We Teach

· Huang Xingxian's 5 loosening exercises

· Zheng Manqing's 37 posture short form 

· Yang Chengfu's 108 posture long form

· 8 basic fixed pattern push hands

· guided meditation  

Loosening exercises

The loosening exercises are designed to loosen the muscles, free the joints, and turn the mind inwards. Regular practice will bring benefits to mind and body.

Beginners first learn these basic movements, and we gradually introduce and refine subtler layers of the practice over time.

Taiji forms

The traditional forms train body and mind coordination. We train fluid power waves through the body, including the issuing transverse wave typically emphasized by the Yang style, the vertical borrowing pressure wave emphasized in the Wu style, and the spiral twisting wave emphasized in the Chen style.  

For beginners we introduce Cheng Man Ching's 37 posture posture short form from the beginning, teaching a few new moves in detail every class to quickly cover the entire short form in 24 classes, which takes 12 weeks at most based on our minimum attendance requirements, usually sooner for most people attending more frequently. We do this quickly because a minimum level of basic accuracy in the form is needed to practically follow along as we spiral back to endlessly refine deeper. We later introduce Yang Cheng Fu's 108 posture long form at a faster pace (as many of the moves are identical repeats of the short form which is a simplified version of the same form), going through the entire long form before the end of the student's second year. We go through Huang Xingxian's quickfist form by the end of the third year.

Push hands

The basic 8 push hands patterns are cooperative partner exercises set to awaken and develop the sensitivity towards the partner’s intention (意 yi), energy (氣 qi), and forces (劲 jin). The smoothness and accuracy that come from learning the push hands well, will allow students to find the subtle inner levels of energizing, activation, and connection.

Push hands are a core part of our practice that we introduce from day one; students can learn from attempting these exercises even well before they can possibly perform them "correctly." We introduce at least 5 of the 8 basic fixed push hands patterns in our system within the first 3 months.

Meditation

As the self-awareness gradually develops, and the Intention connects into the inner levels, the right conditions for a guided meditation arise. Meditation is an intentional process of energy transformation from Lower to Upper dantians (精 jing, 氣 qi, 神 shen) to direct the practices toward inner refinement and development. 

Meditation is also a core part of every practice. For beginners we sometimes begin with a simpler standing lifting and sinking exercise as a precursor to sitting meditation.