Chen Lei - Tai Chi Seminar

I was in the wrong belief, that mainly older and less physically able people performed Tai Chi, so that it must in some way be less of a martial art than other fighting systems. I thought it was aimed more towards physical well being and cardiovascular exercise, than being one of the worlds most formidable fighting systems.

Although my knowledge of Tai Chi Ch’uan is vastly limited to the practical ability achieved in the short four hour seminar time and further reading I now know I had done the art a misjustice.

I now know that, as Tai chi is sometimes referred to as flowery, and being “poetry in motion” it does not detract from the fact that the system successfully encompasses gentle circular movements to manoeuvre an aggressor’s attack. The self-defence power is rooted in the feet and develops through the legs into the waist. When faced with an attack the Tai Chi practitioner remains relaxed in mind and body. (Allowing free and easy movement in any direction, without restraint.)

The seminar with Chen Lee started as any other lesson, with a short warm up of muscles and joints, and an explanation of the day’s events. Chen lee firstly started off with the introduction of the form we would learn that day (24 step Tai Chi form)

The initial whole sequence was broken down in to smaller bite size pieces. A demonstration and further explanation were given for each part, explaining body position, breathing length of reach and direction of Chi in the body.

Although at the start of the day it seemed a funny discipline due to its slow and deliberate nature, within an hour or so, a real appreciation for the moves came into effect. What firstly started of as a move, which involved me stepping into a would be attacker, with my right leg (loose kind of cat stance) right arm out, with left arm loose guard, ended up being a potentially fantastic self defence move. A would be attacker using this technique would first, be pushed and pulled of balance, in one smooth and continual action resulting in a solid blow to the midsection as he travelled past you.

It was the ease in which these so called elegant dance moves, which in real time would produce dramatic and devastating effects that changed my perspective on Tai Chi.

All that remains to be said is thank you to Chen Lee for dedicating his time to us, and I look forward to further insight into Tai Chi Ch’uan.

 Written By Paul Evans, Student Of Sil Lum Kune.