Wang Yongquan Writings on Yang Style Tai Chi

Chuan
TranslatedbyRichardMan,richard@imagecraft.com
http://facebook.com/groups/IMA.LiteraryTradition
Donationsofanyamount,even$1,$2,gladlyaccepted.Donationof$15ormorewillgetacopy
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LastEdit:2013/12/05Status:23outof100+pages,oneoutofthreechapterscompleted.ONLY
MINIMALEDITINGandEnglishcleanuphavebeendone.
TranslatorsNotes:ThemajorityofthetextarewordsfrommasterWangYongquanhimself.
OccasionallytherearecommentariesbytheeditorLiuJinYin.Thesearenotatedas
suchandwritteninitalicfontandprefixedbyEditorsNotes:.Anycommentariesbythe
translatorwillbemarkedassuch:{translator:}
BriefbackgroundonWangYongquan(19041987):amorecompletebackgroundon
masterWangYonguanwillbeavailablewhenItranslatethefrontsections(forward,and
introduction)ofthebook.MasterWangwasastudentofYangJianhouandYangChengfu,the
secondandthirdgenerationsofYangFamily.Healsolearnedfromhisfather,whowasalsoa
studentoftheYangElders.MasterWangsspecialtyistheMiddleFrameYangStyleTaiChi
Chuan.HisstudentsandgrandstudentsincludebutnotlimitedtothefamousWeiShuren,Zhu
HuaiYuan,andShiMing.ThePBSTVshowHealingandtheMindbyBillMoyer
(1995)introducedShiMingandtheconceptofQitoawideUSaudience.
GLOSSARY:
(DaQuan)Fighting(withfist).Practicingmartialartsincludingforms,pushhand,and
sparringetc.
(GongFu)Theskillsobtainedfrompracticingforalongtermcorrectly.Innormalusage,it
canbeusedforskillsotherthanmartialarts.
(Jin)Refinedforce.Normally,anyforcegainedbyactivetraining,e.g.evenboxingmay
considerasJin.However,internalJinaretraineddifferentlyanddonotinvolvetheactive
engagingofmuscles.Inthehighestformininternalarts,Jinisdevelopedthroughthemovement
ofYiandQi.
()(LianQuan)Practice(TaiChi)martialarts.Usuallyreferstohandforms.

(PanJiaZi)Practicebasicformpostures[oraccordingtoGoogleTranslate:dishrack
].
(Qi)Awordthatdefiessimplelabeling.Callingitbreath,energyorlifeforceetc.aredeficient
althoughdependingonthecontext,itcouldhavethosecharacteristicsandmore(including
water,i.e.flowingofQi).Qiisbesttobeviewedasadescriptionofcertainphenomena
occurring.
InInternalMartialArtsterms,InternalQihasdefinedmeaningsandusage.Withtraining,
InternalQicanbefeltandthesensationscanbedescribed,butitisnotasubstanceorsome
kindofthing,orevenenergy.Forexample,SinkQitoDantianandQi
rousinglikeadrumvibratingdescribecertainprocessesoccurringbutdonotmeanthatsome
kindofQisubstanceorevenenergyisbeingmovedaround.
Qiisusefultodescribewhatshappeningbutdoesnotprescribehowitcanbemadetohappen.
HarmonizingShen,YiandQiisthecorepracticeofYangStyleTaiChiChuan.
TomobilizeQi,youcreateanemptyspace,bySoongandalightYitoemptythearea.The
differentiationofyinandyangiswhatmakesQiflow.
EvencookingcanhaveWokQiandQiisalsousedinconjunctionwithhundredsofother
words.Forexample,isair.whichlookslikelifeQiisactuallybeingangry.
(QingJiao)Askpeopleforadviceoralesson.Itcanbeusedasasincerewishforadvice,
orasachallenge:Youthinkyouaresogreat?Well,pleaseteachme!implyingthattheresult
wouldbeopposite.Usedcommonlyinmartialartsmoviesasafightbegins.
(QuanJia)Martialartsforms.
(Shen)Spiritasinspirited.Alsomeangod/spiritingeneralusagebutusuallynotinmartial
artsunlessreferringtospiritualism.HarmonizingShen,YiandQiisthecorepracticeofYang
StyleTaiChiChuan.
(ShenMing)Supremeunderstanding.WhileShenisusuallytranslatedasgodorspirit,
thistermgenerallydoesnothaveanyspiritualconnotation.Sometranslatorstranslatethisas
spiritualilluminationwhichinthistranslatorsopinion,is(offbyafew
inchesandendupathousandmilesaway).
(Soong)Canbelooselytranslatedasbeingrelaxbutnotcollapsed.Withoutunderstanding
andbeing,onecannotachieveproficiencyinTaiChiChuan.
(Tong)Beingemptyandhollow,actingasaconduitsothatthingscanflowthrough.Inthis

book,anexampleisthatyourbodyconditionbeingTong,allowingYiorQitomoveunimpeded.
(WuDe)MartialVirtues.Codeofconductforavirtuousmartialartist.UnlikeJapanese
Bushido,itsnotawrittenlist.GenerallyfollowingtheConfucian,DaoistandBuddhistvirtues
wouldbeagoodstart.
(WuXingWuXiang)Formlessandshapeless[oraccordingtoGoogleTranslate:no
invisibleelephant].
(Yi)Mindfulintention.HarmonizingShen,YiandQiisthecorepracticeofYangStyleTaiChi
Chuan.
(ZhaoShu)martialartstechniques.RefertomywritingonNotesonTranslating
Chinese.isapostureistheunderlyingmethod.meansthatsomeone
onlyhasgottentheposture(outwardappearance)butnottheinnermethod.

-
Part I - Mr. Wang Yongquans Teaching on Martial Arts
CHAPTERONEGeneralIntroduction
()
(One)MartialVirtueisofUtmostImportance

:
,

Editorsnote:(WuDe/MartialVirtue)isthemostimportantcomponentoftheYangStyle
TaijiquanastransmittedbymasterWang.MasterWangbelievedinactinginaccordinglywith
WuDe.Hehadanoblecharacter,possessedgreatmartialartskills,andknownforbeing
virtuousandexcelledinmartialarts.Hewashonest,compassionate,sincereanddedicated.He
likedlearningmartialarts,andwasenthusiasticteacher.Hedidnotcareforfameandliveda
simplelife.

HestudiedTaijiquanforover60years,nurturednumeroustopstudents,andbenefittedmany

practitioners.Inhislateryears,hedictatedtheYangStyleTaijiquanTrueTransmission(written
byhisstudentWeiShuren)comprisingofhisinsights,asalegacytothefuture.HisTaiChi
Chuanskillswereveryhigh,buthemodestlysaidthathewasonlyatmiddlinglevel,veryfar
fromthesupremeunderstandinglevel.

Whenhetalkedabouttheothermartialartstylesandpractitioners,healwayspointedouttheir
specialtiesinpositiveterms,andnevernegatively.Hesaid,everystylehastheirunique
featuresandadvantages,itdoesnotmatterwhichstyle,ifonebecomesproficientinit,thenits
good.Whenchallengersvisited,hetreatedthemwithrespectandstoppedwithoutboastinghis
achievementsandwithoutembarrassingtheothers.Whenhetookonstudents,helookedfor
virtuouscharacters.

""
Hetaughtwholeheartedlyanddidnotwithholdinformation.Whenhetestedtheirhands,after
Fajin,hewouldgrabtheopponentsarm,topreventthemfromfallingdown.Ifanyonehadtrouble
understanding,hewouldpatientlyexplainedagain.HecalledPushingHandasRubbing
Hand/,emphasizingitsWuDequality.

Tolearnmartialart,youmusthaveWuDe.WuDeisofutmostimportance.
Martialartisnotaboutgettingfameorfortune.
Tolearnmartialarts,istoliveintheDao(,theWay).IfyouseparatefromtheDao,thenyou
willlosetheWay.
()""""
(Two)TheTeacherNeedstoStudyTheStudentforThreeYearsTheStudentNeeds
toVisittheTeacherforThreeYears.

Tolearnmartialarts,youmustselectateachercarefully.Heorshemusthaveacomplete
understandingofTaijiquan,canteachcorrectly,hasagoodattitude,andwillingtotakecareand
workwiththestudents.
""()()""

Therefore,ateacherneedstostudyaprospectivestudentfor3years,andthestudentneedsto
visittheteacherfor3years.AftertheycanseeeachotherspersonalitiesandtheirWuDe

(martialvirtue),theycanthenformalizetheteacherstudentrelationship.
()
(Three)BeforeTeachingMartialArts,TeachWuDe

BeforeteachingsomeoneTaijiquan:1)explainthe5kindsofDaoandDe(*)2)workto
eliminaterashbehaviorsorangerissues3)softenanybrutestrength4)prideandegomustbe
letgo5)competitiveandcombativefeelingsmustberemovedaswell.Theteacherandstudent
mustfirstworkthroughtheseissues,beforemartialartsaretaught.Duringthetraining,these
pointsshouldbereviewedfromtimetotime.
(*){Translator:theonlyreferenceto5kindsofDaoandDeIcouldfindistheBuddhistones,not
surewhetherthisiswhatmasterWangwasreferringto:
}
()
(Four)SincerelyasktheElders,YourEquals,andLaterStudentsforAdviceand
Critiques

Withsincerityandmodesty,youshouldasktheElders,yourEqualsandevenlaterstudentswho
havegottenthecorrecttransmissionforadviceandcritiques.Youmustavoidthinkingthatyou
havethesameunderstandingofthewordsastheoneswrittenintheClassicsandyoushould
avoidpracticingalonefoolishly.Otherwise,youmaypracticeincorrectly,andyourGongFuwill
notdevelopcorrectlyandmightdoyourbodyharm.
()
(Five)RubbingHand(PushHand)MustBeDoneWithCorrectIntent

PracticingRubbingHandmustbedonewithcorrectintent.RubbingHandiscommonlyknown
asPushHand.ThepurposeofRubbingHandisforthepractitionerstovalidatetheir
understandingofthemartialartprinciples.Ifastudentdiscoversthattheydonotunderstandor

practicecorrectly,andtheirrubbinghandisnotdonecorrectly,thentheycanavoidcontinuing
downtheincorrectpath.SomepeoplemisunderstandtheintentofRubbingHand,andthinkthat
itsfortestingwhoisbetter.Whenpracticingwithfriends,thisgeneratesconflictsand
misunderstanding,andsometimesevencausephysicalinjuries.Theseindicateadeficiencyin
theireducationandistheoppositeofWuDe.Theyaddtothesofthandsotherartsfighting
hands,sanshou,anddifferentjointlocking(chinna)techniques{translator:TaiChiChinNa
worksdifferently},andchangedthesofthandsintoastrengthtestingprocess.

YoumustnotthinkthatRubbingHandistheendresultofthepractice.Ifyoupracticethatway,
thatsincorrectunderstanding,andwouldcauseharmtoyourbody.Studentsmustbecarefulof
thispoint.
""

TheprimereasonforpracticingRubbingHandistoUnderstandJinandlearnthetrueTaiChi
GongFu,andnottoseewhoisstrongerorwhowouldwin,evenusingunsportsmanlike
techniquesorwithbadintention.MyteacherYangChengfusaid,Ifyouwinoveryouropponent
usingtrueTaiChiChuanGongFuatRubbingHand,thenyouwillgettheirrespectfromtheir
heartandmouth.{translator:thatis,otherwiseevenifyouwin,thentheyfearyou,butmaynot
respectyou.}
()
(Six)TheCharacteristicsofYangStyleTaiChiChuanareComfortable,Pleasant,
andExpansive.

::""

EditorsNote:accordingtomynotestherearetwoplaceswhereWangYongquanLaoshisaid,
AcharacteristicofYangStyleTaiChiChuaniscomfortable,/pleasant,andexpansive.
Hesaidthatwhenonepracticesmartialart,onemustmaintainthecharacteristicsofYangStyle
TaiChi.Sincethequestionswereaskedunderdifferentcircumstances,hewouldemphasize
differentpoints.Eventhoughthewordsmaybedifferent,themeaningsarethesame.Heoften
usedthewords:natural,comfortable,engaged,expansive,showoff{translator:showoff
heredoesnotmeanthenegativeterm,butthequalityofdemonstrating},butsometimesalso
stretchandopen,comfortable,harmonious,beautiful,graceful,livelyandagile,round...etc.{
translator:manyadjectivesdenotingtheseconcepts}.Hewouldusedifferentsetof
characteristicsdifferenttimes,sometimesits4setofwords,sometimes6andsometimes8.I

(theeditor)thinkthatthe4adjectives:natural,comfortable,pleasant,expansivearethe
mostgeneralones.Toaddtothem/QingLing/LightandAgile,arethemostimportant
characteristicsoftheYangStyleTaiChiChuanastransmittedbymasterWang.

ThecharacteristicsofYangStyleTaiChiChuanarecomfortable,pleasant,expansive.
Thefundamentalcharacteristicsoftheformsarenatural,softandharmonious,gracefuland
beautiful.
Whenyoupractice,itmustbenatural.
Observe(listen),andletitunfoldnaturally.
""""""

Whenpracticing,dontthinktoomuch,ortrytoholdthejinor"postures,theseleadto
awkwardandunnaturalmovements.
Whenpracticing,dontbesorigidlyboundedbythepostures.
Myteacher,YangChengfusaid,WhenyouOpen,youmustbecomfortablewhenyouClose,
youmustalsobecomfortable.{translator:allTaiChiChuanmovementsareeitheropeningor
closing}
Startingshouldbecomfortable,movingshouldbecomfortable,stoppingandrestingshouldbe
comfortable,transitioningmustalsobecomfortable.
Whenyoupractice,youshouldfeelcomfortable,andpeoplewatchingyoushouldalsofeel
comfortable.

Thebodymustnotbestiff,nortwisted,norrigid.
Yourentirebodymustbe(Soong/relaxed),your(Shen/spirit)restful,yourmindis
tranquilandrelaxed.Leisurelyandunhurried.
Enjoythemoment,feelconfident,bringoutyoursmile.
Ifyoufeelgracefulandbeautifulinside,otherpeoplewillalsoseeyourgracefulness.

Whenpracticing,youshouldfeelcomfortable,bigandopen.Youmustactasifyouare
demonstrating(/showoff),andnottightandcompacted.
Itshouldbelight,agile,round,quick,andnotclumsy.
Practiceshouldbelikeasilkwormspittingsilk,continuouswithoutbreak.Whenreelingjin,donot
break,orstopping,ormakesuddenchanges.

""
Practicingformsshouldfeellikewalkinginwater.Thelowerbodyunderthewater,thewaiston
thewaterline,theupperbodyoutsideofthewater,feelingthebuoyancy.Thehandsmovingin
theairwithoutresistance.Asifdrawingintheair.

Themovementsshouldbesteady,slowanduniform.
()
YouMustHaveTheCorrectTheoryAsAGuide

Regardlesswhichmartialartsyoupractice,youmusthaveacorrecttheorytoguideyou,andnot
practiceblindly.
Whenpracticingaform,themovesmustbedoneaccordingtothetheory,thenyourGongFu
willimprove.

InyourjourneyinlearningTaiChiChuan,understandingthetheoryandphilosophyand
practicinggotogether,eachbenefitstheother.Usingthetheoryasaguidetoyourpractice,as
youseeyourGongFuimproving,youwouldpracticeevenmore.Whenyoupracticeandget
better,youmayfeelthatyourunderstandingofthetheoryimprovesandincreaseyour
knowledge.Themutualfeedbackloopshelpyoutoimprovecontinuously.
(),
CorrectForms,CorrectMethods

Whenlearningyoumusthavethecorrecttheory.Ifyoupracticetheformscorrectly,withthe
correctmethods,thenyouwillachievesuccess.Sometimesitseemsthatitisaslowprocess,
butactuallyyougaintrueskillsquickly.Therearesomeformsandmethodsthatlooklikeyou

cangainproficiencyquickly,buttheyhavelimits.Onceyoureachacertainlevel,itishardto
progressbeyondit.Thisisactuallytheslowpath.

Theteacherpointsoutthewaytothestudents.Whenastudentgoesdownthewrongpath,the
teacherneedstohelpthestudenttoreturntothecorrectpath.However,thestudentmustwalk
thepathhimself,andtheonlywaytogainGongFuisbypracticing.
()
YangStyleTaiChiChuanIsNeijiaChuan(InternalMartialArt)PayAttentiontoNeijin

:""

"
"
EditorNote:YangStyleTaiChiChuanIsNeijiaChuan,isacentralguidingthesisfromWang
Yongquan.Thisprincipleshouldbetheguidewheneveryoupracticeandwheneveryouteach.
Fromtheorytopracticeoneverytransitions,everymoveallthetime(,itsaboutpaying
attentiontoNeijin).HeemphasizedthisthesisbecauseofhisfullunderstandingthatYangStyle
TaiChiChuanbelongstotheclassofNeijiaChuanisbasedonhismanydecadesof
experiencepracticing,teachingandstudyingthetheoryhewasdeeplyconcernedthatthe
practitionershavemisunderstood.TherearepeoplewhotalkaboutandagreethatYangStyle
TaiChiChuanbelongstoNeijiaChuan,buttheirpracticesandmovementsdonotadheretothis
idea,deviatingfromTaiChiChuansrootprinciples.TeacherWangpointedout,somepeople
whentheydomartialartandwhentheyteach,theyshowthattheyarereallyspeakingabout
external(martialart),andnotinternal,youmustkeepthisinmind.

Therefore,inordertopracticeYangStyleTaiChiChuanastransmittedbymasterWang,you
mustcloselyfollowNeijiaChuanproperly,andyoumustunderstandthisfullyandapplyit
consistently.

Whenyoulearnamartialartandfollowateacher,youmustfindoutandunderstandthespecial
characteristicsoftheart,thenyoucanlearnwell,andimprovefast.

YangStyleTaiChiChuanbelongstoNeijiaChuan,theemphasisisonNeiGong(InternalGong
Fu).

WhenyoulearnTaiChiChuan,donotmixitwithnonNeijiaChuanpractice.Thisisnottosay
thattheothermartialartsisnogood.Regardlesswhichmartialarts,ifyoupracticewell,thatitis
good.However,eachmartialarthastheirownfeaturesandtheirownpracticingmethods.Ifyou
mixupdifferentschoolsmethods,youwillnotlearnwell.

Intheparks,therearepeoplewhoteachYangStyleTaiChiChuan,theyonlyspeakaboutthe
external,andnottheinternaltheyonlytalkabouttheposturesandmovements,butnottheinner
methods,losingthespecialfeaturesofYangStyleTaiChiChuanthatmakesitaNeijiaChuan.

PeoplewhoforgetabouttheNeiGong,andonlychasetheexternalforms,donotpracticethe
rightTaiChiChuan.
()
(Ten)NeijinIsHarmonizingShenYiQi,andNotConcentratingShenYiQi

Editor:TeacherWangYongquansaidthattherearefundamentaldifferencesbetweenNeijin(
/internalrefinedforce)andotherpractices.Thisisaveryimportantpoint.Somepeopledonot
makethedistinctionclear,andconfuseforceasJin,goingdownthewrongpath.
()
NeijinandLi(force)aretwodifferentthings.

Neijin,orinthiscase,TaiChiJin,comesfromharmonizingShen,Yi,andQi(,spirit,
mindintent,andQi),andnotfromconcentratingShen,Yi,andQi.

OnetheorytodevelopJin(refinedforce)istoconcentrateShen,YiandQiinonepoint,andthen
usethispointtodrivethemovements.Afteralongtimeofpractice,themovementsgetbigger
andcarryapowerfulforce.Sincethisforceisfromdiligentpractice,itscalledthe(After
Heaven)"awkward"force.Theforceispowerful,strongandheavy,reactandchangeslowly,
donewithstraightanddirectmovements.Whenyouperformmartialmovements,becausethe

formsandmovementsarelarge,youexercisemorevigorously.ThiseffectsyourQitomove
roughly,makingiteasytoberestless.Thisisthetrainingmethodsandrequirementsofthe
LongFist(translator:i.e.externalmartialarts).

WhenapersonfirstlearnsTaiChiChuan,theymaythinkthatTaiChiChuanispracticedthe
samewayasdescribedabove,butthatisnottrue.IftheyfollowtherequirementsoftheTaiChi
Chuantheory,afteraperiodoftraining,combiningtheirunderstandingofthetheoryandtheform
practices,theywouldbegintounderstandthattheabovewrittenmethodsarenotthesameas
thoseoftheTaiChiChuan.TaiChiChuanrequiresthatharmonizingShen,Yi,andQiintoone,
actingtogether,andbecomeaJin(refinedforce)thatislight,agile,roundandlively.Thistypeof
JincomesfromthemixingofQiandYi.ItsnatureisQi,andrequiresEmpty,Transparent,and
dispersed,andnotgathered.ThisisTaiChiJin,alsoknownas(PreHeaven)Jin.

RelatingthistypeofJintoyourmovement:whenyoumove,youlettheJintogoout,directingits
path,allowingittoflowoutunimpeded.YoushouldonlyprojecttheJinoutthiswaywhenyouare
goingagainstanenemy,andnotrandomlyduringpractice,toavoidaffectingyourhealthand
injuringyourbody.Whenpracticing,donotholdtheJininyourbodyeither,otherwisetheJinis
stoppedandtrapped.Ifholdingthejininyourbodyandifyouencounteranenemywithstrong
force,theirforcewillbounceyourQibacktoyourbodyandcauseinjuries.
()
(Eleven)PracticingMartialArtIsAboutRefiningShen,YiandQi

Neijin(internalgong)isharmonizingShen,Yi,andQi(,spirit,mindintentandQi).
WhentheShen,YiandQiareharmonizedtogether,whenShenisexpressed,sowouldYiand
Qi.
ThemainpointofpracticingmartialartistorefineShen,YiandQi.
TheformisaboutmovingShen,Yi,andQi.Youhavetounderstandthispoint,beforeyoucan

learnhowtodotheform.
Shen,YiandQimovewhereitisemptyandinsubstantial.
1.
1.Shen,meaningSpirit(inthesenseofbeingspirited),Vitality,Awareness,andMindfulness

Shenistheleader.Whenyoupractice,youmustraiseyourawarenessandbemindful.You
mustnotbelethargicorunfocused.

YoumustgatheryourShen/focus,andnotletitwander.

Youmustfeelcomfortable,letgoofyourworry,andnotbetenseandagitated.
:
YourShenisexpressedandgatheredinyoureyes.Youreyesfocuswithintention,concentration
butnotasifyouareangry.

Youreyesshouldfocuslevelly(i.e.donotmovethemaroundindependently).Youreyefocusand
movementsmustbetogetherandsynchronized.
""
Youshouldnotstareintensively,justlightlyfocused.

Practicingforhealthandfightingaredifferent,andhavedifferentrequirementsforraisingyour
Shentoyoureyes.ForhealthyouwanttokeeptheSheninside,focusinwardlyandnotshowing
itforfighting,youreyesshouldfocusfar.Sometimesfocusing,sometimesmorereserved.It
cannotbeonlyfocusingandnotbringingthefocusback.Otherwise,itwillharmyourQi.
2.
2.Yi,meaningMindIntent

Yourmindintentisatool.Itcannotbetooheavy(i.e.toomuchintention).Toomuchandit
becomesstagnant.

Youcanbeverymindful,orwithoutanyintentionatall.Betweenthesestatesofveryfocusedto
beingunawareisthetruestateofmindfulness.

UseYiandnotforce.UseYiandyourbodycanactasaconduituseforceandyouwillcause
blockagetoyourYiandQi.
3.
3.Qi,referstointernalQi,thePrimordialQi,theQifrompreHeaven,andnotairorbreath.

YouneedtonourishyourinternalQi,thusincreasingit.BeingSoong(relaxed),dispersed,
roundedconserveandnourishyourinternalQi.

LetyourYiandQimovefreely,withnorestrictionorstoppage.Letitflowoutwithease.

MovingYiandQimustbecontinuouswithoutbreak.Donotpauseorstop.
()
YiandQiarethemostimportant(Emperor),bonesandmusclesaresecondary(
minister)
:

InternalmeansInternalQiexternalmeansexternalmovements:posturesandthewholeform.
EachandeverymoveoftheexternalmovementsmustbecoordinatedwiththeinternalQi.Ifthe
internalQipermeatestheexternalmovements,thenthemovementswillbesmooth.
""
IfthereisnointernalQibehindtheexternalmovements,thenitiscalled""(reckless
movements).Theyaresimplyarmwavingandhitting,andnotTaiChiChuan.
""(16)""

YiandQiarethemostimportant(Emperor),bonesandmusclesaresecondary(
minister).Yi,Qiandbonesandmusclesdonothavethesameroles,anddonothaveequal
relationship.YiandQiaretheruler,leader,andcommander.Thebonesandmuscleslistento
therulerandleader,andfollowthecommands.{Translator:InChinese,anemperorgivesthe
command,theministerscarriesoutthetask.Theemperormusttrusttheministersandnot
micromanage,andtheministersmustnotdooutsideoftheemperor'swishes.}

""

Youmustunderstandthisrelationshipclearly,anddonotreversetheroles.IftheInternaldoes
notmove,thentheExternaldoesnotshow.TheInternalQiactivatestheExternal,andnotthe
ExternaldrivestheInternalQi.
""

Topractice,youmustfirstletyourYiandQibeSoong(relaxed).Comfortableandsinking.
Ifyouwanttomove,theInternalQimustmovefirst.LetyourInternalQicomfortablyspread
throughoutyourbodysuchthatQipermeatesthebodywithoutbreak,linkingthroughtoyour
handsandfeet,feelingnaturalandcomfortable,thenyoucanmove.
()""""
(Thirteen)FocusingonNourishing,andavoiddoingharm.

:""""
""""
""""""""

EditorsNote:nourishinganddoingharmreferstonourishingandharmingtheInternalQi.
Regardlesswhetheryouarepracticingforhealthorpracticingforfighting,whethersomething
nourishesandincreasestheQiorharmingitisafundamentalquestionyoushouldask.Wang
Yongquanteachertaughtthatyoumustbeclearwhatcannourishandwhatcandoharmand
thatyoushouldfocusonnourishingandavoiddoingharm.Otherwise,notonlywillyounotreach
yourgoal,itmayaffectyourhealth.

""""4
""
"''"
""
""

WangLaoshipracticed,taughtandlivedbyfocusingonnourishingandavoidingdoingharm.He
wokeupat4AMeveryday,afterwashingup,hewoulddrinkteaandeatsomethinglight.After
restingabithewouldstartpracticing.Hesaidpracticingwithanemptystomachisdoingharm.
Hehadastudentthatwouldnoteatbreakfast,butpracticedpushhandwithanemptystomach
untillunchtime.WangLaoshiadmonishedhimmanytimesthathewascausingharm.For
WangLaoshi,dailyactionswerealsopracticing(martialart).Whetherhewasworking,learning,
resting,whetherhewassitting,lyingdown,walking,running,everythingnaturallyfollowedtheTai

ChiChuanrequirements.

7080

20
Mostimportantly,hemaintainedapeacefulheartandcalmdemeanor.WhenWangLaoshiwas
old,hewasstillveryhealthy.Thephotosofhimdemonstratinginthisbookweretakenwhenhe
wasinhis70s.Whenyoulookatphotosofhiminhis80s,hestilllookedveryhealthy.Hishair
whitebutwithayouthfulface,hewasalerted,withgoodhearingandeyesight.Theeyesfullof
energy,hereadnewspaperwithoutglasses.WhenheFajin{translator:notethatfaisaverbin
Chineseandfajincaneitherbeanounoraverb,dependingonthecontext},hecouldstill
bouncepeople2030feetaway.Hecontinuedtoteachuntiljustdaysbeforehepassedaway.
""""
RememberthattofocusonnourishingandavoiddoingharmaremajorcharacteristicsofYang
StyleTaiChiChuanastransmittedbyWangLaoshi.
""()""()""""
Whenpracticingmartialart,itmustbeclearwhatcannourishes(theInternalQi),andwhatis
doingharm(totheInternalQi)so,howtopracticetonourishandhowtoavoidpracticethat
causesharm:

Practicingis70%tonourish,and30%toexerciseandimprove.
""""
UseYitomoveQi,useQitomoveyourbody.UseYinourishesanduseforcecausesharm.

""
Whenpracticing,useInternalQitomovetodifferentpostures,andnotusingthepostural
movementstomoveyourQi.Inadditiontostrengthenyourmuscles,bonesandskin,thiswill
alsonourishandincreaseyourInternalQi.Thisisthebenefitsofnourishment.

Whenyouopenandclose{translator:TaiChiChuanissaidtobeasequenceofopeningand
closing}inyourmovements,ensurethattheopeningandclosingdonotcausetheInternalQito
beagitated.Underallcircumstances,theInternalQimustmaintainastateofcomfort,feel
natural,andtheopeningandclosingmovementsflowfreely.
""

Witheffortlessmovement,YinandYanginharmony,thenitnourishes.Whenmovements
containstillnessinmotion,andmotioninstillness,thenitwillbecomfortableandnatural.
:
""""()
TogaintheGongFuofunderstandingyourself{translator:explainedlater},therequirements
are:Soong(relaxed),dispersed,transparent,empty,nourishingtheInternalQi,thebody
feelsasempty,strengtheningtheimmunesystemandyouwillavoidbecomingill(
hundreddiseasewillnotbeborne)Longevityispossible.WhenyouachieveSoongin
everywhere,thenyouarenourishingyourQi,andcanbesaidthayouhaveit(InternalJin).
""
ToSoongandberoundcannourish.

DonotholdbacktheInternalQi.Letitdisperse,likeanemptyballoon.
:

""
""
""
ctingasifaConduit:themethodtonourishlifeistointernallyharmonizeShen,Yi,andQiand
notletthemleakout.YiandQishouldmovetothecenterofthehandsandfeet,butnotfollow
thefingerstogooutthebody.Whenpracticingforfighting,theShen,Yi,andQishouldproject
fromthefingersonetothreefeet.Payattentionnottoprojectonly,andnotwithdraw.Youmust
withdrawQibackintothebody,otherwiseitwilldoharm.Drawanarcfromtheprojected
InternalQi,andreturntothebodyviathesamepath.Thenonceagaindrawanarctoproject
themout,continuetheprocessrepeatedly.ThisallowstheInternalQiandexternalQito
exchange,thisisnourishing.However,ifyourGongFuisnothighenoughandcannotwithdraw
themback,afteryoufinish,youfeelemptinessinside(yourheart).Youfeelexhaustedand
tired.Thisisanindicationofharmbeingdone.Whenyoupracticeandachieveahighlevel,
regardlesswhetheryouarepracticingforhealthorfighting,exchangingInternalandExternalQi,
allownourishingtohappen.
""""
""
""
Theeyefocus(Shen)beingfarorinwardlooking,canalsonourishordoharm.When
practicingforfighting,lookfar,butyoualsomustlookinward.Iftheeyesonlyfocusfarandnot
sometimesinwardly,itwilldoharm.Whenyouarepracticingforhealth,keepyoureyefocus
inward,asiflookingatyourDantianorlookoutlevelly.Lookbutnotsee{translator:i.e.half
focus}.Donotfollowyourhandsmovements,thenitwillnourish.


""""
Eachpostureinyourmovementmustbenotbetoocompactnornottoofar,donotchase,do
notbegreedy,donotcross.DonotgobeyondtheboundaryofyourQiRing.Donotoverextend
yourbodyslimittodoaposture.Otherwise,itwilldoharm.Movementsandposturesmustbe
comfortable,feelingnatural,thesewillnourish.
()

RehabilitatingLifeandVitality
{Translator:Chineseusesthetwowordstomeanlife.Whensplituptothetwocomponent
words,(sheng)referstotheessenceandnatureoflivingoneslifeand(ming)isthe
physicalaspectofbeingaliveandthebody.Asashorthand,Iwilluselifefor(sheng)and
vitalityfor(ming).}
::
PracticingmartialartisaGongFuthatcanrehabilitateyourlifeandvitality.Rehabilitateyourlife:
byimprovingyourhealthrestoringyourvitality:improvingyourmartialability.
"""
"
PracticingdoesnotstopwithunderstandingYinandYang,emptyandheavy,openingand
closing.Itdoesnotstopwithmovement,andstillness.Lookforstillnessinmotion,stillyet
movingandtoomuchmovementcanhurttheheart,toomuchstillnessandtheheartstarves.
:

RestoringVitality:TomaintainStillness(,ortranquility)whenpracticing,yourmindshouldbe
calmandquiet,concentrated,withoutextraneousthoughts.Focusthehereandnow,not
thinkingaboutotherthings.Closeyourearstononrelatedsoundanddonotbebotheredby
externalstimuli.Maintainingtranquility,balanceandcalm,naturalthisisknownasrestoringlife.
():
()
Rehabilitating(andnourishing)Life:movementispartofbeingalive.Somepeoplehavethegoal
ofsparring.Bybecomingproficientinmartialartsposturesandtechniques,yourlife(/
Sheng)willberestored(andnourished).

Rehabilitatinglifeandrestoringvitalitymustbedoneinabalancedway.Whenpracticingmartial
art,youwillnaturallygaingoodresults,typicallyfavoringrestoringvitality(ming).Youmust

remembertohelpbothaspectsandmaintainabalancedapproach.

()
PursuingtheStateofNothingness
""
"
"""
Informpractice,regardlesswhetheritisforhealthorforfighting,theaimistoachieve
nothingness.Withnothingtowant,andnogoaltopursue.JustlooktobeSoong(relaxed),
dispersed,andround.Nogoalsandnoobjectives.Donotholdtheideaofdefeatinganenemy.
Practicesuchthatthebodyisasifporousandemptyandwholebodyincomfort.

Informpractices,donotthink:thisisPeng,thisisTsai,thisisJi,thisisAn{translator:Peng
Tsai,Ji,AnarethefundamentalJininTaiChiChuan},orhowdoesPengbecomeTsai....In
formpractices,onlytrytoattainSoong,empty,transparent,anddispersed.

Atthehighestlevelofmartialarts,thereisnolongerPeng,Tsai,Ji,An.Shapelessand
Formless,thewholebodyisasifemptyandporous.
""
""""
,"".
Whenyoudontpursue,thenyoucanachieve.WhenIpracticemartialart,Idonotwantof
anything.Whenthesituationarisesandrequiresit,thenIcanhaveit.Therefore,havingit
becomesnothingness.IfyoutrytofigureoutwhatisPeng,whatisTsai,yourmind(Yi)focus
willbeeverywhere,sopreoccupiedwithgettingitthatyouareholdingyourJin,andforthewant
ofit,yougetnothing.Wantingitthuscausesyoutoloseit.
()
Therefore,whenpracticing,donotlooktogetsomething.
()
(Sixteen)TherearetwopartsinTaiChiChuanGongFu:UnderstandingYourselfand
UnderstandingtheOthers.

:
:


""""

EditorsNote:thefollowinginsightsaspasseddownfromWangYongquanLaoshiselders
throughtheirexperiencewithteachingandpracticingTaiChiChuan:therearetwoseparate
partstoTaiChiChuanGongFu:theabilitytounderstandyourselfandtheabilitytounderstand
others.Eachonehastheirrespectivegoals,requirements,applications,practicemethodsand
theirrelationshipsmustbetaughtcarefullyindetails.Thisisveryimportanttothepractitionersof
TaiChiChuan.Havingaclearunderstandingofthegoals,methods,footworkenhancesthe
resultsofthepracticing.Italsopreventslostandconfusedandpracticeblindly,andeven
practiceincorrectly.Notonlydothoseconditionspreventyoutoachieveyourgoals,itmayeven
affectyourhealthnegatively.
()"'
Myfather(WangChonglu)toldmethatpracticeknowingyourselfandyouwillgaintheTaiChi
Jinpracticeknowingotherswilllearntocontroltheircenter.
:
TaiChiChuanGongFuhastwodistinctskills:knowingyourselfandknowingothers.

::"

"""

KnowingYourself:itsthepracticeofnourishingyourInternalQi.Itsmethodsare:Soong,
dispersed,porous/transparent,andempty.Whenyoupracticetheforms,youincreaseyour
InternalQi,andyourwholebodybecomesasifporousandemptyandyouwillnotgetsick,
increaseconstitution,andlonglifeattained.Intermsofpracticingforhealth,Thegongfuof
knowingyourselfisatypeofhealthpractice.YougaintheTaiChiJin,bodybeingempty,and
donotgetsick.Intermsofpracticingforfighting,learningknowingyourselfisthefoundation
work.
:""""""""
""
KnowingOthers:itisthegongfuofapplyingTaiChiJinontheopponentsbodyinfighting.The
specificsmethodsarelisten,ask,seizeandletgo(Ting,Wen,Na,Fang).Themostimportant
aspectofpracticingknowingothersislearningtocapturethe(opponents)center.Knowing
othersisthereforeafightingskill.

Firstyoumusthaveagoodfoundationinknowingyourself,beforepracticingknowingothers.
Ifyouneglecttopracticeforknowingyourself,andtrytolearnknowingothers,youwillonly

imitatetheexternalmoves,butnottheinnermethods,andwillnotgainTaiChiGongFu.

Ifyoucomparelearningknowingyourselfandknowingothers,itismoredifficulttolearn
knowingyourself,andknowingothersiseasierincomparison.

ForTaiChipractices,youshouldspend70%inlearningknowingyourself,and30%in
knowingothers.
()
(Seventeen)Forhealthorforfightingtwodifferenttrainingmethods.

EditorsNote:TaiChiChuanisatraditionalmartialart,anditdoesnotdifferentiatebetween
practicingforhealthandpracticingforfighting.Toaccommodatethechangesinthemodern
society,WangLaoshiexplainsthatthedifferencesandtherelationshipbetweenpracticingfor
healthandpracticingforfighting.
""""

AstheEditorunderstandsit,TaiChiFormforhealthandTaiChiFormforfightingarenottwo
differentforms,butthatoneformpracticedwithtwodifferentmethods.

1981
"
?"?"""
"()
WangLaoshisaid,whenyoulearnmartialarts,youmustdecidebasedonyourageandyour
healthonwhichmethodisbestforyou.Especiallyimportantisthatifyoupracticeforhealth,do
notalsopracticewiththemethodsforpracticingforfighting.Otherwisenotonlywillyounot
accomplishyourgoal,butifyoupracticeincorrectly,youwillharmyourhealth.Inearly1981,Mr.
Zhaiintroducedme(theeditor)tolearnfromWangLaoshi.Aftersayingourpleasantries,the
firstquestionheaskedmewasWhatisyourgoalinlearningmartialarts?Forhealthorfor
fighting?Ireplied,forhealth.Hesaid,thenyoumustfollowthemethodsforpracticingfor
health.Youmustnotfollowthemethodsforfighting.Healsotoldmenottopushhandwith
othersthatdonotknowhowtopushhand,sonottofightforcewithforce,andthusharmingmy
InternalQi.


WhenlearningTaiChiChuan,firstyoumustdecidebasedonyourage,yourhealth,andthe
environmentandmartialprogressonwhatthegoalshouldbe.Olderfolksshouldpracticefor
health,andyoungerfolksshouldaimforpracticeforfighting.Ifyouaresickcurrently,practicing
canhelptoimproveyourhealth.Onceyouarewell,thenyoumaychangeyourgoal,and
practiceforfighting.

TheTaiChiChuanwestudytodayisafullsystem.Ifyoupracticediligently,itwillbenefityour
body.Differentpractitionershavedifferentgoals.Sincethegoalsaredifferent,theyshould
practicedifferentlyalso.Forexample,practiceforhealthandforfightingaretwodifferentgoals.
Therefore,theyhavedifferentpracticemethods.Whenpracticing,youmustkeepclearaboutthe
practicemethods.Otherwiseifyouintroduceforhealthmethodsintoforfighting,orfor
fightingmethodsintoforhealthpractices,thennotonlywillyounotabletoreachyourgoals,you
willgettheoppositeeffectandgodownthewrongpath.

WhentheYangEldersfirstwenttoBeijing,theytaughttheQingImperialsTaiChiChuan.Since
itwasnotappropriatetoteachthefightingmethods,theyonlytaughtthehealthmethods,and
reservedthefightingmethodstotheiroffspringsandindoorstudents.Therefore,thecommon
YangStyleTaiChiChuanisthehealthmethods.However,somepeopleignoretheNeigong
(InternalPractices),andonlyfollowtheformstherearealsopeoplewhousetheforhealth
formstopracticeforfighting,makingtheirTaiChiChuanallwrong,nothingistoostrange
{translator:anythinggoes}.Inthisway,itisnogoodforhealth,anditcannotbeusedforfighting.
Underthissituation,whenyoufight,youonlyhavetheoutwardappearance,withouttheinner
methods.

WiththecommonTaiChiChuan,everypostureandmovementhasanapplicationforfightingan
opponent.Thetheoryisalsoabouthowtousetheformsandthemethodstowinovertheothers.
Therefore,afteraperiodofstudyyouwillnaturallygainfightingskills.Intermsofnourishing
health,TaiChiChuanposturesandformsalsocontainhealthbeneficialpractices.Therefore,if

youwanttofindthehealthpracticesfromthefightingform,youmustseparatethetwopractices
clearly.Otherwise,youwillnotreachyourgoalsinpracticingmartialart.

()

""
Practicingmartialartforfightingandforhealthrequiretwodifferenttrainingmethods.The
practitionermustdeterminebasedontheirownbodystrength,andwhethertheyaresuffering
fromdiseaseetc.,andchoosetherightmethod.Whenyouaretrainingtoimprovehealth,ifany
posture,gestureormovementcausesdiscomfortinyourneigong(Shen,YiandQi),thenitwill
notincreaseyourInternalQi,andthuswillnotaccomplishthegoalofimprovinghealth.When
practicingforfighting,ifyourneigongdoesnotfeelfull,thenyourposturesandmovementslack
thelightandagilefeelingandtheabilitytochange(),norwillyoubeabletoexpressin
thehandswhatevertheheartdesires(),andthemovementswouldbenatural.Thusit
issaidthatwhileyoucannotseparatethemartialandthehealth(inaform),butwhenyou
practice,youmustdifferentiatethepracticemethods.Thenyoucancombinethem,andthuswill
notcauseharm(toyourInternalQi).
?

Sowhyisthattherearenoseparateformstolearnpracticingforhealthandpracticingfor
fighting?Youneedtoknowthatthesamemovementcontainsbothmethodsforfightingandfor
healthnourishing.Onceyouunderstandthetheory,thenyoucanseparateitinyourpractice.
Youmustfindthroughyourownpractice,thetruenatureofeachmethod.
?
Howshouldolderfolkspracticeforhealthnourishing?

WhenolderfolkspracticeTaiChiChuan,youmustfocusonnourishingyourhealth.Whenyou
practicethehealthformthatis,practiceTaiChiChuanwithhealthnourishingmethods,itis
calledtheGong(fu)ofnourishinghealth.Whenyoupracticeforinternalunderstanding,itisthe
knowingyourselfpractice.Olderfolkspracticeknowingyourself,andyoungerpeoplefocus
onfightingpracticingforknowingyourself,involvedifferentmethods.Youmustbeawareofthe
followingpoints.

()


Youmustunderstandthatyourmaingoalistonourishyourhealth,youmustkeepthisinmind
whenyoupractice.Youcannotthinkoffightinganotherperson,andsubconsciouslymixin
methodsforfighting.Youmustavoidtopushhand(rubbinghand)withyoungpeoplethatdont
knowInternalgong.Otherwiseitwillbecomeuseforceagainstforce,toseewhoisthestrongest
(cow),testingstrength.ThiswillhurtyourinternalQi.Thiswillnotnourishyourlife,butrather
harmyourhealth.
""()""()""
""
Whenpracticingforms,youmustfocusonnourishingtheInternalQi.Youmustbeclearwhat
arenourishing(totheInternalQi),andwhatcandoharm(totheInternalQi).Youmust
emphasizetobenourishing,andavoiddoingharm.
""
""

ThewholebodymustbeSoong,withoutstiffnessanywhere.Soong,dispersed,andround
wouldlettheYiandQibecomequietandnourishing.ThemostimportantistoletyourHeartQi
{translator:i.e.yourthoughts}beSoong,removinganyextraneousthoughts,andenteringthe
stageofnothingness.
""
""""
""
CollectyourShen,Yi,andQiinside,anddonotletthemcomeoutofyourbody.YiandQimove
tocenter(yourheart)andreachouttofourcornersandstopatyourpalmsandbottomof
yourfeet.Thentravelbackfromthepalmsandfeetbacktotheheart.JustfeeltheQiinyour
handandfeetaresufficient.Theeyesshouldlooklevellywithhalffocus.Donotlookatyour
handswhenyoumovenorshouldyoureyesfocusedinwardatyourDantian.Dontfocustoofar
away,andshouldnotonlylookfarandnotlookclose.Otherwiseitwilldoharm.
"","""""
"

MakesurethattheYiandQimovesmoothlywithoutblockage.Useyourheart(i.e.mind)to
mobilizetheQi,andusetheQitomovethebody,anduseYiandnotforce.Younustnotuse
bruteforce.UsingYiisnourishing,usingforcedoharm.Whenpracticing,yourInternalQi
mustfollowtheexternalmovementssuchthatitfeelscomfortableandextending.Theexternal
movementsrelyontheInternalQiforsupplyandmotion.Thetwoworkingtogetheris
nourishing.UsetheInternalQitocontroltheexternalmovements,andnotusetheexternal

actionstopullandsupporttheInternalQi.IfyoufeelyourInternalQiisrunningout,thendonot
forcetotrainfurther.Underallcircumstances,youmustkeeptheInternalQimovementnatural,
movementssmooth,anddonotletposturesthataredifficulttoperformtoblocktheInternalQi
andrestrictitsflow.

"
"()

Whenpracticingtheform,externallybesurethateachpostureisnotextended,notclosedin,not
toofast,andnottoolazy.Ifthesefourrulesarenotfollowed,thentheposturesarenotcorrect,
andmaketheYiandQistagnant.MotionshouldnotexceedyourownQiRing,andnotOpen
thenOpen(thatis,afteropening,insteadofwithdrawitback,youopenagain,asmakingone
movementinyourpractice).DonotusebeyondyourYiandQireserveandtrytodopostures
thatareimpossible.Movementsshouldnotbedonefiercely,neitheropennorclosed,nosudden
change.Otherwise,yourInternalQiwillrouseliketorrentialrainstormstoppedsuddenly,and
harmtheInternalQi.MartialartshouldmaintainsmoothnesswithYiandQi.Likethecloud
movingorwaterflowing,flowingsmoothlywithoutending,continuouslywithoutbreak,thenitwill
nourishyourhealth.
?
Howshouldyoungerfolkspracticetogainfightinggongfu?Followthemethodsofknowing
yourselfandknowingothers.Herearetwopointstoemphasize.

TogettheTaiChiJin,youmustunderstandthatyouarepracticingthefightinggongfuofinternal
martialart.ThespecialfeatureofYangStyleTaiChiChuanfightinggongfuistheuseofthe
internalgong,changingthefocusontheopponentsbodyandchangingtheirJin,sothatyoucan
hit(Fa/explode,asinFajin)them.Youmusthaveboththeexternalposturesandthe
underlyingmethods(),withemphasisontheunderlyingapplication.Youmustnotonlyfocus
ontheoutwardappearanceandhavenounderstandingoftheinnerbasis.Theunderlying
methodcomesfromusingShen,YiandQi.Youmustfirstlearntheknowingyourselftoobtain
theTaiChiJin,andbuildastrongfoundation,beforeyoucanlearntheunderlyingmethods.

Sincetheyoungerpractitionersarestrongandfullofenergy,youmustavoidusingbruteforce.
Whenyoupractice,uselessandlessbruteforce,andcultivateShen,YiandQiintotheInternal
Jin.Thisisknownasusingthepostheavenforce,toincreasethepreheavenforce.Sinceit

takesalongtimetoachieve,itsverydifficulttoaccomplish.Ifyouforgetthisinyourpractice,
youwillhavedifficultyobtainingtheTaiChiChuanfightinggongfu.

""
""
Shen,YiandQicanbeprojectedoutsideyourbody,butbesuretocollectthembackinsideyour
body.ProjectingShen,YiandQioutsideyourbodyisthemaindifferencebetweenfightingand
practicingfornourishinghealth.WhenyourYiandQiareprojectedoutside,theymaypenetrate
youropponentsbody.Rememberthatonceprojected,theYiandQimustreturnviatheoriginal
path,sothattheinternalandexternalQicanexchangeandtransformandincreaseyourskills.
IftheShenandQidonotreturn,thenitharmstheInternalQi.

""""""""

TofindoutwhetheryourYiandQiareprojectedoutsideyourbody,youmayaskyouropponent.
Whenyoufirststudyandtouchhandswithyouropponent,theymayfeeluncomfortable.Thusit
isclearthattheInternalQihasreachedtheirbody.Afteryoupracticeandimprove,thenyoucan
uselisten,ask,seize,andletgo(Ting,Wen,Na,Fang)anduseYiandQito(Fa,explode,
i.e.Fajin)asthebasisofyourfightingskills.
()
(Eighteen)TheSevenMainRequirementsandStepsofLearningTaiChiChuan

:
"
"
EditorsNote:DuringthetimeI(theeditor)learnedmartialartsfromWangLaoshi,Iobtainedthe
informationforthebook<TaiChiChuanforFightingandHealthNourishing>.Thecontentis
veryrich,coveringmanytopics.Otherpeoplehavesinceexcerptedportionsofthematerials
andquotations.ListedinthefollowingaretheSevenStudyMethodsandStepsforlearningTai
ChiChuan.Ihavealsoaddedmaterialstofilloutmissingparts.
1.
One.ThefirstrequirementinlearningTaiChiChuanistocoordinate(harmonize)theupperand
lower(ofyourbody).Whenyoumove,everypartmoves.

Coordinateupperandlowermeansthatfromthetopofyourheadtothebottomyourfeet,your
bodyshouldbestraight.YiandQisinktotheabdominal,thenSoongtofourlimbs,connecting
together,theupperandlowerbody,keepingstraight,centerandcomfortable,thenyoumaystart

theform.Thepalmsandthebottomofyourfeet,upperandbottomcoordinate,movingin
harmony.

""

Stepforwardorbackward,thewaist(,yaoandthekua)shouldbelevel(andnotmoveup
anddownortilted).Thebodymoveslevelly,liketheboats(possiblyanoldtermforthe
mastpole).Youshouldnotduckyourheadorwrigglelikeacat,norswingingleftandright.You
shouldnotdohalfbodyfistandonlyuseyourupperbody,youmustcoordinatetheupperand
lowerbody.Whenpracticing,youmayputyourarmsdown,andnotuseyourarminyour
posturesandjustmoveyourbodyoryoumaystopandpausefromtimetotime,putdownyour
arms,andcheckwhetheryourbodyisinagreementwiththerequirements.
2.:
Two.TheSecondRequirementistoHarmonizetheInnerwithOuter.

TheInternalQiandexternalmovementmustbeharmonious.Everypostureshouldbemobilized
andsustainedbytheInternalQi.LettheInternalQigoesthrougheveryposture.UseYitolead
Qi,useQitomovethebody.externalmovementiscontrolledbytheInternalQi,anddonothave
theexternalmovementactionstopullandsupporttheInternalQi.Youmustbeveryclearon
thispoint.Otherwise,youwillgetallsortofailments,affectingyourhealth.

()()

Ifthereareonlyexternalmovements,onlymovingarmsorkicking,thatsnotpracticingTaiChi
Chuan.TheInternalandExternalmustharmonize,theInternalQiandthemovementsmustbe
coordinatedandmatchwitheachother.Thereare3InnerHarmonies(Shen,YiandQiare
harmonized),and3ExternalHarmonies(harmonizinghandsandfeet,shouldersandkua(hip
regions),elbowsandknees).IfyoucannotharmonizetheInternalandExternal,evenifyou
spendalifetimepracticing,youwillnothavetheTaiChiChuanskills.
3.:
Three.InnerandOuterinHarmony,andUpperandLowerinHarmony.
:
Innerandouterinharmony,pleaserefertothefirstpointofCoordinatetheUpperandLower
Body.

4.:
Four.BreakDownthePostures

TaiChiChuanformswerecreatedbytheEldersfromstringingtogetherfightingtechniquesand
postures.Regardlessoftheformset,itsnottruethattheycannotbechanged.Whenyou
practice,youmaychangeitaccordingtoyourneeds.However,youmustfollowthe
requirementsofthetheoryandprinciples,forthegongfutoimprove.
""""""
""
["()"]
YoucanpracticeonlythePengposture,Luposture,Tsaipostureetc.Thatis,ineachform
set,eachpostureandmovementcanbeusedtodevelopyourJin.Eachposturecanbeusedfor
polepractice(i.e.standingpoleorZhanZhuang).Youmaypracticewithjustoneposture,or
combineseveralofthemtogethertopractice.Practicetonourishhealthisthesameformsetas
practicingforfighting,itsonlythepracticingmethodsthataredifferent.[Pleasereferto
(Seventeen)Forhealthorforfightingtwodifferenttrainingmethodsinthisbookfordetails.
5.:
Thefifthrequirementistounderstandyourhands(deconstructingyourhandforms)

Whenpracticingtheformtoknowyourself,thehandsarepartofthepostures,fingerspointing
todifferentdirections,leadingtheInternalQitoprojectout.Thereforewhetheryourmovements
andposturesarecorrectandwhetheryourInternalQiflowscomfortablyandsmoothly,these
canbeseeninyourhandforms.Thehandsmustbeabletoquicktochange,agile,lively,
changinginreactiontothecircumstances,andnotbasedonsomefixedpositionsorresponses.
Thehandsarenotstatic,buttheymustbemovedwithcare,andnotwavingaroundrandomly.
Ensurethateverymovefollowstherulesofhealthnourishing,andyourhandsreflectthetheory
ofhealthnourishmentandfightingprinciples.Yourhandsdeterminewhetheryourtechniquesare
goodornot.
"
"""
(
)

""
Whenpracticetoknowothers,thehandformsareveryimportant.Assoonasyoutouchhand,

youmustbeabletolisten,understand,neutralize,andask().Thistypeofgong
fucannotbeseenfromtheoutside,andiscalledinnermethods().Thehandsmusthave
thegongfuofthefightinghands,thentheycanbeagile,lively,easytochangewithoutlimits.
Whenthegongfuisinthehand,itisknownasGongFuGoestotheHand.Continuingto
practicewillgainwhatiscalledinMartialArtsManualsShenMing(i.e.thehighestlevelof
understanding).Thisway,assoonasyoutouchhand,youcandetecttheotherpersons
movementandintention,thisiscalledUnderstandingJin.
6.:
SixthRequirement:DeconstructingJin
["()"]
[Pleasesee(Ten)NeijinIsHarmonizingShenYiQi,andNotConcentratingShenYiQiinthis
book]
7.:
Seven.Enlightenment
{Translator:isliterallyenteringatransformedstage}

""""

Enlightenment,isthehighestlevelofmartialartspractice.Toenterthisstage,youmustknow
andunderstandfullytherequirementsandmethodsofTaiChiChuan,andcanclearly
differentiateemptyandfull,coordinatetheupperandlowerbody,theinnerandouterharmonies,
understandtheouterpostureandtheinnermethods,andunderstandopeningandclosing.You
canalsodifferentiateposturesandJin,andknowwhatareharmfulandwhatcannourish
health.Youfirstpracticewithfixedforms,onceyougaintheunderstandingoftheforms,you
canbreakitupandthenputthemtogetheragain.Theformthenbecomesformless.Ifyouhave
(theskills),thenyoudonothaveit.Tohaveisthesameasnothaving.Nothavingisthesame
ashaving.Followingtherulesisthesameasbreakingthem,andbreakingrulesarethesameas
followingthem.Whenyoureachthisstage,youwillthenbecompletelyempty,tranquiland
comfortable,formlessandshapeless,thebodyasiftransparent.Then,yourmindandbodywill
beingoodhealth,youwillnotgetsickeasily,andincreaseyourlifespan.Itsonlyafterpracticing
foralongtimebeforeyoumayenterthisstage.Itsverydifficulttoexplaininwritingsandwords,
andyoumustgethandsontransmissiontounderstand.
()
(Nineteen)PracticeAnytimeAnywhere

EditorsNote:TherearemanydifferentmethodstopracticeTaiChiChuan:standingpole,empty
handforms,singleposture,rubbing(pushing)hands,(sparring),swordforms,daoforms,spear
forms,etc.Foreachofthese,WangYongquanLaoshihasexplainedthemindetail,pointingout
manyuniquefeatures.Besidesthese,healsotaughtaveryimportantpracticemethod:practice
anytimeanywhereasyougothroughyourdays.ThemostimportantfoundationalworkinTai
ChiChuanisknowingyourself.Therefore,practiceanytimeanywheredoesnotreferto
spendingalldaydoingTaiChiChuanposturesandforms,butthenthroughouttheday,pay
attentiontoensurethatyourbodyandmentalstatesareinaccordancewiththeTaiChiChuan
requirements.Thisincreasestheamountoftimeyoupractice,andincorporatetheTaiChi
Chuanbasicrequirementsintoyourdailyroutines,becominginstinctiveinyourbody.This
increasesyourgongfu.IfapersonnormallyhastheoppositesoftheTaiChiChuangongfu
requirements,suchasbeingimpatientoften,listlessandlethargic,headlowandslumpedwaist,
necksunkanddroopyshoulders,hunchback,Qistagnateandthemindwanders,stiffand
tense,thenwhentheypractice,theywillnottakeitseriouslynordotheformscorrectly.Thisis
incorrectandwillnotimproveyourskills.

:"""""""""
"""
""
""
""
.....""

TheEditorobservedthatWangYongquanLaoshishowedthathewaspracticinginhisdaily
routines.Forexample,whenhewaswaitingforamovietostart,hesatstraightinthechair.He
didnotlean,thebodystraight,thewaistwasnotslumped.Theelbowswerenaturallydownward,
withhandsonthethighs.Hiscomposurewastranquilandserene.HisShenandYiwere
harmonizedaccordingtoTaiChiChuanbasicprinciples:SoongandTranquil,SoongSunkand
Straight,Centeredandcomfortable,Soongshouldersandsmoothback,QiSinktoDantian,

SoongandlightYaoetc.etc.Hisdemeanorwasverydifferentlyfromthepeoplearoundhim.He
wasnotintentionallypracticinghisgongfu,butitsfrommanyyearsofdiligentpractice,thegong
fugoestothebodyandbecamepartofhimnaturally.Also,whenhewasstandingaround
teaching,whenhewasjustchatting,heoftendidmovement.Theelbowswere
naturallyhanging,thebodymovesbackandforth,shiftingandswinging.Whenhewassitting,or
lyingdownandnotmoving,hewouldpracticeYigongofimagingasmallQiballmoving
throughthebodysmeridians.Ifhefeltthattherewereblockage,hewouldmovetheballback
andmoveditforwarduntilitcleared......Practiceanytimeanywherebroadensourperspectives
onpracticinggongfu,pointingoutanoftenignoredmethodofpracticing.I,theEditorhas
practicedaccordingtothisadvice,andIhaveseenthebenefits.

Practicinggongfuisnotlimitedtoformsandsparring.Inyourdailylife,includingworking,
learning,watchingTV,doingphysicallabor,resting,walking.....,regardlesswhetheryouare
sitting,standing,lyingdown,orwalking,youneedtopracticegongfuaccordingtotheTaiChi
Chuanrequirements.Sothattherequirementsbecomepartofyourinstinct.Ifyouonlypractice
accordingtotheprincipleswhenyouaredoingtheforms,butthendotheoppositesinyourdaily
routines,thentheprogresswillbeslow,andhardtoconsolidate(yourlearning).Evenindoing
RubbingHand,youwillalwaysbechasingfortherightfeeling,beingalwaystoolate.
""
""""?
""""?
Practiceanytimeanywhere,doitwhenyouarethinkingbutnotthinkingaboutit,donotfocus
toomuch,otherwiseyouwillloseyourgongfu.HowdoyoupracticeQiSinktoDantian,and
LightlySoongtheYaoandKua?Whenyouarenaturallysittingonthebedtorelax,feeling
naturalandcomfortable,thatissufficient.HowdoyoupracticetheadvancedChangingofthe
EmptyandFull,andLightlySoongandNatural?Whenyouarestrollingrelaxedly,justwalk
naturallyandyouwillgetit.
*********
TableofContent
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..........
...PartIMr.WangYongquansOralTransmissiononMartialArts......

GeneralIntroduction2
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IJ126
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