Taijiquan
Supreme ultimate practice
Taijiquan (tai'jee'chuan) has a literal meaning of "supreme ultimate first." It is the culmination of the harmony of ancient Chinese practices encompassing health and energy, meditation and philosophy, and martial discipline. Developed by a clever monk names Zhang San Feng, a disciple of Shaolin Temple, whom, once punished for his mischief, was sent by the superior monks to thoroughly clean the famed Sun Library of Shaolin. He spent the time reading the library's manuscripts and educating himself on the profound arts of energy and biophysics, meditation and philosophy, and kung fu. This resulted in him developing a supreme exercise that, when practices correctly, cultivated advanced levels of attainment in the aforementioned paths. The practice was a string of connected, sequential set of movements. The movements are accessible to all people seeking its benefits and practice the authentic teachings.
Isn't that exciting?
If you are here, you are welcomed and invited to learn this art with Carlos, a practitioner with over 30 years of experience from teachings passed on to him by his very special teachers, the first of which was a profound master of energy, taiji form, energy cultivation, qigong, and philosophy, and the second, a master of the applied martial approaches to taiji.
Carlos is happy to share more about his beloved teachers during your sessions. Carlos is an educator and specialist in pedagogy, counseling and development. Hence, his teaching technique is unique in that it is scaffolded, chunked, systematic, individualized, and measured in effectiveness at the personal and collective levels. Everything has its explanation and meaning; no stone is left unturned. Consequently, it is simple, straightforward, and accessible by all regardless of body-type, walk-of-life, age, etc.
about the basics
What you will initially learn are the exacting basics of form, energy, and the "why" behind each aspect of the practice. Should you continue to learn and practice, you will proceed to the advanced practices and product. Welcome to consult Carlos with questions. The images and notes below provide an opportunity to introduce your first days and weeks of experiencing the learning, along with serving as an introduction to Carlos and his form.
"The insignia of reality and rank is something everyone can see, recognize, and not deny..."
Foundations
Awakening the Qi (energy)
Through the first sessions in learning Phoenix Wing, participants of all ages and body-types will experience the awakening of the energy with the correlating internally generated movements harmonizing 1. the "three foundations" of structure, 2. the breath, and 3. the energy.
Demonstrated above, Phoenix Wings Opening.
Phoenix Wings Opening
Three Bows Open, Breath fills the dantian (or qihai, Energy Repels out from the center and opens the ribs and wings of the Phoenix...
Classic Postures
Participants will soon translate the learnings from the Awakening the Qi practice to move into the classic movements of the taiji form starting with Raise Arms, Ward-off, Press, Rollback, Split, Push, and so on.
Beginning/Raise Arms/Willow Palm
Parry Right/Step Left
The beginning of Grasp the Sparrow's Tail...
Ward Off...
Continuation of Grasp the Sparrow's Tail
Qigong
Qigong is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation useful for the purposes of health, mindfulness, and martial training. With roots in Chinese Medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, qigong is practices to cultivate and balance the human body's life-force, Qi.
Qigong practice typically moving meditation, coordinating slow-flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and a calm meditative state of mind. People practice qigong throughout China and worldwide for cultivating rooting energy and strength, relaxation, preventive medicine, self-care, alternative medicine, meditation, self-development, and power training for martial arts.
carlos' Partners
