Wu Style Tai Chi Short Form Demonstrated by Paul Cavel
Tai chi offers all the potential health benefits of qigong and neigong, but amplifies them to greater effect. Tai chi also adds the dimension of martial applications with unique characteristics of softness and yielding. The movements of tai chi are like a great river, yielding to the strong and rooted, brushing aside the weak and unstable.
The Wu style of tai chi is the latest development of tai chi. The original Chen style was transformed from a hard, sudden style to a soft rounded style by Yang Lu Chan. This was done by deepening the neigong work within the tai chi vessel.
Later, Wu Jien Chuan finished the work initiated by his father, Chuan You, who was Yang Lu Chan’s best student. This completed the fusion of neigong with tai chi, making the outer form smaller, but with more internal movement. This fusion brought true meditation work to tai chi--as Gods Playing in the Clouds Qigong, the final qigong set--initiates work on the Emotional Energy Body (as taught in the Energy Arts System), where meditation work commences.
Wu style tai chi starts with a short 27-step form containing the essence of tai chi. This form was developed by Tai Chi Lineage Holder Bruce Frantzis after encouragement from his teacher, Tai Chi Grandmaster Liu Hung Chieh. Once the short form has been grasped, one can proceed to learn the traditional 108-step long form, which is complete for health, martial and meditation applications. Learn more about the orgins of our tai chi system by clicking here.
Tai Chi Circling Hands
If you haven't practised tai chi before, Paul recommends starting with Tai Chi Circling Hands since the choreography is easier to learn. Long-term practitioners could also benefit from practice of Tai Chi Circling Hands as a means for developing more internal content (i.e., neigong, or coponents of internal power). Read more about Tai Chi Clircling Hands by clicking here.
Learn more about the origins of the tai chi system Paul teaches by clicking here.
Upcoming Tai Chi Courses with Senior Energy Arts Teacher Paul Cavel
7 July 2012 | Kentish Town, London
Wu Style Tai Chi Freestyle + Internal Content Upgrade
3-5 August 2012 | York, UK
Pulling Silk in Tai Chi + Tai Chi Circling Hands
18 August 2012 | Camden, West Central London
Circularity in Tai Chi + Tai Chi Circling Hands
6 October-8 December 2012 | Camden, West Central London
Wu Style Tai Chi Short Form: 4-Course Series