Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight.
Returning is the motion of the Tao.
Yielding is the way of the Tao.
What is firmly established cannot be uprooted.
What is firmly grasped cannot slip away.

-- Tao Te Ching

T'ai Chi Ch'uan & Chinese Martial Arts

T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a Taoist internal martial art. One account of the history of T'ai Chi Ch'uan credits its development to the Taoist immortal Chang San-feng, who is said to have drawn the inspiration for the art by watching a fight between an snake and an aggressive eagle. Chang San-feng was reportedly a master of Shaolin Kung Fu who reached an extraordinary level of cultivation through Taoist internal practices. Another account of the history of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is that many different Kung Fu masters developed it over a long period of time; as a synthesis of internal meditation and martial technique. Either way, the written history of T'ai Chi Ch'uan goes back about 300 years and it was not until the turn of the 20th century that it was introduced to the general public.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a very unique and powerful art, for both internal power and longevity. T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a martial art which embodies Taoist philosophy. When T'ai Chi Ch'uan was developed, the martial arts were very aggressive. One's proficiency was measured by the strength and aggression of attack, in terms of the Taoist principle of yin and yang this was a purely "yang" conception of martial arts. What was revolutionary about T'ai Chi Ch'uan was the incorporation of the yin element to fighting. In T'ai Chi Ch'uan one uses a balance of yin techniques with yang techniques, a balance between yielding and attacking. It is for this reason that T'ai Chi Ch'uan is described as "a needle hidden in cotton" or "hardness concealed in softness".

Presently T'ai Chi Ch'uan is rapidly growing in popularity for the tremendous health benefits which come through practice. Clinical studies have shown that T'ai Chi practice can lower blood pressure, reduce nervous tension, and benefit the immune, digestive, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. At this time, over one hundred million people practice T'ai Chi Ch'uan on a regular basis.

The T'ai Chi Ch'uan which is taught at EBM is Yang family style. The form we practice was developed by Li Ching Lin who learned from both Sun Lu Tang and Yang Chien Hou. Li Ching Lin then taught Kuo Yu Chang, who taught Yim Shan Wu, who taught Wong Jack Man, all of the EBM Instructors learned Tai CHi from Wong Jack Man. The heart of the T'ai Chi Ch'uan system is the practice of the single T'ai Chi Ch'uan form. The form practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is the foundation of the training. Though T'ai Chi Ch'uan is done slowly, the movements are very difficult and strenuous. Regular practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan greatly improves the functioning of the bodily systems. T'ai Chi practice breaks down into three general categories:

1. Ch'i kung practice for developing the foundation of internal martial arts: proper stance, proper breathing technique, flexibility and power.

2. Solo form practice (i.e. "T'ai Chi Ch'uan long form") for developing the basic techniques of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, and developing strength, relaxation and sensitivity.

3. Partner practice (i.e. "T'ai Chi Ch'uan Push Hands") for understanding the application of the form, developing sensitivity to the opponents movement and intention.

The structure of the Tai Chi system is:

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Training at EBM Kung Fu Academy

• T'ai Chi Ch'uan long form SECTION 1
• T'ai Chi Ch'uan Push Hands
• single hand push hands (regular & cross stance)
• two handed push hands (regular & cross stanched)
• two handed push hands basic stepping series
• T'ai Chi Ch'uan long form SECTION 2
• T'ai Chi Ch'uan Push Hands
• four direction push hands (regular & cross stanched)
• four direction push hands basic stepping series
• push hands power development exercises
• T'ai Chi Ch'uan long form SECTION 3
• T'ai Chi Ch'uan Push Hands
• four direction push hands free style stepping
• four direction push hands low stance training
• T'ai Chi Ch'uan Basic Sword Form
• San Shou two person T'ai Chi Ch'uan fighting form
• Taoist Huashan Green Dragon Sword form

Ch'i Kung Systems in T'ai Chi Ch'uan Program

• Basic Standing Meditation
• Basic Ho Shi Fa breathing practice
• Stepping Ho Shi Fa breathing practice
• North Star Ch'i Kung System
• Muscle Sinew Washing Classic ( more information )
• Dragon Body Series
• Tian Kan Series

It is suggested that one develops a foundation in kung fu training before beginning T'ai Chi Ch'uan training, unless one is interested in T'ai Chi Ch'uan for health reasons only. EBM always teaches ch'i kung as a supplement to the T'ai Chi Ch'uan training. For those interested in T'ai Chi for health only we also teach the simplified 24 movement short form.

Stiff and unbending is the principle of death.
Gentle and yielding is the principle of life.

Thus an Army without flexibility never wins a battle.
A tree that is unbending is easily broken.

The hard and strong will fall.
The soft and weak will overcome.

-- Tao Te Ching (76)