For several years I have trained dr Qi Jiang Tao’s 47 Taijiquan form. All my teachers had a link to, or were  students of dr Qi. Although I trust and respect all of them I am now in search of more authentic material.

I am aware there is video material on which one can see dr Qi practising or pushing hands. However these recordings have not been published. All contributions are extremely welcome.

My goal is to expand this site so dr Qi Jiang Tao is honoured for his contribution to the world. So if you can  help me… please let me know.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

A rare video of dr Qi teaching in Regents Park, London, probably around Easter 1976.

Send article as PDF to

Thinking of pre-form exercises it is obvious that the zhan zhuang is just indispensable. Also known as standing like a tree, post standing, standing like a stake etc.

Performing these gongs or exercises promotes or creates the “Three Treasures” or San Bao: 三寳.
The Three Treasures are known as Jing 精, Qi 氣 and Shen 神 and can be loosely translated as Essence, Vitality and Spirit.

According to Daoist doctrine the Three Treasures can be described as three types of energy available to humans.

My favourite Dao De Jing by Lao Zi is verse 42:

Dao 道 gives birth to One,
Two: Taiji 太極  or Yin and Yang 陰 陽
Three:  sometimes interpreted to mean Jing 精, Qi 氣 and Shen 神,
or Heaven: Tian 天, Earth: Di 地 and Man: Ren 人

Using the technique “Yin-Ru-Yang-Chu” (陰入陽出): “moving-in when breathing-in” and “moving-out when breathing-out”, Qigong practice channels Qi through the body with movements that are synchronized with breathing. Moving in or closing and moving out or opening refer to parts of the body. However, with the principle of Yin Yang, when one part of the body is closing, another is opening. As an example: You are inhaling and your arms are spreading from directly in front of you, to out to the side. This is opening of the chest; however, it is also closing of the back. Reverse the movement of your arms and exhale; you are closing the chest and opening the back.

Extreme yin generates yang, so extreme stillness as in zhan zhuang may create heat sensation, trembling and/or spontaneous conractions. At all times stay alert.

Send article as PDF to

I was very pleased to hear from mr Lee Partis, who was kind enough to send two of his pictures.

Send article as PDF to

Ingredients: four bricks. Lay them out in a square pattern, distance approximately each stone 40cm (12 inches) from the centre.

I

I     I

I

With eyes closed walk at random across the bricks with empty step. At least 10 minutes per day. When it is getting too easy, move the bricks further apart.. Empty steps always, full attention in your feet.

Maybe you can set the bricks on their (more narrow) sides after a month or so, again with distance at 40cm. After a year you may try to place them upright

Send article as PDF to

My training sessions have again brought up old news. During my qigong teacher training I was introduced to the Taiji Chih / Taiji ruler exercises of grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

太極尺

This time I was shown several exercises learnt from dr Qi.

It enhances balance and easily raises your qi-level. From a picture I found on the internet I created the enclosed drawing of a ruler.  Any one with a wood-carving machine will be able to use it as a template.
To make it even easier:  PDF with ruler template

The next requirement for practice is in the preparation and addressing of the Lower Dan Tian. The Lower Dan Tian is an area, not a point, it is that area which is about three finger widths below the navel.

The preparations are as follows:

Qi gong preparation:

1. Click the teeth together 49 times. This helps to strengthen the roots and gums, it also sends calming vibrations into the brain, and helps one to get rid of distracting thoughts.

2. Rotate the tongue 18 times left and 18 times right on the roof of the mouth. The rotations will foster the generation of saliva. Do not swallow the saliva, but instead allow it to pool in the lower jaw area. The benefits are that the Ren and Du (Conception and Governing vessels) are stimulated at the area where the tongue will rest while doing the exercises.
This helps to make an energetic connection at that area.

3. Rinse saliva 36x. This helps to clean the teeth, and rinse out the mouth, and also agitates the qi that is contained within the saliva. Additionally, the saliva contains enzymes that are beneficial to the immune and digestive system.

4. Swallow in 3 gulps. This helps to draw the qi down to the lower dan tian, from which point it will heat up, ascend up the governing vessel, and then condensing at the top, to flow back down the conception vessel. Remember that from this point onwards, the tip of the tongue will gently rest on the upper palate behind the teeth. It is to be held there gently, with as little pressure as possible.

Your chosen number of repetitions in the set will remain constant. If you are going to do the minimum number of repetitions for benefit (3x) then you will do three of each of the addressing exercises, if you do six, then you will do six of each of the opening exercises. At the end of the set, you will do the same opening exercises, but in reverse order. The opening addressing exercises are like knocking on a door, and the closing exercises, are like closing a door after leaving a room.

1. Baby’s breath: In a relaxed posture, standing with the back straight, and the knees slightly bent, feet straight, place your hands at a few inches in front of the lower dan tian. Gently breathe in through the lower abdomen (Called buddhist or diaphragmatic breathing). As you inhale the hands will move forwards as if being pushed by an invisible pillow between the hands and the abs. In time you will feel the presence of the qi, it will be a magnetic feeling, and it will also become more tangible and palpable as time goes on and your practice matures. In time let the energy move the hands, and use as little physical effort as possible. As you begin your exhale, allowing the abdomen to gently deflate, the hands will retreat a few inches, back to their starting position. This exercise helps to stablize the qi at the lower dan tian.

2. Swimming Breaths: Immediately following the above, you will maintain your standing position, and place the hands along your centerline, at the level of the navel, backs of the palms facing each other. Inhale, and slowly separate the two hands from each other, maintaining equal distance away from each other, until you are at the distance where the hips and the pelvis end. Then turn the hands around so that they are facing each other, and begin to exhale, the exhale will end when the hands have reached the place from where they began their journey. You may feel a resistance between the palms when doing this exercise. It is OK to stop when you feel that the compression and magnetic feeling has reached its greatest amplitude and frequency. Repeat the process for the desired number of repetitions.

3. Gather Heavens: This is the last of the opening exercises, and gather the qi from the area and environment about you, and brings it into the lower dan tian. The hands will be placed at your sides, palms facing the thighs. Inhale and slowly raise the hands up from, and along the sides of the body, describing an arc, until the hands are raised, and above your head.

The inhale is then completed, and the exhale begins. The exhale will follow a path down your centreline, the thumbs and index fingers of the hand will be in line with each other, forming a kind of triangle. The exhale is done slowly, as if you were pushing two ballons down into a stream, and the exhale will end as the hands reach the area of the lower dan tian. Do as many repetitions as required. At the end of the ruler exercise set you will do these same exercises, but in reverse order.

太極尺 Ruler exercises

Now that you have prepared and addressed the lower dan tian, it is time to move onto the exercises:

1. Bow Stepping. from a neutral, steady, and relaxed posture, you will raise up the right foot and roll the ruler up towards your upper dan tian area ( the area called the third eye, or Yin Tang point), inhale as you do so. As the foot comes down, you will exhale, and pivot to your left. Then the left foot will step, and the movements will be repeatedly.

Each foot fall counts as one repetition.

2. Rocking. From an empty weighted posture, that is with one leg baring most of the weight, and the other, in front, bearing very little weight, you will inhale and raise the front toes, and then exhale and raise the rear heel. Inhale up to the Yin Tang point, exhale as the ruler travels down to the lower dan tian area.

3. Rocking and bending. From the previous exercise, you will rock forwards and bend slightly as you do your exhale. This will look as if you are repeatedly sitting down in a chair, and then getting up again.

4. Kneeling. From the previous exercise, you will exhale and squat down as you breathe out. The knee of the rear leg (the weighted one) will touch the ground as you complete the exhale, from there begin your inhale, and stand back up into the empty step. Then switch to the other side when the requisite number of reps have been done.

5. Empty step walking. From a neutral and natural stance, you will step forward in a series of empty steps, stepping out on the right foot and doing an empty step, then shifting the weight, and stepping out with the left leg, and doing another empty step.

6. Reverse Circle stepping: the same as the previous exercise, except the path of the ruler is reversed, as is the breathing. The inhale will have your arms travel up and away from you, and the exhale will bring the ruler down and close to your body.

7. Low Valves: from a medium horse stance, place the ruler at your right side, with your right hand on top , and the left hand on the bottom. Exhale and draw the ruler across your body to your left side. When you reach the left hips, roll the ruler over, and inhale, from there you will travel back across the body, and exhale again. Repeat for the required repetitions.

8. High Valves: from a high neutral stance, you will raise the tips of the toes, and have the ruler up by the right side of the head, with the center of the ruler at the height of the eyebrows. Right hand on top of the ruler, from above, and left hand at the bottom of the ruler, below. Exhale and pass the ruler in front of the head at a distance of about 3 inches. Upon reaching the left side of the head, roll the ruler over and inhale, then travel across again, repeating the process.

That concludes the exercises. You will now redo the preparatory breathing exercises, but in reverse order and you are done.

Do some silent sitting meditation for about 30 minutes, and go on with life as usual.

Enjoy and keep smiling!

Send article as PDF to

Last Friday I had my second lesson from Ruud (a former student of dr Qi) and we amongst other things trained the ‘Grab sparrow’s tail’ in its application.
Below is a video showing various applications of postures found in both Zheng Manqing and dr Qi’s form.
Enjoy!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Send article as PDF to

Within martial arts, the key to unlock and nurture stronger inner energy of ‘Nei Jing’ is through practising ‘song’ (Traditional Chinese: 鬆 ). The term ‘song’ can function as a verb which means to keep one’s mind and body loose, resilient and expanding like the consistency of cotton or clouds or relaxed yet concentrated like the sharp alertness of cats immediately before attack. The term can also be used as an adjective which has the same meaning as described above. The greater the extent one can achieve ‘song’ and minimise the use of ‘Li’, the greater the release of ‘Nei Jing’ force.

Practising ‘song’ is part of the gong fu training process. It occurs when one keeps reminding oneself to ‘song’ thoroughly and refrain from the ‘Li’ force because the energy of ‘Nei Jing’ will be locked and blocked whenever the force ‘Li’ is applied. So, ‘Nei Jing’ and ‘Li’ are said to be mutually exclusive.

Therefore, the Tai Ji Quan master Yang Chengfu used the concept of‘song’ as a benchmark in his daily teaching. It was his daily routine to keep reminding his disciples to ‘song’ thoroughly more than 10 times when he inspected them.

Send article as PDF to

During the PREMIER FORUM/COMPETITION EUROPEEN DE TAI CHI CHUAN CHENG MAN CH’ING, (August 2002) there was a discussion on the correct way to do the CMC form. One quote one must read so we all know videos are allright to use for learning the ‘outside’:

“Well the reason that I’m so interested is that when I started doing Taiji 22 years ago, my teacher told me that we were learning CMC style. Now I’m not so sure that what I do can really be called the CMC style.
Benjamin Lo: Who was your teacher?
- Well I worked with someone in the UK who was taught by John Kells and Dr Chi Chiang Tao.
Benjamin Lo: Dr Chi I know, he was a classmate of mine.
- You’re right to say that. I’ll tell you one simple way. If you really want to know that what you’re doing is right then study Professor Cheng’s videos. We’re very lucky to have a visual record of his work that you can refer to. If I say that I learn from you but my posture is different from yours, what do you think? It can’t be right.
Yes, but what you see in the video is only the external shape and form.
You can’t really see what is going on.
Yes you’re right, inside there’s no way to see. For the inside we have to talk about it, not only talk, but you have to practice. Not only practice, but practice long and hard, and this is why only very few people can really do it well.”

Read the entire article:  cmcarticles (pdf)

Send article as PDF to

“This first story does imply a fundamental criticism of my original taiji teacher in London, with whom I had been studying a form purportedly taught by Dr Chi. I later came to recognize that all of my fellow students without exception shared the fault that Dr Chi was trying to correct in me, so for this reason I prefer not to name my first teacher. Neither would I wish to be quoted in a way that suggests the fault was exclusively mine.

I studied the so-called “Dr Chi short form” in London, along with the long form and other variants for more than four years before I had the opportunity to visit the Master himself in Vancouver BC. Dr Chi’s English was charmingly imperfect, but more than adequate to discuss matters of taijiquan. More importantly, his demonstrations were outstandingly clear and impressive, and his form was strikingly simple and elegant.

He found the form I was practicing puzzling, burdened as it was with many embellishments added by my London teacher which Dr Chi unequivocally pronounced to be “not so correct”. He was particularly baffled by my pushing hands technique. As I attempted to yield, he would close my arm against my chest, pressing gently with his thumb. Then, with a small movement that left no imprint or sensation on my arm, he would propel me with his thumb so that I flew backwards across his garden. Each time he did it, I resolved that next time I would feel what that thumb did, but it was impossible. Over and over, he repeated to me the words “Why no turn waist? I catch! One finger!”.

Dr Chi was picking up on the fact that we London students were characteristically unable to differentiate our waist from our hips. Discussions on this subject were to continue among those of us who visited him for years to come. This differentiation became much clearer to me in later years when I studied other internal arts, namely Chen-style taijiquan with Liu Wenqun and Liu Xiaoguang in Beijing and Yin-style baguazhang with the London study group of the Xie Peiqi and He Jinbao lineage.

A conversation with my fellow taiji student Lee Partis yielded the following anecdote: Out in Dr. Chi’s garden he would ask to see our form. He would often try to convey to us that our idea of the form was “too heavy”. Once, a squirrel appeared and ran nimbly along the fence nearby. Dr. Chi drew attention to the squirrel. “Light spirit … light spirit!” was his comment.

Another story was relayed to me by Lee goes as follows. Dr Chi was a member of a Chinese Christian congregation in Vancouver, and there he met a young boxer whose background was in yiquan. My elder brother in taiji, Adrian Murray, also met and pushed hands with this man whom I will call S. He said of S that his years of yiquan training had made his body feel like the tyre on a London bus – not hard in the way of external martial arts, but resilient with tremendous inner strength. S became a student of Dr Chi, and deferred to him in keeping with traditional Chinese social behaviour toward elders. After a time, Dr Chi sensed that S did not believe Dr Chi could really defend himself using taijiuan. Dr Chi challenged S: “You attack me … any way!” S refused, unable to bring himself to attack an elderly gentleman. Eventually, Dr Chi sternly gave S an ultimatum: “If you will not attack me, you cannot come here to my home any more”. Dr Chi did not disappoint S with his response. When Lee asked him what happened, Dr Chi said simply “S attacked me. I threw him away …” and gesturing with his hand to his eyebrow as he peered into the distance “… too far!”.

Dr Chi had a most uncanny skill: It was not possible to grasp his arm. No matter how hard you tried, that thin arm would always dissolve through your grasp. He would not withdraw it. The arm would still be there at your fingertips, but you could not close your grip around it. He once told a story of a wrestler who mocked taiji. He challenged this wrestler to take hold of him. It was a hot day and the wrestler tried for nearly an hour to grapple with Dr Chi but was unable to get old of him. Eventually, dripping with perspiration from his exertions, the wrestler gave up. Dr Chi wiped his forehead with his handkerchief and remarked “After one hour, I must wipe my brow, but you are taking a bath”.

Dr Chi’s English was very charming, and sometimes a little “old-fashioned”. I often wonder how conscious he was of the way his rather comical phrases were able to embed themselves in the memory of his students for decades to come. After he had got to know something of my character, he decided it was safe to show me some fighting techniques. While demonstrating an elbow-stroke technique capable of delivering a double injury, he said “I show you because you are a soft man. Only use if a rascal or a robber comes!”. (Note for non-native English speakers: Historically, the term rascal once referred to a violent criminal, but over time its usage has softened and nowadays we would apply it humorously to describe a naughty or impish child.)”

The above anecdotes were sent to me by Richard Coldman. Thank you Richard.

Send article as PDF to

“Soft Taiji is True Taiji”

柔 róu: soft; flexible; supple; yielding
太極拳 taijiquan
是 shì is, am, are, to be, yes
真正 zhēnzhèng genuine; real; true; genuinely
太極拳 taijiquan

A well known quote of dr Qi Jiang Tao

Send article as PDF to

Yang Ch’eng-fu – Yang cheng-fu
Father of modern Yang style Tai Chi Chuan.

Yang Chengfu ( Hanyu Pinyin), or Yang Ch’eng-fu ( Wade-Giles) ( 楊澄甫, 1883- 1936) has been considered by some to be the best known teacher of Taijiquan to have ever lived.

His direct descendents, the many students he taught and their students have spread the art around the world. He was born into the famous Yang Taijiquan family, and with his older brother Yang Shaohou (楊少侯) and colleagues Wu Jianquan (吳鑑泉) and Sun Lutang (孫錄堂) was among the first teachers to offer Taijiquan instruction to the general public at the Beijing Physical Culture Research Institute from 1914 until 1928. He moved to Shanghai in 1928. He is known for having “smoothed” out the somewhat more vigorous training routine he learned from his family as well as emphasising a “large frame” (expansive movements in stepping and from the arms using large circular motions) in his training.
His smooth motion, evenly-paced large frame form and its hundreds of offshoots has been the standard for Yang style Tai Chi Chuan (and overwhelmingly in the public imagination for Tai Chi Chuan in general) ever since.

His sons have continued to teach their father’s Taijiquan, including his first son, the late Yang Shoujong (楊守中), who brought Yang style Taijuquan to Hong Kong, his second son Yang Zhenji (who is the current head of the family), and his third son, Yang Zhenduo (楊振鐸, born 1926), living in Shanxi Province, who is widely considered the most prominent of the Yang family Taijiquan instructors living today.

Cheng Man-ching  – Zheng Manqing
bringing Taijiquan to the masses

Student of Yang cheng-fu, Zheng Manqing (1901 – 1975) was teacher of countless students throughout the world. He was instrumental in popularising Taijiquan in the western world. He started (like so many Chinese masters) in Taiwan, and from there went to the USA.

Zheng studied Taijiquan with Yang Cheng-fu from 1928 till 1935. His shortened (simplified) 37 form was conceived in 1938. It was this form that became so very popular because it matched the busy lives of western living. Repetitions were omitted and the core remained unscathed.

Whilst in Taiwan he taught dr Qi Jiang Tao.

Dr Chi Chiang-tao – dr Qi Jiang Tao
the master of Yielding

Student of Zheng Man-qing, Dr Qi was also a medical doctor. He came to London from Taiwan in the 1970s and taught John Kells at the British Tai Chi Association.
In the Netherlands dr Qi taught Kwee Swan Hoo (co-founder of the Dutch Taijiquan Association) and Ruud Westerkamp (founder of BOCAM).

Send article as PDF to