Hello Everybody,
In the Taijiquan section of the forum, Zhang has raised some very interesting points concerning the activation of specific meridian (points) using specific Taijiquan patterns (postures) and the necessitiy of training the patterns a specific number of times in a specific order. Apart from the fact that this leads us out of the orginal topic of the thread, I feel that it is important enough to start a new thread which I invite all members to contribute to.
Before I start, I’d like to say how happy I am that we have members like Zhang who are kind enough to pass on knowledge that they have aquired from sources inaccesible to many of us. That said, students of the Shaolin Wahnam Institute are so incredibly lucky to have a Sifu or Sigung who is generous enough to transmit the form, force training, combat applications and philosophy of our beloved arts.
I disagree with the concept that we need to follow a fixed order of patterns and that we need to know which meridians each pattern works on in order to gain the best benefits that Taijiquan has to offer. I have several reasons for this including the very orgins of the patterns themselves, the experience of hundreds if not thousands of practitioners of Shaolin Cosmos Qigong and my faith in the moral integrity of Sifu.
Zhang has already made one of my points for me in saying that in the beginning there were no fixed number of movements. Does that mean that those training Taijiquan before it was “formalised” (nice word) were not reaping the benefits of their training?
Also, it is very important to remember that the patterns came from actual fighting experience. Their origin lies not in a search for an efficient way to work on meridians but much more the desire to obtain the best advantages in combat while minimising innate weaknesses. I’m not just talking about the physical level here. Patterns that obstruct energy flow or prevent the practitioner from cultivating and using internal force would come under the category of having innate weaknesses. A simple example of this is the position of the front foot in Bow-Arrow stance.
Yes they do but we don’t have to worry about that when we are training. If we train the patterns correctly and make sure that we enjoy our qi flow and standing mediation, all will be well. How can I be so sure of this?
Let’s take a moment to think about all the practitioners of Shaolin Cosmos Qigong. Do they know which meridians they are working on when they train Lifting the Sky? Some may have a rough idea but the vast majority simply (directly and effectively) enjoy their training and also the amazing benefits that come from opening the Heart and letting go.
There is of course a lot to be said for specific training. That’s why we have so many wonderful tools in our Qigong repertoire but I think that many will agree with me when I say that one of our very best tools for overcoming illness is Self Manifested Qi Flow. If a practitioner takes the time and effort to worry about which meridians she is going to work on, she will never be able to reap the benefits of this exercise.
If we remember that Taijiquan is also Qigong it is not too hard to realise that we don’t need to know exactly which meridian we are working on when we train Single Whip as long as we train it correctly.
Finally, I’d like to mention that I simply do not believe that Sifu would leave out an important element in his students’ training or that he would allow us to teach Wahnam Taijiquan, Shaolinquan and Shaolin Cosmos Qigong without having equipped us with the skills and knowledge to teach the essence of these arts. Fortunately, the inspiring results of my brothers and sisters clearly show that we are on the right track.
Just a small anecdote to finish this post. Personally I love the 108-patterns set and I train it regularly. Sifu was kind enough to teach it to those of us who were invited to the special Taijiquan course for instructors held in Sungai Petani in July 2002. I don’t think that Sifu attaches too much importance to it though because he taught us the whole set in 3 hours.
Enjoy your training
In the Taijiquan section of the forum, Zhang has raised some very interesting points concerning the activation of specific meridian (points) using specific Taijiquan patterns (postures) and the necessitiy of training the patterns a specific number of times in a specific order. Apart from the fact that this leads us out of the orginal topic of the thread, I feel that it is important enough to start a new thread which I invite all members to contribute to.
Before I start, I’d like to say how happy I am that we have members like Zhang who are kind enough to pass on knowledge that they have aquired from sources inaccesible to many of us. That said, students of the Shaolin Wahnam Institute are so incredibly lucky to have a Sifu or Sigung who is generous enough to transmit the form, force training, combat applications and philosophy of our beloved arts.
Later, masters formalised the practice and dictated that x number of meridians should be "exercised" y times. So, we have the 108 which works on the heart meridian no less that 15 times.
Let me add even more confusion - in the beginning, there were no fixed number of movements.
Also, it is very important to remember that the patterns came from actual fighting experience. Their origin lies not in a search for an efficient way to work on meridians but much more the desire to obtain the best advantages in combat while minimising innate weaknesses. I’m not just talking about the physical level here. Patterns that obstruct energy flow or prevent the practitioner from cultivating and using internal force would come under the category of having innate weaknesses. A simple example of this is the position of the front foot in Bow-Arrow stance.
Those postures that end with a palm strike to the centre, like Repulse Monkey, Single Whip and Brush Knee are especially important because they work on key meridian points.
Let’s take a moment to think about all the practitioners of Shaolin Cosmos Qigong. Do they know which meridians they are working on when they train Lifting the Sky? Some may have a rough idea but the vast majority simply (directly and effectively) enjoy their training and also the amazing benefits that come from opening the Heart and letting go.
There is of course a lot to be said for specific training. That’s why we have so many wonderful tools in our Qigong repertoire but I think that many will agree with me when I say that one of our very best tools for overcoming illness is Self Manifested Qi Flow. If a practitioner takes the time and effort to worry about which meridians she is going to work on, she will never be able to reap the benefits of this exercise.
If we remember that Taijiquan is also Qigong it is not too hard to realise that we don’t need to know exactly which meridian we are working on when we train Single Whip as long as we train it correctly.
Finally, I’d like to mention that I simply do not believe that Sifu would leave out an important element in his students’ training or that he would allow us to teach Wahnam Taijiquan, Shaolinquan and Shaolin Cosmos Qigong without having equipped us with the skills and knowledge to teach the essence of these arts. Fortunately, the inspiring results of my brothers and sisters clearly show that we are on the right track.
Just a small anecdote to finish this post. Personally I love the 108-patterns set and I train it regularly. Sifu was kind enough to teach it to those of us who were invited to the special Taijiquan course for instructors held in Sungai Petani in July 2002. I don’t think that Sifu attaches too much importance to it though because he taught us the whole set in 3 hours.
Enjoy your training
Comment