Preface to 101 Reflections On Tai Chi Chuan These few paragraphs come from the preface of my second Tai Chi book, 101 Reflections on Tai Chi Chuan, published in 2000. I hope they strike a chord with you. It seems as topical now as it did 18 years ago. One needs to...
Morning Practice I went to the wharf for the first time in quite a while, as the weather was warmer and the wind mild. The scene was right out of a romantic movie – the sky full of clouds of such varied shapes and sizes. They were slightly above the horizon level...
Sung Every student of Tai Chi and other internal arts has heard the word ”Relax” countless times. Each time I say this word I see students tense up slightly in trying to find relaxation in their body. We have placed more tension in the mind by putting this pressure on...
Yield An online student recently asked me for a definition of yield (Lu). It got me thinking about this important technique – what it is and how to apply it. Yield in Tai Chi means to give way in the face of pressure. For instance, put a round ball on the floor...
Pay Attention Life is a journey, filled with constant changes. It is how we perceive these moments that determines how effective and joy filled our life can be. Tai Chi can be an important piece of the puzzle of life. I would venture to say that most Tai Chi players...
Slow and Steady Wins I trained to be an actor, graduating from The University of Arizona with a degree in Theater Arts. I then worked a couple of years in television until the Viet Nam war was in full swing and I dropped out. It wasn’t until I moved to Port...
Face the Future We probably don’t want to give too much energy to the idea of healing the body through the internal arts. The word healing is backward looking, healing something from the past. I think we can replace this concept with the idea of working toward a...
Perfect Morning Practice Went to the Park this morning, as it was raining lightly and I could practice in the Gazebo. I had an idea. It was to practice all the Tai Chi forms I know, as I have been focused on the Partner and Solo Forms, and haven’t put much time...
Robins There is a technique I use to increase the strength of the legs, as well as the connective tissues of the ankles, knees and hips. I call it Robins or Bobbing, and it involves standing with all the weight on one leg, touching the other toe, and moving the body...
Glass Half Full A glass that has nothing in it looks empty, yet it is full. Full of potential. That is true power – the power of emptiness turning into fullness. Fullness has nowhere to go but toward emptiness – yet even this is power, as any movement is a...
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