What's in the Spring 2023 Issue?

The Yang Style Taiji of Chen Weiming

Chen Weiming

It can be argued that the most famous taijiquan (t'ai chi ch'uan) master of the 20th century was Yang Cheng Fu (1883-1936). He was a highly skilled and well liked teacher who passed the Yang family style taijiquan on to millions throughout the world. Most of the Yang style forms taught today are derived from this man with his modifications to his family’s taiji (t'ai chi) which he developed in the 1920s and 30s. However, there are still some rare cases where Yang family taiji is being taught from the lineages of Yang’s father, Yang Jian Hou (1839-1917), his uncle, Yang Ban Hou (1837-1890), and his grandfather, Yang style’s legendary founder, Yang Luchan (1799-1872). By John M. Murney

 

The Root of Chinese Qigong: One Hundred and One Questions

Yang Jwing-Ming

Because many of the Qìgōng practices have been kept secret in the past, many theories and methods have been passed down randomly. Only in the last twenty years have most of these secrets been revealed to the general public. Even so, because of the long years of secrecy, many of the documents that are available to us remain incomplete or unconfirmed. Some of the questions may remain mysteries, since I firmly believe that nobody is able to reach the level of Qìgōng practice attained by earlier masters. The following are some of the questions I have had. By Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming

 

Improve Appearance and Prolong Life

Grandmaster Wang PeishengThere is an old saying that money can buy anything but health. There are two other things money cannot buy, beauty, and long life. However, if one exercises ­regularly and has self-control it is possible to live a long and healthy life. The key is to persevere in exercise summer and winter. The following methods are for improving the appearance and extending the life. Why not give them a try? By Grandmaster Wang Peisheng (translated by Tim Cartmell, edited by Qi Journal staff)

 

Master Liu HeDaoist Wisdom: 2023 - The Year of the Water Rabbit

Several factors contribute to this focus on Qigong: world travel and multicultural awareness; the increasing demand for holistic healing practice in medicine; and the active role people are taking in their own health. All of these elements require Qigong to cross the centuries from its origins in ancient China to become a respected modern practice. Qigong is one of Chinese medicine’s most revered traditional treatment modalities. My family’s multigenerational Qigong legacy informs the theory and practice that I share with my students, and that I offer to you in this article. By Master Liu He

Ezra Abrahamy

Departments:

Departments in this issue: “Feng Shui Power Principle—The Bagua” by Carol Olmstead gives us 3 simple steps on how to utilize the bagua in fengshui practice. Kenneth Cohen shares “Is Intent Enough?” where he explains the difference between learning specific qigong movements vs. using intent in qigong. “Chinese Year of the Water Rabbit” is a cultural tidbit by Steven Luo that explains why you should expect the water rabbit year to be a time of harmony, prosperity, and good fortune. Then Robert Keller, L.Ac., shares “A Few Quick Facts About the Spleen in Chinese Medicine” where he discusses the basics of a healthy diet from a TCM perspective and how it affects one’s spleen. “Transforming Emotions with Daoist Meditation” by Michele Collins Vergara, details TCM and Daoist meditation practices that offer a useful way to transform and lessen the impact of unresolved emotional states which affect our health and well-being. And finally, Ezra Abrahamy shares “Applying Taijiquan Principles in Science”, where his over 30 years as a scientist/engineer makes his taijiquan practice an ongoing scientific process.


I hope you enjoy this, our 129th consecutive issue of Qi Journal.

 

 

 

What's in the Summer 2023 Issue?

 

Taiji Energies, Trigrams, & The Secrets of Change

Chen Weiming

The secret essence of Taijiquan (T'ai Chi Ch'uan) is everywhere and openly accessible. Many people simply choose not to look or do not know what to look for, even though it is ever present. Furthermore, that essence is an extension of a universal principle that is not only simple, it is the foundation of the culture and philosophy that informs Taijiquan: the concept of the perpetual flow of yin and yang and the infinite stream of change. To see, recognize, and be in that flow of change is the open secret. To be able to respond appropriately to that flow is the heart of Taijiquan as well as the art of living deeply. By Dr. David Clippinger

 Practicing Taiji for Emotional Resilience

Life does not come with an instruction manual. Some therapists and clinicians call this need to navigate the social side of life the "hidden curriculum" that everybody needs to learn at some point in life. The social side of life is messy and complex, and learning how to navigate this territory can be challenging when it comes to handling feelings in a useful way. Feelings can tell you so much about the present moment. Because of the psychosocial benefits, the practice of Qigong and Taiji (T'ai Chi) can help to build emotional intelligence and resilience by helping you accept and be with what you feel. In this article, I share with you some stories, reflections and some notes on the Qigong and Taiji research on the topic. By Josie Weaver

 Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine

Injuries to the tendons and ligaments, which Chinese medicine collectively refers to as the "sinews", can be difficult and slow to heal. For the martial artist and athlete these kind of injuries can be frustrating as they make joints unstable, weak and prone to re-injury. This article presents a multi-modality approach to treating sinews that are overstretched due to extensive tearing and/or repeated injury. The treatments discussed here have been shown to be effective in both modern clinical situations and in "Kung-Fu" medicine (Sports Medicine) applications. By Tom Bisio
 

Guide To Mental Health in These Turbulent Times (part one)

Mental health is front and center in a lot of people's minds these days. The chaos, fear, anger, endless social and economic challenges, and general disruption that has been the hallmark of the past few years, has changed the world we live in, and the lives of most people—probably including yours. The consistent stress, questioning, boomerang-instability and isolation, have been like a boat ride in the choppy seas of an agonizingly persistent and epic storm. This is part one of a two part feature which continues in our Autumn 2023 issue.
By Ron Teeguarden, aka Dan-O Sun Sha

Departments:

Our departments include "Women's Contributions to Chinese Martial Arts" by Luo Shiwen where he lists some of the women who played important roles in the martial arts of China. Rochelle Johnson shares "The Hungry Ghost Festival: Honoring The Dead", an important holiday in Asia that is not well-known here in America (and is the inspiration of our cover photo). "All Tai Chi is for Seniors" by Tom Forsythe explains how any style of taiji is suitable for people of any age. Wei Liang shares some historical tidbits in "Qin Shi Huang and His Controversial Legacy", a ruler famous for much of the Great Wall (Long Wall) construction. "On the Dan Tian" by Dr. Henry McCann details this aea of the body and how it is defined in Qigong, TCM, and Daoist literature. And finally, "Kungfu or Wushu?" by Steven Luo shares some thoughts on the controversy and division between traditional kungfu and more recent wushu forms being shared on social media.


I hope you enjoy this, our 130th consecutive issue of Qi Journal.

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