Lishi Tai Chi, Kung Fu & Wu Shu Nottingham

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☯️ Deep Breathing is the key to Practicing Qi Gong and Tai Chi well ☯️

The so-called "sinking qi into the dantian" (Dantian) means "sinking the mind into the dantian." Deep breathing is crucial to effective Tai Chi practice. Yet, I rarely hear many practitioners discuss breathing techniques during their daily practice. They practice Tai Chi daily, playing loud music, laughing and chatting, their mouths and hands never stopping, truly free and unfettered, their Tai Chi practice effortlessly. While this approach has its merits, it's far from the ideal outcome of Tai Chi practice. How can we optimize breathing to maximize the health benefits of Tai Chi?

🌀 1. Rest and Form Coordination
Tai Chi has a long and profound history, originating from the Daoyin (Daoyin) techniques used by ancient Chinese people to prevent and treat illness. Renowned Tai Chi master Ge Xinwu explains in his book "A Study of Tai Chi": "The ancient breathing and Daoyin techniques passed down in our country are all breathing exercises. Tai Chi is entirely based on the principle of correct breathing, also known as deep breathing. The ultimate principle is to ensure that movement and breathing are always in harmony and without disturbance, a principle not shared by other methods."

Many martial arts schools discuss the sinking of qi into the dantian (Dantian), especially the Wu-style Tai Chi, which emphasizes "sinking qi into the dantian" and "leading qi with the mind, moving the body with qi." Lao Tzu said, "Empty the mind, fill the belly," and return to the root of life. Using the mind to guide essence and qi into the dantian, and practicing this practice can naturally prolong life and prevent illness. Qi is the lifeline connecting internal thoughts and external movements. "Qi is the commander of blood, and blood is the mother of qi." Tai Chi relies on the biochemical circulation of qi within the body, accumulating and strengthening it, storing energy and generating strength, promoting the activation of qi and blood, and thus curing illness, prolonging life, and strengthening the body.

The internal organs receive a vibratory massage from the rhythmic, coordinated movement of qi and movement. This harmonious and effective internal exercise, which unifies body and mind, cultivates both the inner and the outer, and brings immeasurable benefits and changes over time. This is why it is said that qi is the source of life, the foundation of success, and the secret of Tai Chi.

From this we can see that practicing Tai Chi requires coordination between breath and form. If you don't take deep breaths, and your movements and breathing can't be coordinated, it will be difficult to activate and enhance your internal energy, and the power and effect will be lost. This is no longer Tai Chi.

When I started practicing Tai Chi, I didn't understand the importance of breathing, let alone how to coordinate my breathing. Movement and breathing were two separate entities, completely unrelated. As a result, my movements were stiff, the effects were extremely poor, and I felt bored.

🌀 2. Start with Breathing
Breathing is the driving force behind the opening and closing, emptiness and fullness, and the changes of yin and yang in boxing. Only when breathing correctly can the Qi surge freely within the abdomen, flowing in accordance with the mind, and the postures and movements of boxing be light, complete, and coherent.

Wu Gongzao, a famous Tai Chi master, said in his book "Tai Chi Lectures": "One opening and closing is one breath. Where the opening and closing is, there is the intention, and there is also the breath. After practicing for a long time, the Qi will naturally spread throughout the body. The initial skill lies in the breathing, and the achievement of mysterious and inconceivable skills also lies in the breathing."

After mastering the stance, I switched from shallow chest breathing to deep reverse abdominal breathing. This breathing method increases lung capacity, but it was difficult to learn at first, especially when I was unfamiliar with it. Coordinating the movements with my breathing was even more challenging. I then stood still and relaxed, focusing on reverse abdominal breathing, gradually transitioning to single-style opening and closing breathing. Then, from standing, I moved on to walking, and finally to coordinating multiple movements with my breathing. During this time, I also used walking exercises to practice Tai Chi walking, rotating my muscles and bones, and training my waist and legs. I gradually mastered the Tai Chi principle of "using the mind to guide the intention, using the intention to guide the qi, and using the qi to guide the body, using the mind without using force." My movements were now coordinated with my breathing, and my practice reached a new level.

Stillness is a key challenge and crucial for coordinating movement and breathing. The ancients said, "Qi is the mother of spirit, and spirit is the child of qi; the heart and breath are interdependent." Therefore, stillness lies in being able to calm the mind and spirit, and a mind free of distractions is stillness. Therefore, the "Tai Chi Chuan Theory" teaches us, "Qi should be vibrant, and spirit should be restrained." Kung Fu pays off. Through long-term practice, one's cultivation increases day by day, gradually deepening, becoming more refined, becoming more subtle, and from subtlety to mastery, and from mastery to mastery.

My practice has deeply impressed me that as long as the mind is focused inward, maintaining a high level of tranquility and stability, intention and qi will become inseparable and inseparable; movements will naturally follow each other closely, and the three will blend seamlessly, melting into one. When I inhale while practicing, I focus my mind on the dantian (Dantian), and when I exhale, I direct the qi to my hands and feet, forming a Tai Chi circle that circulates endlessly around the dantian, a crucible for tempering internal strength. As long as one is determined and masters the right method, one will eventually reach perfection.

During this time, I also realized that as long as I press my tongue against the roof of my mouth, smile, feel comfortable, focus my mind gently, and breathe continuously, my entire body, both inside and out, will be deeply relaxed. My movements will automatically coordinate, closely following each other, proceeding slowly and gently. Especially during the alternation of each opening and closing movement, that is, the alternation between exhalation and inhalation, the movement of my mind and breath remains the same, steady, slow, and continuous.

It's great that y'all following my page. I appreciate the interest. But Taoism is a "doing" art, please visit https://sea-cloud.org/ to find tuition near you. You can keep your shirt on! 😜 And if we're not convenient, try another class, there are lots of styles and tutors out there. I would suggest the tutor often makes more difference than the style. Try a few. See what "resonates". How do you feel before/after the class? Follow the quality and the positive vibes rather than the great stories. Everyone's got great stories. Work hard and enjoy x

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