinct to resist force with force and develop yielding softness through the 13 Original Movements of Tai Chi • Illustrates routines for the partner practice of “Push Hands” (Tui Shou) Fa Jin, an advanced yang style of Tai Chi, complements the physical, mental, and spiritual conditioning available through solo Tai Chi practice and the internal martial arts of Taoism. Fa Jin enables adepts to harness the energy of yin, yang, and the earth in the lower tan tien and discharge it as an extremely close-range yet explosively powerful blow in self-defense and partner practice as well as in healing techniques. Integrating the teachings of many Taoist masters, including Chang San-Feng, the creator of Tai Chi; Wang Tsung-Yueh, the legendary 19th-century master; Bruce Lee, the actor and martial artist who made the “one-inch punch” technique famous; and the Magus of Java, a living master able to discharge energy in the form of electric shocks, this book explores the history, philosophy, internal exercises, and physical practices of Fa Jin. Drawing on Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Tan Tien Chi Kung techniques, Master Mantak Chia and Andrew Jan reveal the secrets to collecting yin and yang in the lower tan tien and discharging the energy in a seemingly effortless yet explosive blow. Illustrating several routines of the Tai Chi partner practice of “Push Hands” (Tui Shou), they explain how to apply Fa Jin techniques by “listening” to your opponent’s intentions and countering the natural instinct to resist force with force through yielding softness and redirection. The authors also detail how to prepare for this advanced practice through stretching, meditation, breathing, relaxation, and energetic exercises. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Wandering Along the Way of Okinawan Karate Giles Hopkins, 2020-09-15 A personal, philosophical, and historical exploration of Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate written by an experienced master. In Wandering Along the Way of Okinawan Karate, Giles Hopkins draws on his fifty years of martial arts experience to take the reader on a journey through the meaning of kata (form) and bunkai (application) in Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate. Hopkins offers his personal reflections on the enigma of karate kata while explaining many of its little-understood applications. With skill and insight into kata's connection to nature, the book addresses key topics such as why some movements are done slowly while others are fast, the significance of steps and turns, and the role of tradition in karate. The purpose of kata solo patterns is to solidify specific self-defense techniques. Contrary to the commonly held belief that kata techniques can have multiple interpretations, Hopkins argues that kata embodies specific martial principles that must be followed rigorously for it to be truly effective. He also reveals the spiritual dimensions of martial arts by explaining its deep connection to nature. Providing new understanding of kata structure, themes, and martial art principles, Hopkins sheds light on the practitioner's journey. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Tai Chi Odyssey, Vol. 2 Michael DeMarco, 2017-11-17 As a digital edition, this two-volume anthology offers not only a handy historical overview of taijiquan history, but most chapters focus on actual practice. Guidance is provided through Carol Derrickson’s discussions on taijiquan classic writings as well as from other highly experienced instructors in their own chapters. Dr. Linda Lehrhaupt’s chapter inspires one to practice by explaining how mental changes occur in a student during initial weeks of classes. Although most taiji classes are offered by individuals in their own schools, a number of classes are also offered in academic settings. Andrew Peck gives a fine example of how taiji is taught in a university setting. Other authors present subtle aspects of practice—be it eye movement, circles that exist even in movements that appear to be liner, benefits derived from solo and group practice, or the too often elusive element of relaxation. All these chapters will prove valuable to anyone wishing to improve their quality of practice and thus to reap more health benefits taiji has to offer. The same embodied principles can be utilized in martial applications. Peter Lim wrote two chapters. In one he details general taiji principles that are put into the practice, while in the other chapter he looks specifically at how the principles can be applied in combat. His chapters provide a solid foundation for better understanding tuishou, the two-person push-hands practice that Herman Kaus and Hal Mosher (with the help of Allen Pittman) discuss. Greg Wolfson (with the help of Scott Rodell) writes about push-hands and sanshou—a high-level two-person practice of combative training. Russ Mason’s short but pertinent chapter samples two favorite techniques: wardoff and diagonal flying. The chapters by Donald Mainfort and Joel Stein are relatively unique in that they look at the variety of taiji forms—contrasting the original Chen Style with the Yang Style, and the large and medium frames—helping us better understand how and why routines differ, and which may be better suited for particular individuals. As a result, we can also see why movements from different styles can blend into anyone’s practice. Comprised of articles previously published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts—we are highly optimistic that you will find something on each page of this anthology to be of great use in your understanding and practice. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Tai Chi and the Daoist Spirit Michael DeMarco, Arieh Lev Breslow, Douglas Wile, Greg Brodsky, Dennis Willmont, Charles Holcombe, Mark Hawthorne, Stanley E. Henning, 2022-08-08 The chapters in this anthology present an encompassing perspective of how some Chinese martial art styles—and most significantly taijiquan—developed and evolved along with deep rooted traditions of spirituality and the quest for health and longevity. Much in this volume deals with Daoist theories and practices, particularly its influences ranging from human energetics (qigong) and other physical exercises (daoyin), to practical combative arts. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Cheng Man-ch'ing and T'ai Chi: Echoes in the Hall of Happiness Michael DeMarco, 2015-08-16 Cheng Man-ch’ing (1902–1975)—also romanized as Zheng Manqing— certainly played a lead role in popularizing tai chi ch'uan throughout the world and greatly influencing the way the art is perceived and practiced. This fact alone should drive all those interested in tai chi to study the man’s history and thought. There is a huge body of writings and video representations of Cheng’s tai chi theory and practice. Unfortunately, much of the available content actually obscures Cheng’s message. The result is that Cheng and his role in tai chi evolution are often not fully understood and faulty conclusions are made. A further result is that many feel either enlightened with what they believe to be true, or they become even more perplexed in who Cheng was as a human and what his tai chi truly embodied. The chapters in this anthology contain rare information about Professor Cheng not available elsewhere, except in their originally published formats in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts. Most of the articles in the journal were written in an academic style, limiting their acceptance from the general public, which is typically interested in the more accessible popular writing styles. Of course the content here deals not only with the complexities of tai chi theory and practice, but does so in a thick weave of historical and cultural threads. We are republishing the journal articles in book format so all with a sincere interest in tai chi history, theory, and practice can benefit from the content, particularly those interested in the Cheng Man-ch’ing tradition. Each author is uniquely qualified for producing some of the highest-quality writings in this specialized area. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Meditation and Movement Garry Rosser, 2009-05-15 This book is an accessible series of structured relaxation and self-awareness sessions to help strengthen students' self-control, resilience and respect. This course of structured sessions is suitable for children, teens and youths, and especially beneficial for pupils with disabilities, special educational needs, self-esteem or behavioural issues. |
| yang family secret transmissions: The Shoulder César Fernández-de-las-Peñas, Jeremy Lewis, 2022-03-21 The Shoulder: Theory & Practice presents a comprehensive fusion of the current research knowledge and clinical expertise that will be essential for any clinician from any discipline who is involved with the assessment, management and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions of the shoulder. This book is a team project-led by two internationally renowned researchers and clinicians, Jeremy Lewis and César Fernández-de-las-Peñas. Other members of the team include over 100 prominent clinical experts and researchers. All are at the forefront of contributing new knowledge to enable us to provide better care for those seeking support for their shoulder problem. The team also comprises the voices of patients with shoulder problems who recount their experiences and provide clinicians with important insight into how better to communicate and manage the needs of the people who seek advice and guidance. The contributing authors include physiotherapists, physical therapists, medical doctors, orthopedic surgeons, psychologists, epidemiologists, radiologists, midwives, historians, nutritionists, anatomists, researchers, rheumatologists, oncologists, elite athletes, athletic trainers, pain scientists, strength and conditioning experts and practitioners of yoga and tai chi. The cumulative knowledge contained within the pages of The Shoulder: Theory & Practice would take decades to synthesise. The Shoulder: Theory & Practice is divided into 42 chapters over three parts that will holistically blend, as the title promises, all key aspects of the essential theory and practice to successfully support clinicians wanting to offer those seeing help the very best care possible. It will be an authoritative text and is supported by exceptional artwork, photographs and links to relevant online information. |
| yang family secret transmissions: T'ai Chi and Qigong for Your Health: Historical and Scientific Foundations Michael DeMarco, M.A., 2015-08-24 T’ai Chi and qigong are popular because of their great reputations as exercises with numerous health-related benefits. Can these benefits simply be results of placebo effects? Chapters in this e-book not only provide an interesting historical backdrop in which taiji and qigong developed, but also provide scientific support for the efficacy and effects of both modalities. Breslow’s chapter focuses on Daoist practices associated with their quest for immortality and longevity. Rhoads, Crider, and Hayduk looks at taiji and qigong with the tools of modern science. DeMarco compares Yang-style taiji practice of with guidelines provided by the National Institue of Health. Kachur, Carleton, and Asmundson provide an excellent chapter that gives insight into aspects of taiji practice that improve balance. The final chapter by Kenneth Cohen offers a history of the taiji ruler as a tool conducive to vitalizing the qi. Included are aspects of design, lineage, and some illustrated exercises, plus details on qi circulation. For anyone who questions the validity of taiji and qigong as exercise modalities, the collected writings in this book will provide information not available elsewhere. In addition to finding the historical and scientific foundation of these practices, the contents in this book will help improve taiji and qigong practice, bringing the many benefits as claimed for these gems of Chinese culture. |
| yang family secret transmissions: What is 'Tai Chi'? Peter Gilligan, 2009-11-15 This insightful book covers all aspects of 'Tai Chi', answering questions that are beyond the scope of many classes. A wide range of material is covered, including fundamental points about the mechanics of movement and the 'energetic' aspects of practice, as well as the relationship between body, mind and spirit that emerges. |
| yang family secret transmissions: The Practice of Greater Kan and Li Mantak Chia, Andrew Jan, 2014-02-01 A guide to Taoist exercises to return to the Wu Wei state of mind and create the immortal spirit body • Includes illustrated instructions to connect astral energy with the energies of animals, children, and plants to grow the immortal fetus, or spirit body • Provides warm-up exercises and a complete daily Kan and Li routine • Explores how these advanced formulas are used for astral flight and realization of the Wu Wei state Building on the Lesser Kan and Li formulas for the development of the soul body, this book provides illustrated descriptions of the Greater Kan and Li formulas to create the immortal spirit body. Used by Taoist masters for thousands of years, these exercises are for advanced students of Taoist Inner Alchemy and mark the beginning of the path to immortality. Master Mantak Chia and Andrew Jan reveal how to use Taoist inner alchemy to harness the energies of Sun, Moon, Earth, North Star, and Big Dipper and transform them to feed the soul body and begin development of the immortal spirit body. They explain how to reverse yin and yang power through energetic work at the solar plexus, thereby activating the liberation of transformed sexual energy. They explore how to open the heart center and how to connect astral energy with the energies of animals, children, and plants to grow the immortal fetus, or spirit body. The authors provide warm-up exercises, including the Inner Smile and Fusion practices, and outline a complete daily Kan and Li routine for mental and physical health, longevity, astral flight, and realization of the Wu Wei state. |
| yang family secret transmissions: T'ai Chi Ch'uan Petra Kobayashi, Toyo Kobayashi, 2011-08-30 Unlock the secrets and health benefits of this ancient internal Chinese martial art! T'ai Chi Ch'uan (or taijiquan), a Chinese internal martial art, is best appreciated in the West for its health and fitness benefits, as an art of self-defense, and as a spiritual path. In classical Tai Chi, these aspects form an inseparable unity. In this guide to the classical Yang style, Petra and Toyo Kobayashi present the foundations of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and give comprehensive insights into its methods. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the inner energy--Ch'i--and its contribution to a refined practice of T'ai Chi and its application in self-defense. This Tai Chi book contains a clear and fully illustrated exploration of the 37 positions of the Yang style's short form and a basic partner exercise, Push Hands. Easy-to-follow photographs and diagrams with step-by-step instructions will help you to improve your practice. Ideal for practitioners at any level. Chapters include: The Styles The Principles Quotations from Old Masters Sixty-Four Questions and Answers About T'ai Chi Ch'uan Six Levels of Development The Thirteen Basic Positions and Techniques Advanced Practice Important Questions to Ask Yourself and more! |
| yang family secret transmissions: This is Tai Chi Paul Read, 2011-11-23 Do you want to start a Tai Chi class - but have a few questions you would like answered first? How long does it take to learn? Is it a martial art or health art? Is it better for your knees or your nerves? How is it useful in your daily life? Find out everything you need to know about the history, the different styles and what to look for in a class - 50 Questions and Answers is the essential book for anyone interested in learning the basics of this fascinating and health-giving art. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Logical and Spiritual Reflections Avi Sion, 2008-04-15 Logical and Spiritual Reflections is a collection of six shorter philosophical works, including: Hume’s Problems with Induction; A Short Critique of Kant’s Unreason; In Defense of Aristotle’s Laws of Thought; More Meditations; Zen Judaism; No to Sodom. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Cirpit Review Monographs n.2 - 2015 Gabriele Goria, 2015-05-19T00:00:00+02:00 You are holding a unique and special book in your hand. It is unique in many aspects. In western contemporary art the spiritual and religious elements exist primarily as cultural historical references, personal faith and religion being understood as the most private and intimate issues. It is indeed a brave and rare statement for an artist to confess that a spiritual quest is the foundation and basic element of his work.Born in a multi-religious family, Gabriele Goria started his own spiritual odyssey at a remarkably early age. He devoted his life to the practice of meditation and training in martial arts. Not a very common combination of activities for a young person.Drawing on his lifelong training in T’ai Chi Ch’üan and Ch’i Kung together with working on meditation techniques and philosophical and spiritual enquiry, Gabriele has developed his own approach to making and teaching theatre. In this book the writer describes vividly his long and multi-dimensional way from the crucifix of the Roman Catholic Church to Paramahansa Yogananda to arrive at a synthesis which he has named Experiential Pluralism. Gabriele Goria also tells us how naturally his multi-religious background and all his other interests form the basis for his creative work. In his two long-term projects Moving the Silence and Hermits in Progress, Gabriele Goria walks the talk: he is fearlessly testing his way of thinking in practice in very demanding surroundings. During these processes the complexity of different philosophical theories is embodied in movement and silence.It is interesting to follow a narrative, in which all words become useless, and making and teaching art and a personal spiritual search flow into a single process.Gabriele Goria writes about his own process in very honest and sincere words. The reader becomes convinced that Goria has a lifelong mission, which is anything but dogmatic and restrictive. His concept of Experiential Pluralism is a true and living ecumenism. What could our times need more!Gabriele may not like to be called exceptional or unique, but all I can say is that I’ve never met anyone like him.Kaija KangasActress – Lecturer in Theatre Pedagogy - Theatre Academy / University of the Arts of Helsinki |
| yang family secret transmissions: Preserving Life Through The Study Of The Martial Way Leon Drucker, 2012-02-07 Training Manual Part One for Kobujutsu Students |
| yang family secret transmissions: Emotions and Spirituality in Religions and Spiritual Movements Erika Wilson, 2012-07-23 Applying recent psychological and neuropsychological studies of emotions, Wilson explores the role of emotions in major Eastern, Western, and primal religions, as well as in some contemporary spiritual movements. The book discusses several religions’ attitudes on how to handle positive and negative emotions. |
| yang family secret transmissions: More Meditations Avi Sion, 2008-04-15 More Meditations is a sequel to the author’s earlier work, Meditations. It proposes additional practical methods and theoretical insights relating to meditation and Buddhism. It also discusses certain often glossed over issues relating to Buddhism – notably, historicity, idolatry, messianism, importation to the West. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Integrative Bioinformatics for Biomedical Big Data Xiuzhen Huang, Jason H. Moore, Yu Zhang, 2023-09-28 Explains the value of no-boundary thinking (NBT) in biological and biomedical research in helping to define impactful research questions. |
| yang family secret transmissions: The Tai Chi Handbook Ray Pawlett, 2009-07-15 The Tai Chi Handbook teaches readers all about the art, including its history, styles, applications, and moves. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Body Psychotherapy: History, Concepts, and Methods Michael C. Heller, 2012-08-20 From yoga to neuroscience, a tour of major ideas about the body and mind. Body psychotherapy, which examines the relationship of bodily and physical experiences to emotional and psychological experiences, seems at first glance to be a relatively new area and on the cutting edge of psychotherapeutic theory and practice. It is, but the major concepts of body/mind treatment are actually drawn from a wide range of historical material, material that spans centuries and continents. Here, in a massively comprehensive book, Michael Heller summarizes all the major concepts, thinkers, and movements whose work has led to the creation of the field we now know as body/mind psychotherapy. The book covers everything from Eastern and Western thought—beginning with yoga and Taosim and moving to Plato and Descartes. It also discusses major developments in biology—how organisms are defined—and neuroscience. This is truly a comprehensive reference for anyone interested in the origins of the idea that the mind and body are not separate and that both must be understood together in order to understand people and their behavior. |
| yang family secret transmissions: The Kata and Bunkai of Goju-Ryu Karate Giles Hopkins, 2018-02-06 Challenging timeworn conventions of karate training and revealing the original intent of classical kata—or forms—through detailed descriptions of self-defense applications known as bunkai, this is a crucial addition to any martial-arts library. Containing more than 265 photos, the book is divided into chapters that illuminate each of the ten classical kata of Goju-ryu. Drawing on more than forty years of experience in the martial arts, Giles Hopkins Sensei takes us on a journey into the Goju-ryu karate system, providing a principles-based method for analysis of kata practice. Arguing against the commonly held notion that kata techniques can have multiple interpretations, he insists that a kata cannot simply mean what the user wants it to mean, but contains specific martial principles that must be followed for it to work effectively. The step-by-step descriptions of the receiving, controlling or bridging, and finishing techniques contain in-depth analysis of commonly misunderstood aspects of kata. Each chapter concludes with an engaging anecdote from the author’s time in Okinawa, the birthplace of Goju-ryu, connecting it with the kata under discussion. Equally useful for the novice and for more advanced karate practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of kata and bunkai. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Greatest Kan and Li Mantak Chia, Andrew Jan, 2014-07-21 A fully illustrated guide to the most advanced Kan and Li practice to birth the immortal spirit body and unite with the Tao • Explains how to establish the cauldron at the Heart Center to collect cosmic light, activate the Cranial and Sacral Pumps, and align the Three Triangle Forces • Details how to merge energy at the Heart Center to birth the immortal spirit body, allowing you to draw limitless energy from the Cosmos • Discusses the proper Pi Gu diet and herbs to use with Kan and Li practice • Reveals how to expel the three Worms, or “Death Bringers,” that can imbalance the three Tan Tiens, leading to misdirection in your sexual, material, and spiritual goals After mastering the Inner Alchemy practices of Lesser Kan and Li and Greater Kan and Li, the advanced student is now ready for the refinement of the soul and spirit made possible through the practice of the Greatest Kan and Li. With full-color illustrated instructions, Master Mantak Chia and Andrew Jan explain how to establish the cauldron at the Heart Center to collect cosmic light, activate the Cranial and Sacral Pumps, and align the Three Triangle Forces. They detail how merging energy at the Heart Center then leads to the birth of the immortal spirit body, uniting you with the Tao and allowing you to draw limitless energy and power from the Cosmos. The authors explain the proper Pi Gu diet and herbs to use in conjunction with Kan and Li practice and provide warm-up exercises, such as meditations to expel the three Worms, or “Death Bringers,” that can imbalance the three Tan Tiens, leading to misdirection in your sexual, material, and spiritual goals. Revealing the ancient path of Inner Alchemy used for millennia by Taoist masters to create the “Pill of Immortality,” the authors show that the unitive state of oneness with the Tao made possible through Kan and Li practice represents true immortality by allowing past and future, Heaven and Earth, to become one. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty Douglas Wile, 1996-01-01 Analysis of rich new material allows Wile to make a fresh survey of longstanding issues: the origins of T'ai-chi; the authorship of the classics; the differences between Wu, Yang, and Li; and the roles of such figures as Chang San-feng, Wang Tsung-yueh, Chiang Fa, and the formerly missing link, Ch'ang Nai-chou. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Karate Kata: For the Transmission of High-Level Combative Skills, Vol. 2 Michael DeMarco, M.A., et al., 2015-09-05 We all know the meaning of the word kata. Even to nonpractitioners it is a familiar karate practice. Plus, the word has long been incorporated into the English language. For this reason I choose to write the plural as “katas,” and not follow the Japanese tradition where “kata” can be both singular or plural. By doing this I’ve ruffled feathers already, since many hold such a sacred bond with the time and place where karate took shape. Trouble with one word? Now how about the whole Okinawan martial tradition as passed on through katas? A kata is much like a family jewel that has passed down through generations. It holds a significance that is difficult to decipher, and many dispute the meaning of every micromovement it contains. Who created it? What are the applications? Is kata practice outdated? Is there more than we can see and understand? You bet. It is precisely because of the confusion and misunderstandings regarding the place of kata in the karate tradition that we are thrilled to present a two-volume e-book on this subject. If katas are learning tools that pass down knowledge of a valued art, then the authors included in this anthology can certainly facilitate the learning process for all interested in karate. Each author has excellent experience in the field, having studied directly under masters, often on the largest island in the Ryukyu island chain. In addition to their long years of physical participation in the school of hard knocks, their depth of scholarly research into the encompassing culture allows their writings to illuminate many aspects of kata practice that normally go unnoticed. In our quest to better understand the full significance of kata practice, we must take a serious look at why old masters formulated the routines. How can kata practice better our health and promise to hone our self-defense skills? Each chapter in this anthology deals with the principles that guide kata practice. Hopefully the reading will reveal some of the secrets to improving techniques. As with other martial traditions, some insights cannot be shared through written word. Like good teachers, may the chapters here inspire you to look deeper into kata practice. |
| yang family secret transmissions: The Taijiquan Classics Barbara Davis, 2004-02-05 Along with Chinese art, medicine, and philosophy, taijiquan has left the confines of its original culture, and offers health, relaxation, and a method of self-defense to people around the globe. Using the early texts now known as The Taijiquan Classics which have served as a touchstone for t’ai chi practitioners for 150 years, this book explores the fundamental ideas and what they mean to practitioners, students, and scholars. It also incorporates newly discovered sources that address the history of taijiquan and newly translated commentaries by Chen Weiming. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Tui Shou-San Shou Carl Burgess, 2004 |
| yang family secret transmissions: Lesser-Known Tai Chi Lineages: Li, Wu, Sun, Xiong Michael DeMarco, 2016-10-15 Anyone who has studied taiji long enough to gain proficiency in the fundamental practices, probably has read enough to also grasp the general history and theory of the art. What we read influences our ideas about what the word “taiji” represents as a practice. For this reason, it is beneficial to look outside the mainstream writings to gain a broader view of the rich tradition taiji encompasses. A look at some of the lesser-known lineages can illustrate fascets of taiji that would have otherwise been overlooked or under appreciated. In the first chapter in this anthology, Wong Yuenming details the Li Family Taiji style as it developed from the teachings of Yang Luchan. Sources state that Yang Luchan gave his student Wang Lanting classics writings from Yang’s teacher Chen Changxing, manuals, secret instructions, “heart transmissions,” and various notes. Wang’s gifted disciple, Li Ruidong, formulated a curriculum that was uniquely immense, including training regimens he inherited at the turn of the century. Cai Naibiao’s chapter focuses on a “gatekeeper” of Wu Family Style Taijiquan, Wu Daxin. He was the grandson of Wu Jianquan (1870-1942), the founder of this lineage. Daxin was particularly famous for his taiji saber skills. The author is a lineage holder living in Hong Kong and was able to provide much information and insights into the life and contributions of Wu Daxin. Training in Sun Lutang’s taiji style presents not only an extremely healthy exercise, but also an effective system of combat as author Jake Burroughs discusses in chapter three. This is a concise yet inclusive overview of Sun Family Taiji boxing, including the historical background, real-world applications, and the theory involved in this often overlooked system of taiji. Burroughs is assisted in photographic presentations by Tim Cartmell. The final chapter presents a branch of Yang Style as taught by Xiong Yanghe (1888-1981), who was a leading scholar/practitioner in Taiwan over the decades. Information assembled here provides a comprehensive overview of Xiong Style Taiji. Included are Xiong’s lineage, his preservation of the system, and its significance for the understanding taijiquan as a martial art and exercise for health. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Cultivating Qi David W. Clippinger, 2016-08-18 Presenting a system of integration that bridges Eastern philosophies and Internal Arts practices, this book explains the significance of Qi for the modern reader. Explaining the history and values of the practices, the guide offers the means to nurture Qi and redirect its energy to your everyday life. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Internal Alchemy for Everyone Chungtao Ho, 2018 This book makes the self-cultivation of Daoist internal alchemy available to everyone. Avoiding predetermined academic categories, it provides an outline of basic concepts in conjunction with evolutionary theory as well as easily accessible practice instructions. Done correctly, the practice provides numerous benefits, including freedom from disease, an extended life expectancy, increased wisdom, and more. This helps everyone! The work opens the powerful esoteric system of internal alchemy to a wide, general audience, lifting it out of obscurity and mystification while yet retaining a strong hold in historical sources. A must-read for anyone interested in traditional Chinese cosmology, Daoist practice, and the active pursuit of a healthier and longer life! |
| yang family secret transmissions: The Way of Qigong Kenneth S. Cohen, 2018-12-04 Qigong is an integrated mind-body healing method that has been practiced with remarkable results in China for thousands of years. The Chinese have long treasured qigong for its effectiveness both in healing and in preventing disease, and more recently they have used it in conjunction with modern medicine to cure cancer, immune system disorders, and other life-threatening conditions. Now in this fascinating, comprehensive volume, renowned qigong master and China scholar Kenneth S. Cohen explains how you too can integrate qigong into your life--and harness the healing power that will help your mind and body achieve the harmony of true health. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Tai Chi Wu Style Mantak Chia, Andrew Jan, 2013-01-22 A guide to the internal martial arts exercises of short-form Wu-Style Tai Chi • Details the 8 core forms of Wu-Style Tai Chi with fully illustrated instructions • Ideal for older practitioners as well as those with health disabilities due to the “small frame” primary stance, slower and smaller movements, and conservation of energy • Explains how Wu Style provides a natural introduction to martial arts boxing • Reveals how Wu Style eases stiffness, relieves back pain, and reduces abdominal fat Following the flow of chi energy, rather than directing it as in traditional Tai Chi, Wu-Style Tai Chi focuses on internal development, seeking to conserve chi energy and gather jin power from the Earth through the tan tien. Centered on a “small frame” stance--that is, feet closer together and arms closer to the body--and a slower progression of movements in solo practice, Wu Style offers a gentle Tai Chi form for beginners and, when practiced with a partner, a grounding introduction to martial arts boxing and Fa Jin (the discharge of energy for self-defense). The more functional stance, smaller movements, and conservation of internal energy make Wu-Style Tai Chi ideal for older practitioners as well as those with health disabilities. Condensing the 37 movements of Wu Style into 8 core forms, Master Mantak Chia and Andrew Jan illustrate how to build a personal short-form Wu-Style Tai Chi practice. They explain how Wu-Style Tai Chi removes energetic blockages and helps to elongate the tendons, reducing stiffness and allowing the limbs to return to their natural length and full range of motion. Regular practice of Wu Style relieves back pain as well as reducing abdominal fat, the biggest hindrance to longevity. Exploring the martial arts applications of Wu Style, the authors trace its history beginning with founder Wu Chuan-Yu (1834-1902) as well as explain how to apply Wu Style to “Push Hands” (Tui Shou) and Fa Jin. Through mastering the short-form Wu Style detailed in this book, Tai Chi practitioners harness a broad range of health benefits as well as build a solid foundation for learning the complete long-form Wu Style. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Sensualities/Textualities and Technologies Susan Broadhurst, Josephine Machon, 2016-01-18 This innovative collection features essays by a range of internationally renowned scholars and reconsiders textual practices in contemporary performance, specifically focusing on the exciting exchange between text, body and technology. |
| yang family secret transmissions: Tai Chi Odyssey, Vol. 1 Michael DeMarco, 2017-11-17 As a digital edition, this two-volume anthology offers not only a handy historical overview of taijiquan history, but most chapters focus on actual practice. Guidance is provided through Carol Derrickson’s discussions on taijiquan classic writings as well as from other highly experienced instructors in their own chapters. Dr. Linda Lehrhaupt’s chapter inspires one to practice by explaining how mental changes occur in a student during initial weeks of classes. Although most taiji classes are offered by individuals in their own schools, a number of classes are also offered in academic settings. Andrew Peck gives a fine example of how taiji is taught in a university setting. Other authors present subtle aspects of practice—be it eye movement, circles that exist even in movements that appear to be liner, benefits derived from solo and group practice, or the too often elusive element of relaxation. All these chapters will prove valuable to anyone wishing to improve their quality of practice and thus to reap more health benefits taiji has to offer. The same embodied principles can be utilized in martial applications. Peter Lim wrote two chapters. In one he details general taiji principles that are put into the practice, while in the other chapter he looks specifically at how the principles can be applied in combat. His chapters provide a solid foundation for better understanding tuishou, the two-person push-hands practice that Herman Kaus and Hal Mosher (with the help of Allen Pittman) discuss. Greg Wolfson (with the help of Scott Rodell) writes about push-hands and sanshou—a high-level two-person practice of combative training. Russ Mason’s short but pertinent chapter samples two favorite techniques: wardoff and diagonal flying. The chapters by Donald Mainfort and Joel Stein are relatively unique in that they look at the variety of taiji forms—contrasting the original Chen Style with the Yang Style, and the large and medium frames—helping us better understand how and why routines differ, and which may be better suited for particular individuals. As a result, we can also see why movements from different styles can blend into anyone’s practice. Comprised of articles previously published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts—we are highly optimistic that you will find something on each page of this anthology to be of great use in your understanding and practice. |
| yang family secret transmissions: A Tai Chi Imagery Workbook Martin Mellish, 2011-06-15 This innovative book makes the benefits of Tai Chi directly available to Westerners by communicating its essence in poetic, evocative, and humorous images that apply to movement practices of all kinds and to daily life. The book contains hundreds of photos and drawings, and detailed explanations of the biomechanical realities that underlie them. |
| yang family secret transmissions: The Martial Arts Studies Reader Paul Bowman, 2018-09-20 The first authoritative overview of martial arts studies, written by pioneers of this dynamic and rapidly expanding new field |
Yin and yang - Wikipedia
Originating in Chinese philosophy, yin and yang (English: / jɪn /, / jæŋ /), also yinyang[1][2] or yin-yang, [3][2] is the concept of opposite cosmic principles or forces that interact, interconnect, …
YANG Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
May 3, 2025 · The meaning of YANG is the masculine active principle in nature that in Chinese cosmology is exhibited in light, heat, or dryness and that combines with yin to produce all that …
Yinyang | Definition, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica
Apr 21, 2025 · Yinyang describes the two complementary forces—yin and yang—that make up all aspects and phenomena of life. It encompasses the actual process of the universe and all that …
Yin and Yang - World History Encyclopedia
May 16, 2018 · Yin and Yang is a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy, medicine, and culture in general. As the Yin and Yang black and white circle symbol illustrates, each side has …
Yin Vs. Yang: What's The Difference?
Sep 21, 2021 · Yin and yang is an ancient Chinese philosophy that has to do with opposing yet complementary energies, but the two halves of the symbol mean different things.
The Real Meaning Behind The Chinese Yin-Yang Symbol
Oct 19, 2023 · As the most enduring and influential Taoist symbol, the yin and yang (or simply yin-yang) is recognized almost anywhere in the world. Still, as is true with many ancient symbols, …
What is Yang Energy: Understanding the Active Principle in ...
Mar 1, 2024 · In the dance of balance and duality, yang energy plays a crucial role. It’s the active, dynamic force that complements the passive, nurturing yin energy. Often associated with the …
Yin and yang - Wikipedia
Originating in Chinese philosophy, yin and yang (English: / jɪn /, / jæŋ /), also yinyang[1][2] or yin-yang, [3][2] is the concept of opposite cosmic principles or forces that interact, interconnect, …
YANG Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
May 3, 2025 · The meaning of YANG is the masculine active principle in nature that in Chinese cosmology is exhibited in light, heat, or dryness and that combines with yin to produce all that …
Yinyang | Definition, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica
Apr 21, 2025 · Yinyang describes the two complementary forces—yin and yang—that make up all aspects and phenomena of life. It encompasses the actual process of the universe and all that …
Yin and Yang - World History Encyclopedia
May 16, 2018 · Yin and Yang is a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy, medicine, and culture in general. As the Yin and Yang black and white circle symbol illustrates, each side has …
Yin Vs. Yang: What's The Difference?
Sep 21, 2021 · Yin and yang is an ancient Chinese philosophy that has to do with opposing yet complementary energies, but the two halves of the symbol mean different things.
The Real Meaning Behind The Chinese Yin-Yang Symbol
Oct 19, 2023 · As the most enduring and influential Taoist symbol, the yin and yang (or simply yin-yang) is recognized almost anywhere in the world. Still, as is true with many ancient symbols, …
What is Yang Energy: Understanding the Active Principle in ...
Mar 1, 2024 · In the dance of balance and duality, yang energy plays a crucial role. It’s the active, dynamic force that complements the passive, nurturing yin energy. Often associated with the …
