Practise the principles in life

HOw can we practise and embody the Tai CHi Chuan principles? There is no other reasonable answer than going through the form. It incorporates all the principles and with the guide of a good teacher, as time goes by we discover the principles by feeling the changes in the mind and body. The journey is a lifetime discovery, layer for layer within the form and everyday life.

"I work the whole day, coming home with a bad mood walking through dreadful weather." said one of my students. It is only reserved to a few; dedicating our whole life to Tai CHi and practise 8 hours a day like the big guys out there. Most people need to fulfill their daily tasks in family, job and life.

My students come from different walks of life and through them, I could find out that Tai CHi principles can be practised anywhere in any activity. Just a few of the many activities we can practise our principles:


1. Sitting in front of the computer, train, aeroplane, waiting at a doctor's surgery

We practise the head straight like suspended by a thread from above, the back upright, shoulders sunken, mingmen(lower back area acupuncture point) expanded laterally(to the side). Imagine ourselves relaxed and not floppy: Our vertebraes(spinal parts and joints) separating from each other; our spine is stretched and we become taller.

2. Surfing, skating, skateboarding, skiing, walking

My main sports which I competed in the Olympics(figure skating). In these disciplines, maintaining our center and balance is crucial. Those who play these sports hear it all the time from their coaches:" Shift weight!!. Weight on right/left leg, look right or left."

3. Chopping onions

Chefs teach their students similar principles. Relaxed, the arm and fingers only the lead, everything comes from the whole-body movements. The force comes from the center. Keep natural angles in your arms.

4. Vacuum cleaning or pushing a car

Move with the strength of the legs, use the power of weight shifting. Force from the dantien leading to the arms and hands, back aligned with the rear leg. Chen style "Pushing the mountain"

5. Dealing with abusive people

Keep the thoughts on the center and balanced, physically and mentally. Take a deep breath into your abdomen, cleanse your thoughts from all dirty thoughts but maintain focused on your goal. Do not use brute force against brute force. LIsten, find out where the energy is, redirect, yield, use his own force against the opponent after unbalancing him. "Grasping the sparrows tail" Yang style


There are many opportunities in life to practise Tai CHi CHuan principles. It does not replace our daily qi gong and form practise along with push hands and applications, but it is a most effective complement.