Keith Sharp is an experienced and accredited Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor using his skills to improve the health, wellness and longevity through enjoyable and relaxing sessions using these traditional Chinese exercises.
His aim is to promote Tai Chi Qigong so it becomes the Principal Complementary Therapy throughout the UK.
He runs programmes for many Over 50's groups, plus specialist ones including for the Visually Impaired, Blind, less able and Parkinson's etc.
Using elements of the Short Yang (37 postures) form and many of the Qigong exercises, he has witnessed many benefits to the players and attendees.
Contact - taichikeithwellness@gmail.com 07771 694923 domaim name - taichiqigongwellness.co.uk
Ancient Chinese Exercise Systems
A brief guide for those wishing to open a dialogue or wishing to investigate the exercises described below
General-: There are 4 commonly recognised internal or soft Chinese arts namely:
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Qigong
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Tai Chi
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Bagua
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Hsing Hi
Internal is in respect of the ‘energy within’ being the cultivation and maintenance of Qi (Life Force), through the body's Meridians (channels). Acupuncture and Acupressure points relate to the Qi energy points.
Some interpretation of ‘internal’ may be that the Chinese considered internal as being within that country's boundaries. For the purposes of this paper we will only focus on Tai Chi and Qigong.
System
Interpretation
Translation - Wade Giles
Translation - Pinyin
Tai Chi - Supreme Ultimate
Tai Chi
Taiji
Tai Chi Ch’uan - Supreme Ultimate Fist
Tai Chi Ch’uan
Taijiquan
Chi Kung - Energy Cultivation
Chi Kung
Qigong
Chi - Life Force
Chi
Qi
The term Tai Chi Qigong will be used as this aligns more generally with its worldwide use
Qigong according to many historians and archivists can be traced back some 3,000 years
Tai Chi Ch’uan is attributed to Zhang San Feng in Wudang Mountain during the 12th/13th centuries
There are 5 recognised styles of Tai Chi each one named after the ‘family’ and traditionally very sophisticated Martial Arts. Today as exercises, Tai Chi is more commonly used in conjunction with Qigong as a major tool in the provision of health and wellness.
Family Name - Description
Family Name - Chen
Chen Wangting??
Unclear but may go back to the 16th/17th centuries
Taught intentionally only to descendants in the Chen village but came to prominence early 19th century
Features a number of hard and fast movements. Also appears extremely physical and strong
Family Name - Yang
Yang Lu Chan
Probably the most recognised and popular system
Yang Lu Chan mid 1800’s
Commonly referred to as the Long Form (108 postures)
Professor Cheng Man Ch’ing 1900 to 1975 developed the Short Yang style (37 postures) Another name during this period was Gerde Geddes
Cheng Man Ch’ing is credited with introducing Tai Chi & Qigong to the western world when he took up residence in New York during the 1960’s.
Big and open movements. Looks extremely soft externally, no hard or fast movements.
Family Name - Wu (Hao)
Wu Yu Xiang
Derivative of the Yang style and not really very well known in the west
The rarest of the five major styles. Extremely small foot movements, high and short stance and very precise hand positions. Arms rarely extend fully
Family name - Sun
Sun Lu Tang
Again another style with smaller steps. Especially useful for arthritis sufferers through Dr. Paul Lam’s of Australia, programme
Features stepping and movements from Xing Yi and Bagua, incorporated from the other arts studied by Sun Lu Tang, the founder.
Family Name - Wu
Wu Quan You
A derivative of the Yang style and is also very popular with the British market
Features a slight incline of the body to many movements, and although still based on Yang Tai Chi, it is slightly smaller and more compact.
The other internal forms are not part of this papers intent IE
Bagua - Paqua
A circular form with reversing and spinning techniques
Hsing I - Xing Yi
Can be an explosive system with linear punching attributes
Many schools of Tai Chi/Tai Chi Ch’uan are run on traditional methods, focusing on the form as handed down from the masters. In this way it is normally taught as a Martial Art
Increasingly however, Tai Chi Qigong is being used as ‘tools’ to run programmes for the improvement and maintenance of health, wellness and longevity.
Some of us believe that Qigong will become an even greater major health and wellness exercise system, either as a standalone or as happens in many classes as an integral part of Tai Chi.
The Chinese during recent years gathered together many Masters, and decided to create some standardisation from the wide and varied interpretations, 4 initially to be followed by others.
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Ba Duan Jin Eight Pieces of Brocade
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Yi Jin Jing Twelve Muscle Tendon Strengthening Exercises
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Five Animal Frolics Especially Deep Stretching & Breathing (Tiger, Deer, Bear, Monkey & Bird)
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Six Healing Sounds Concentrating on Deep Breathing and Relaxation
Another very significant set of exercises is known as Shibashi or 18 Exercise System
Many instructors in the west have attended Martial Arts schools with the intent to learn the forms and systems. A number of top class schools of Tai Chi/Qigong offer certification, although at the time of writing there is not a UK recognised national standard such as City & Guilds or NVQ Level 1, 2 or 3
It is interesting to note that many exercise systems being promoted today relate in some way to Tai Chi Qigong. Examples of this are, Body Balance, Otago, Postural Stability and even Pilates.
The continuing success of Tai Chi Qigong should provide, through traditional and modern teaching methods, but not limited to, correct postures, breathing, mobility, confidence, co-ordination and balance and many other ailments thus being the complementary therapies for:
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Prevention Self Care After Care
Useful introductory contacts and references:
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Tai Chi 4 Health & Wellbeing – Hampshire based team running over 50 classes per week
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Tai Chi Union for Great Britain – Over 800 instructors and the leading UK organisation
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British Health Qigong Association (Under the umbrella of Chinese Health Qigong Association)
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Deyin Taiji Institute (UK) Professor Li Deyin a top 100 Martial Artist in China
NB Faye Li Yip of BHQA is the daughter of Li Deyin
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World Tai Chi & Qigong Day – Bill Douglas founder in 1999 in Kansas City
Bill’s book Idiots Guide to Tai Chi & Qigong is ideal for beginners
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Institute of Integral Qigong & Tai Chi, California
Dr. Roger Jahnke founder and Oriental Medical Doctor
Roger bridges the Chinese and Western health approach and is the author of
The Healer Within and The Healing Promise of Qi
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Tai Chi Forum for Health UK
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Living Movement in Devon – Founder Angus Clark
Author of Secrets of Qigong and Illustrated Elements of Tai Chi
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Kaiming – Mark Peters an Executive Member of TCUGB
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National Qigong Association USA
This paper has been produced by Keith Sharp an experienced Tai Chi Qigong programme & session developer, instructor and promoter, especially for the Health & Wellness of the over 50’s and the less able with standing and sitting classes
Keith Sharp
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Tai Chi Qigong Wellness
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Tai Chi 4 Health & Wellbeing Founder Member
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An Honorary Vice President of The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain
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Grade A Instructor with the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain
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Alliance Associate of the Institute of Integral Qigong & Tai Chi (USA)
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Contributor to World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (USA)
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Member Instructor for the British Qigong Health Association - Yi Jin Jing & Kung Fu Fan
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Member Deyin Institute
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Holder of 7307 Stage 1 Teaching Certificate
May 2015 Keith Sharp ©copyright all rights reserved
