Martial Tai Chi™

De-mystifying the Mysterious

Oriental Mysticism and Magic

Some people massively over-romanticise Oriental Wisdom simply because it is Oriental. Proto-scientific ideas pertaining to medicine and divination are given an absurd amount of credence given that they are little more than folkloric superstitions that once passed for knowledge amongst a largely uneducated populace. Abstract and symbolic "systems" of divination, traditional medicine and magical connections are not only wildly inconsistent, they never actually stand up to any degree of scrutiny once viewed through a rational lens.

I am not saying that the "Chinese Ancients" didn't possess wisdom, just like our own culture, but they also got a lot wrong, just like our own culture. In both instances, it is necessary to be discerning. There is no more reason to accept the methodology of the Chinese 5 elements than there is to accept the Greek 4 humours. There is no more reason to be enamoured of feng shui or the yijing than to take seriously horoscopes, necromancy or crystal balls. And it should always be remembered that any perceived relevance of such ideas to martial training are tenuous at best, whatever their exponents may have thought (or be said to have thought) to the contrary.

How much credence would you give to the superstitious beliefs of a friend's grandfather who happened to have once been the village Westmorland wrestling champion? How seriously would YOU attribute his victories to the "lucky rabbit's foot" he always carried with him, irrespective of how he felt about it? How likely would you be to hang off his every word as he reminded you that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" and that "the grass is always greener on the other side" ?

farmer cartoon

Contemporary vs. Traditional Wushu

It might seem that at the other end of the spectrum from the mystics are the contemporary wushu practitioners. Inspired by materialistic politics over the last century, China has undergone massive cultural upheavals. It is said that the Chinese government has wrought ruthless assaults on traditional cultural movements such as religious orders and traditional martial arts schools. It is only too apparent that modern Chinese martial arts bear little resemblance to the traditional styles.

Health, fitness, athleticism and aesthetic performance have clearly taken priority over the traditional movement principles and subtle biomechanics that make the arts combat effective. These include aspects such as chansijin (twisting / reeling silk), fajin (power release through subtle sequential muscle engagement inside the body), zhong ding (centred stability), zhong zheng (central uprightness), tongbei (though-the-back pulley principle), tan tui (spring leg), liu he (6 harmonies ensuring the body alignments remain harmonious and structurally strong). Consequently, things have to some degree returned to the state of affairs described in Wang Zhongyue's Taiji Classic:

"In martial arts there are many schools. Although they differ in appearance, they do not go beyond the strong defeating the weak, the fast beating the slow, or the slow yielding to the quick and the weak being overcome by the strong. But these are all from innate ability and not related to skills acquired through long study. Consider the principle of diverting a thousand pounds with four ounces: clearly it is not brute strength that wins. When an old man defeats a number of young men, what has this to do with swiftness?"

Although these words are specifically from a treatise on the art of Taijiquan, the principles apply to all Chinese wushu, because those principles are universals. Taijiquan merely drew together the very best that Chinese martial science had to offer at the time, so as Adam Hsu points out, the Taiji Classics offer us the best insights into what the state of all authentic Chinese wushu should be like. Modern wushu, while exciting to watch, has lost all of the subtleties that make wushu Wu Shu (War Arts). They've forgotten the Wu - the War bit at the beginning. Modern San Da or freestyle tournament fighting has become bland and featureless - just another style of kickboxing fused with grappling. It is largely indistinguishable from other modern mixed martial sports and frequently doesn't fare as well in competition because it has thrown out the crucial subtle movement principles that made Chinese martial arts so effective: principles that were especially crucial for people of smaller stature than their enemies.

Pure Martial Science

Where our position parts company from that of the traditionalists is that like the contemporary wushu practitioners, we too believe in reform. Whereas the traditionalists try to preserve all of the traditional cultural aspects of classical wushu, we believe in being selective. Whether an extraneous consideration comes from a traditionalist or modern perspective, we believe that the best way to preserve Chinese fighting arts is to remain focussed on the one true goal of combat effectiveness. It is through the undeniable truth of Chinese biomechanical science, whether described using traditional or modern scientific terminology, that the principles can be proved and preserved for all time.

FOOTNOTE: I am very aware that with all the anti-qi and mythbusting articles, this website might be seen as being rather negative in its tone and outlook. I think it is a shame that our school should be seen this way, but it may be a necessary discomfort. The fact is that no one else is prepared to say the things we say, so it could be seen as a case of our trying to redress the balance on our own - our being the heavy droplet of yin in a whole ocean of yang. In reality, we are unlikely to ever counterbalance the myriad works of the Tai Chi new-agers, healers and philosophers on our own, so please excuse us if we seem to shout rather loudly. If you come and train with us you will learn loads of top quality fighting techniques and strategies and have a lot of fun in the process. We are even happy to refer to philosophical principles where they are directly relevant to combat, just don't mention you know what.... because it is neither relevant nor useful.
- Joanna

Read my articles on the subject of "Qi"

A practical guide to qi

The trouble with qi

What are "qi sensations?"

Double-Standards

Acupuncture - Where's The Point?
Telegraph journalist Damian Thompson reports on an important German study, proving what I've suspected for sometime - so-called "meridians" and "qi" have nothing whatsoever to do with why acupuncture seems to work for some people. It makes no difference where the pins are inserted - the patient merely produces endorphins in response to being punctured with pins. I've certainly never had any lasting benefit from acupuncture for my osteoarthritis, despite having had several courses of it with three different qualified acupuncturists.

Breaking Through the Barriers of Darkness: Recognising the Cult of Qigong for What It Is
A Christian perspective from the "China For Jesus" website.

Stop Pseudoscience!
Here is a petition that some concerned parents put together after "Medical Qigong" was taught in a school without parental knowledge. At the bottom of the petition are many links expressing opposition to the qigong craze. If you wish to explore those links, please note that the "International Institute of Medical Qigong" have subsequently transferred details of courses dealing with their most disturbing occult teachings to a sister site on Daoist Mysticism / Magic.

Martial Arts - Are They Harmless?
A Christian perspective on occult elements inherent within many traditional martial arts.

The Truth about Spontaneous Chi Kung (Jinns / Demonic Possession).
A concerned Muslim's perspective. Read also his personal story.

I Do Not Believe in Ki
Shotokan Karate Instructor Rob Redmond explains why he does not believe in ki (the Japanese name for "qi" / "ch'i")

How People Are Fooled by Ideomotor Action
Ray Hyman Ph.D. discusses how people may be fooled into thinking "qi" exists.