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Wudang Kungfu
is one important style or family of Chinese Martial Arts with
a very long history. It contains profound Chinese philosophical
theories, combining the traditional concepts of Taiji (TaiChi),
Yin and Yang, Wu Xing (Five Elements), and the Ba Gua (Eight
Trigrams) into boxing theories, boxing skills, exercises and
attack strategies, all derived by studying the laws of life
and nature. Wudang Kungfu (neijia quan internal boxing) is featured
by overcoming motion with stillness. The opponent will be laid
down the moment he attacks. It is apparently different from
Shaolin which is classified into external type boxing. Internal
Gongfu was created by Zhang San-feng, a famous Taoist in the
Song Dynasty.
Wudang Kung Fu contains many skills and training methods designed
for keeping healthy and prolonging one¡¯s life while at the same
time collecting many effective fighting methods. It is not only
one particular school of martial arts, but also a complete system
for both self defence and health preservation.
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Tai Ji is
originated from Infinity. It is the basis for all movement and
stillness. It is the originator of the Two Extremes (Yin and
Yang).
Tai Ji was formed from Infinity by separating Yin and Yang.
Yin and Yang are the equal and opposite pair. Sometimes Yin
stands for female and Yang stands for male. In Tai Ji, Yin represents
stillness and Yang represents movement. The workings of the
universe is based upon Yin and Yang.
In Tai Ji, there is stillness in movement and movement in stillness.
The two are interconnected and should not be separated. Internal
power is through control of the mind. Concentration of mind
moves the internal energy prior to any external movement.
Taijiquan is not simply the exercise for elderly, which is perhaps
what is known to Westerners. It is in fact a combination of
Yin and Yang, Tai Ji and Infinity. It is an art requiring perfect
control of mind. It integrates stillness and movement, from
external to internal, from movement to stillness, from elementary
to advanced, and merging stillness with movement. Taijiquan
not only directs internal power to external movements, it combines
the mind with breathing, resulting in good health and an art
of combat applications.
There are 13 postures (8 hand/arm movements and 5 body movements)
in Tai Ji. The 8 hand/arm movements: Beng, Lu, Ji, An, Zai,
Lie, Zhou, and Gao. In simplified terms, they mean: ward off,
pull back, push, press, oblique turning, twist, elbow strike,
and shoulder strike. The 5 body movements are directional. They
are: advance, retreat, shift to the left, shift to the right
and stable equilibrium. The 13 postures are based on the 8 trigrams
and 5 elements. Requirements include relaxing, body coordination,
concentration of mind, and stillness in movement.
Taijiquan is a stepping-stone to Daoism. In Daoism, one has
to train one¡¯s behaviour and mind. It is important to keep a
peaceful mind. Through meditation, combining Yin and Yang, and
stillness in movement, the internal power will flow through
the whole body achieving the ultimate aim.
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Qigong is
an ancient Chinese practice for cultivating the body energy,
for the benefits of the physical body, mind and spirituality.
Qigong practices are varied. They include hard and soft qigong,
healing qigong, and general toning qigong. Wudang Qigong is
an "earlier heaven" method based on traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM) principles and teachings.
Qigong is a good practice for everyone, at any age to keep healthy
in both body and mind.
People¡¯s Life and
Death, Connection to Life, Dao of Life, Dao of Cultivation,
Beginning of Life, Stairs of Immortality.
The character sits in the heart. The initial spirit within the
heart is sent out through the eyes. The character in the heart
is moving like an ape.
The life lies in the kidneys. The initial energy within the
kidneys is sent out by the root of excess and the character
of heart. The thoughts are running like a horse.
This is called ¡°xinyuan, yima¡±.
Take back xinyuan, yima will follow. The ancient practitioners
took back heart and will, and stabilised the jing and nurtured
the qi; made the qi of the breath like the wind and the the
qi of real yang like the fire. In practising and heating, they
transformed jing to qi, and qi to shen; let energy concentrate,
and united with the nature of Dao.
The methods of practice are immeasurable, there are methods
of movement, stillness, sitting and laying, but never stick
rigidly to given patterns - you can hardly understand the everything.
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