Since much has already been written on Tai Chi and Qigong, I will just post a few links to sites I found interesting. I hope you will enjoy and learn from them as well.
Here are a few videos that give a pretty close imitation of what I do, (or vice versa), for those looking for home instruction. Remember, practice will help you to remember the form movements, a teacher will help you to get them right to prevent injuries, and increase qi flow.
- Tai Chi Walking – the basics of the movements of the body while walking.
- Brush Knee – he describes many of the pitfalls, and does a good job of explaining the moves.
- Good detail on warm up exercises and getting the beginning of Wave Hands like Clouds.
- Parting the wild horse’s mane. A very detailed explanation of the moves. Note the rotation of the torso from the waist.
- Repulse Monkey. He pivots the front foot by moving the heel out and keeping the toes down, I like having the toes down to feel like you are pushing the weight all the way back to the back foot. Either way is good, whichever works for you. The way I do it is more the Wudang way.
Are you sinking your body correctly? Here’s a video that can help. And this site by Brisbane Chen Tai Chi has a lot of great information about grounding.
8 Pieces of Brocade
- 8 Pieces of Brocade by The Chinese Health Qigong Association shows a version closest to what I do. It’s a demonstration, not made for practicing with.
- 8 Pieces of Brocade is a longer demonstration by The Chinese Health Qigong Association, again not instructional.
- Mimi Kuo-Deemer’s 8 Pieces of Brocade has instructions! and commentary on energy and emotional balance.
- 8 Pieces of Brocade by Andrew Blitt shows a standard way of movements that you can practice to.
- Wudang 8 Pieces of Brocade shows Wudang Master Zhong XueChao (Bing) doing the set. A few more flourishes than the standard. By far the best scenery.
- Pal Dan Gum – a Korean version of 8 Pieces of Brocade, with Mike Shallow, a Tai Chi brother of mine.
Yang 8 or 10 form short set
Note, the 8 form and 10 form styles are the same, it’s just a matter of how the forms are counted that changes.
- Master Gao Jiamin demonstrates the short form of Yang Style Tai Chi
- 2 people doing the 8-Form Yang Style Tai Chi, mirroring each other.
Yang 24 form set
- You can also search Youtube for “pink lady tai chi”, Master Jiamin Gao, winner of 32 gold medals. She is co-owner and teacher at the US Wushu Center, Portland, Oregon.
- Two people doing the Yang style 24 form, mirroring each other.
- This one shows the 24 form from the back, with English subtitles describing the movements.
- Here’s a cute poster of a mouse doing the Yang 24 formset.
- Dr. Paul Lam has an extensive collection of Youtube videos, DVD’s and instructors around the world. He does not go deep into the qi movement, but his breakdowns of forms is pretty specific.
Tai Chi Qigong (Shibashi) 18 and other Qigong sets
- Tai Chi Qigong 18 part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, great warm up exercises.
- PDF of Tai Chi Qigong 18 part 1 is a great warm-up. This pdf also has a chart of some of the acupressure points to focus on while doing the movements, and some of the benefits of each exercise.
- Yi Jin Jing Muscle Tendon Change Classic is a set of Buddhist Qigong Stretching exercises that has been marvelous for my back and body.
- Basic Liang Gong Exercises | Dao yin Qigong – This set of exercises is taught by my teacher Michael Issa. He has a great massage warm-up, then goes into the first movement of Ma Wang Dui.
- Ma Wang Dui is a super set of exercises that work the main energy meridians – great stretches for the back!
- Another version of Ma Wang Dui, no instruction but very easy to follow.
- Eight Extraordinary Meridians Meditation – a cool 3D look at the movement of energy with this meditation practice.
- The movements of the 8 meridians. Watch the movement up and down the meridians.
Classes online, background on Tai Chi and Qigong
Live stream classes with my teacher Michael Issa or catch up on past videos. He has Tai Chi Flow, Therapeutic Tai Chi formset, Qi Fitness and Qi Flow options.
- Watch Atlanta cable channel AIB TV in the morning: Christina Barea and Peyton Young of Rising Lotus for breathing and qigong exercises, Cate Morrill to practice Tai Chi, or stretch out with Michael Issa as he shows Dai Yin Qigong stretching.
- Zhang San-Feng 13 Postures featuring Master Zhong, the present lineage holder of the Wudang Style.
- Master (Chen) Tseng is the United States representative of the Wudang form and temple brother to Master Zhong. He has traveled to Atlanta numerous times for weekend seminars and is now offering classes in Estes Park, Colorado. Please check out Master Chen’s website here for many articles and podcasts on Tai Chi, qigong, Daoism, and qi movement.
A bit of history and studies on Tai Chi and Qigong
- One person’s account of overcoming Aspergers with Qigong
- Unlocking the power of Chi and its Connection to Fascia
- Tai Chi helps boost memory, study shows
- History of Qi Gong and Tai Chi – a very brief but detailed account.
- History of Qi Gong
- Silk Reeling, a basic explanation of internal movement leading the external.
- Silk Reeling, video demonstration of Silk Reeling.
- Tai Chi Classics
- Tai Chi for fibromyalgia treatment and relief
- Tai Chi Improves Diabetes Control
- A history of Shaolin Martial Arts, about 2/3’s of the way down is the history of Tai Chi.
- TED-Ed has an interesting video on how stretching changes your muscles.
And a few good books:
108 Answers to Tai Chi Practice by Master Jesse Tsao – the first section is very illuminating!
The Power of Tai Chi by Master Shao Zhao-Ming
The Way of Energy by Master Lam Kam Chuen
Inside Zhan Zhuang by Mark Cohen
The Tai Chi Directory by Kim Davies
Anatomy of Fitness Tai Chi by Loretta M. Wollering – shows the movements of the Yang 24 form and the muscles each form works
15-Minute Tai Chi by Master John Ding
Taijiquan through the Western Gate by Rick Barrett