Trinity Qigong & Tai Chi

WORLD HEALTH QIGONG DAY 2026 - 12th SEPTEMBER

As part of World Health Qigong Day, 2026, along with members of the health Qigong Federation UK we will join our friends across the glove to celebrate and share the benefits with everyone. This year we will hold a Free workshop for anyone interested in having a chance to learn about Qigong and an opportunity to start a new chapter improving health and wellness.

This year’s event will be held in Chislehurst, Kent.
If you would like to attend, just let me know, you’re very welcome

Tony Childs,
Health Qigong Federation UK

World Health Qigong Day2026, Saturday 12th September
Health Qigong Federation UK will be hosting special event next month to celebrate WHQD. Watch this space for more info.

THE DISCERNING EYE.

The Tai Chi Classics: ‘An inch off at the beginning, a mile off at the end.’

Even knowing nothing of ballet, if you were to see a chorus line of dancers and one of them was out of sync, you would immediately notice that something wasn’t ‘right.’ My question is, why is this same discernment not applied to Tai Chi? To know what we are looking at we have to develop a discerning eye. Discernment is the ability to see, even when two people are doing essentially the same thing, and to recognise a subtlety in one that is finer or more subtle than what is perhaps lacking in the other.

However, before we turn our ‘discerning eye’ on to others, we had better begin by being our own severest critic. As Tai Chi is constantly unfolding and changing we have to keep an eye on our own practice before imposing anything on to other people.
My background is well known and where I come from regarding the style of Tai Chi I practice and have done for over fifty years.

To Sifu Cheng Tin Hung’s Tai Chi, there’s enough out there to inform us of the nature of his Tai Chi. His Tai Chi changed over the years, as everyone’s does, however there was always a recognisable continuity, a subtle compactness and a relaxed economy of style. No one can be a carbon copy of anyone else, but it is possible to stay true to his methods and style.

Basic questions, such as: how does this person move, does it look right, is it coordinated, why after all this time is there no refinement, do the weapons look like a natural extension of the person or something held in the hand and ‘made’ to do techniques? A refined weapon such as the sword shouldn’t look like it is hacking its way through the undergrowth.

When I say, ‘does it look right?’ I don’t mean‘ pretty.’ I’m referring to the ‘no deficiencies, no protrusions’ mentioned in the Tai Chi Classics. This means being accurate, that you should be able stop the form anywhere and it should always appear balanced and in the ‘right’ place.
Using the analogy of sword making: The making of a fine sword takes time and follows a meticulous process. From being a lump of of iron to becoming a work of art is no easy matter. The raw iron is beaten again and again until it is pure steel. We can apply the same principle to our practice, ourselves being the lump of raw iron which through constant practice becomes pure steel. We have to do our best to make sure that, by learning too quickly, our Tai Chi isn’t a version of a poorly made sword.

It isn’t enough to get ‘through’ the form(s), it is how you get from A to B inch by inch. Look closely at the hands, always a clue, and you can often see a disconnect between the hands and the body.The connecting links between each posture are a natural following of the circle from one to the other. There should be no ‘fudging’ to ‘get there.’ Given that the Classics say Tai Chi is ultimately expressed in the hands this is an important point.

Forms are there for a reason. The saying is: you do forms to know yourself, you push hands to know others. They are there to develop and refine coordination, structure (no deficiencies, no protrusions)to feel the forms and ultimately, to know ourselves on a deeper level. Refining coordination to make the ex*****on of the techniques more effective. So much to be learned from the forms.The other benefit from having good hand form, is it will influence everything else you do.
Tai Chi Classics: ‘When one thing moves, everything moves. When one thing stops, everything stops.’ We have to integrate these exacting principles in to our practice. If we don’t, what is the point?

Sifu Cheng always said that Tai Chi should be comfortable. He did not mean that it was easy. He meant that it should be practiced until Tai Chi and the practitioner became one. It goes beyond self consciousness to the point where there is nothing in between the doer and the thing done. That you ‘wear’ it well. Many demonstrations are too self conscious, rendering them performances rather than genuine integrated Tai Chi. I prefer the word genuine when talking about forms rather than ‘beauty’ as beauty can be imposed, whereas there is something intangible about authenticity.
I am reminded of an Argentinian tango master, who after giving a lesson was asked if he would perform the tango. He said, “do you want a demonstration or do you want tango?” I feel the same when I see some Tai Chi.

An old Zen master was asked if he would write down what it takes to become enlightened. He went away for a while, then came back with sheets of paper on which he had written, patience, patience, patience……….. Ian Cameron.

El cocinero Ding: la parábola que explica el secreto del Taijiquan.

Imagina un cocinero despiezando un buey.

Su cuchillo se desliza entre los tendones, resbala por las cavidades, encuentra los espacios vacíos sin esfuerzo. El animal se separa como tierra que cae, como un suspiro que se disuelve. El cocinero no corta, no fuerza, no lucha. Simplemente, danza con la anatomía de la bestia.

El rey, que observa fascinado, le pregunta: "¿Cómo has alcanzado tal maestría?"

El cocinero responde:

"Cuando comencé a cortar bueyes, veía el buey entero. Después de tres años, ya no veía el buey. Ahora, no lo veo con los ojos, sino que lo percibo con el espíritu. Mis sentidos se detienen, mi espíritu se mueve. Sigo las fibras naturales, penetro por los huecos, me deslizo por las cavidades. Mi cuchillo no tiene grosor, así que puede entrar donde no hay espacio. Por eso, después de 19 años, mi cuchillo está como recién afilado."

Esta es la famosa parábola del cocinero Ding, del libro de Zhuangzi, el segundo gran texto del taoísmo después del Tao Te Ching.

¿Qué tiene que ver con el Taijiquan?

1. La percepción que trasciende los sentidos

El cocinero Ding dice: "No veo con los ojos, sino con el espíritu". En Taijiquan, esto es el Ting Jin (escuchar la energía). Cuando empujamos manos, no miramos al oponente para adivinar su movimiento. Sentimos su intención a través del contacto, antes de que se manifieste. Los ojos se cierran, los sentidos se aquietan, y el espíritu percibe.

2. Seguir las fibras naturales

El cocinero no impone su voluntad al buey. Observa su estructura, sus espacios vacíos, sus líneas de menor resistencia. En Taijiquan, no nos enfrentamos a la fuerza del oponente. La acompañamos, buscamos su vacío, su desequilibrio. Como dice el clásico: "Cuatro onzas desvían mil libras". No es magia, es geometría y percepción.

3. El cuchillo sin grosor

El cuchillo del cocinero, tras 19 años, está como nuevo. ¿Por qué? Porque nunca choca contra el hueso. Siempre encuentra el espacio, la rendija, el vacío. En Taijiquan, nuestro cuerpo es ese cuchillo. Si estamos relajados, sueltos, sin tensión, podemos "entrar donde no hay espacio". La rigidez desgasta. La suavidad preserva.

4. El olvido de la técnica

Al principio, el cocinero veía el buey entero. Luego, dejó de verlo. Finalmente, actuaba sin pensar. En Taijiquan, primero aprendemos la forma, los pasos, las posiciones. Luego, la olvidamos. El movimiento fluye sin intervención de la mente consciente. No es que no sepamos, es que sabemos tan profundamente que el cuerpo ya no necesita que le digan cómo.

Ziran: la espontaneidad natural

Esta cualidad que describe Zhuangzi tiene un nombre en taoísmo: Ziran (自然) , la espontaneidad, lo que es así por sí mismo, sin artificio.

No es actuar sin preparación. Es actuar con tanta preparación que la acción parece natural, sin esfuerzo, como el agua que fluye o el viento que sopla.

El gran maestro de Taijiquan no "hace" Taijiquan. El Taijiquan ocurre a través de él, como la música ocurre a través del instrumento bien afinado.

En una conversación difícil: ¿puedes escuchar de verdad y dejar que la respuesta surja espontáneamente, en lugar de preparar mentalmente tu contraargumento?

En tu trabajo: ¿puedes observar la situación con calma y dejar que el camino se revele, en lugar de forzar soluciones?

En tu práctica de Taiji: ¿puedes confiar en tu cuerpo y dejar que el movimiento fluya, en lugar de intentar hacerlo "bien"?

El cocinero Ding no se convirtió en maestro en un día. Practicó 19 años. Pero su práctica no era repetición mecánica; era atención plena, presencia constante, conexión con el Tao.

👇 ¿Conocías la parábola del cocinero Ding? ¿En qué área de tu vida podrías dejar de "ver el buey entero" y empezar a "sentir con el espíritu"?

Mushotoku (無所得) — No Gaining Mind

Mushotoku is the mindset of practicing without chasing reward.

It does not mean training without purpose.
It means not being controlled by what you hope to get from the training — rank, praise, recognition, status, or even spiritual progress.

In Budō, Mushotoku is important because the moment your mind becomes fixed on reward, it stops being fully present in the practice. You begin performing for outcome rather than giving yourself completely to the process. Technique becomes forced, the ego gets involved, and the lesson in front of you is often missed.

Zen points us back to training for the sake of training itself. Sit because it is time to sit. Train because it is time to train. Study because the path requires study — not because you want something in return.

Paradoxically, this is often when the deepest progress happens.
When the need to gain falls away, the mind becomes clearer, effort becomes more honest, and practice becomes real.

Mushotoku is not a lack of ambition.
It is freedom from attachment to result.

In Budō, that means giving your full effort, seeking constant improvement, but not letting your identity depend on outcome. Win or lose, praised or ignored, promoted or overlooked — you continue to train.

Because the path is not something to take from.

It is something to walk.

Tai Chi, always practice!

Los maestros de Taijiquan tienen una frase que desconcierta a todo principiante:

"Primero, deshazte de la fuerza del propio yo."

¿Deshacerme de mi fuerza? ¿No es la fuerza lo que me hace competente? ¿No necesito tensión para sostenerme?

El maestro sonríe y dice: "Más tenso, más débil. Más suelto, más fuerte."

Y uno no entiende nada. Hasta que lo prueba.

Observa a alguien que empieza Taijiquan. Sus hombros están muy arriba, tensos. Sus manos tiemblan. Su mandíbula apretada. Está poniendo todo su esfuerzo en parecer relajado, y paradójicamente, cada músculo grita.

Eso es lo que llamamos "fuerza bruta" (Li). No es solo fuerza física. Es la acumulación de tensiones innecesarias. Es el cuerpo diciendo: "Tengo miedo de caer, de fallar, de no ser suficiente". La rigidez muscular es, casi siempre, rigidez emocional disfrazada.

Cuando un practicante experimentado logra soltar los hombros, algo cambia. Su brazo ya no pesa. Su movimiento se vuelve impredecible. Si lo tocas, no encuentras resistencia, pero tampoco vacío. Está allí, presente, pero sin rigidez.

La energía que antes se quemaba en tensiones inútiles, ahora fluye completa hacia donde se necesita. El brazo suelto es más rápido, más sensible, más potente. Al soltar el control, ganó verdadero poder.

La mente también se tensa. No solo el cuerpo almacena fuerza bruta. La mente también.

Aferrarnos a una idea, a una posición, a tener la razón. Forzar que las cosas salgan como queremos. Controlar cada variable. Eso es "Li mental". Y produce el mismo efecto: rigidez, agotamiento, fragilidad.

El Taijiquan nos invita a soltar también ahí. A confiar. A permitir que las cosas fluyan sin forzarlas. A actuar desde la presencia, no desde el control.

Resulta que la verdadera fuerza no está en cuánto puedes apretar, sino en cuánto puedes soltar. Cuanto más sueltas la tensión innecesaria, más espacio hay para que la energía auténtica (Jin) emerja.

Deshacerte de la fuerza del yo no es volverte débil. Es dejar de estorbarte a ti mismo.

Pregúntate: ¿Qué tensión emocional o mental estoy sosteniendo que ya no necesito?

You can do the shape — and still miss the practice.
This is why alignment matters.
Not because yoga is about looking correct.
But because every small action asks the mind to participate.

In Utkatasana, you are not simply bending the knees and lifting the arms.
You are learning to observe:
Where is the weight in the feet?
Are the knees collapsing or receiving direction?
Is the spine extending, or is the chest sinking?
Are the arms reaching upward with awareness, or just stretching for the sake of stretching?

Without attention, the body moves.
With attention, the body begins to learn.

This is the difference between exercise and yoga.
One repeats movement.
The other refines intelligence through movement.

The foot presses.
The thigh responds.
The spine lengthens.
The breath observes.
The mind enters.

Then the pose is no longer just a shape.
It becomes a study.

💬 Which small action changed the way you understand a pose?
Share below — your reflection may help another student see their practice differently.

The annual 2026 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival will be held on Saturday, 20 June 2026, along the beautiful River Cam in Cambridge.

As one of the most popular and influential Chinese cultural and sporting events in the UK, the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival attracts dragon boat teams, cultural organisations, and visitors from Cambridge, across the UK, and from China every year. The event features exciting dragon boat races, cultural performances, food markets, and community celebrations, drawing wide attention from both the public and the media.

The festival has also become a wonderful occasion for overseas Chinese communities, Health Qigong practitioners, Tai Chi enthusiasts, and friends from all backgrounds to gather together in friendship and celebration.

This year, the UK Heilongjiang Association, the UK Dragon Business Club, and the Health Qigong Federation UK (HQFUK) will jointly organise a series of cultural and sports activities during the festival. We will continue promoting traditional Chinese Health Qigong culture, strengthening friendship and cultural exchange within the local community.

In addition, the UK Dragon Business Club will introduce traditional Northern Chinese specialities, including homemade dumplings and potstickers, allowing everyone to enjoy authentic Chinese flavours while celebrating together.

Event Programme

1. 10:00am – 11:00am

Gather along the River Cam to attend and watch the opening ceremony of the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival, and visit the festival fair, cultural stalls, and food market.

2. 11:00am – 12:00pm

Health Qigong Federation UK will organise a group Health Qigong and Tai Chi gathering on the riverside lawn, featuring a collective demonstration of Ba Duan Jin (Eight Brocades), together with interactive practice and guidance for participants and visitors.

3. From 12:00pm

Enjoy various cultural, artistic, and sporting performances taking place throughout the Dragon Boat Festival.

4. 1:00pm

All Heilongjiang Association members, Health Qigong practitioners, and friends are invited to gather at the UK Dragon Business Club stand to enjoy traditional Northeastern Chinese dumplings and potstickers, reconnect with friends, and share fellowship and cultural exchange.

5. 2:00pm

Stage performance of Health Qigong Ba Duan Jin (approximately 6 minutes).

Participants joining the performance and demonstrations are kindly requested to wear their Health Qigong practice uniforms.

6. After the Festival Closing Ceremony

A traditional Chinese dinner gathering will be held to celebrate the success of the 2026 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival together.

Dinner attendance is optional and based on prior registration.
Meals will be shared on an A