Monday 28th – Friday 1st August 2025
Monday 4th August to Friday 8th August 2025
Monday 11th to Friday 15th August 2025
Why should this beautiful sequence of movements be known as the ‘Supreme Ultimate’ (Tàijí 太极)? Does it mean that we have to achieve absolute perfection in every movement that we execute, or does it mean that we are aiming for an ultimate goal in everything which is a true component of this wonderful art?
There are thousands of people in the West who have gained great benefit from the practise of Tai Chi Chuan, and there are many more who are seriously interested in learning. Unfortunately many of these people learn only the physical aspect of the form, and therefore gain very little from it. Many of them spend a great deal of time in practice, yet without discovering the full depth and potential of the art, all their work is doing no more than scratching the surface. Even their physical progress is limited, because the most important depths of their physical selves remain unused and undiscovered.
The majority of T’ai Chi schools teach only the physical side of the whole art. They sincerely believe that they are progressing by just learning the stances, but inwardly they are often doing more harm than good, because by remaining on a physical level they never express their complete selves, and in so doing retard their own progress in the wholeness of life.
This is a shame, for after setting themselves to learn the art over a long period of time, practising for many hours and showing great interest and dedication, their efforts have often been completely wasted. They have not progressed at all on the physical level, and have never learned the other dynamic aspects of this wonderful art.
The truth is that there are five complete sections in the complete training of Tai Chi Chuan, so every student should ensure that they train under the supervision of a fully qualified teacher who can not only teach these five sections but can also demonstrate them. Then and only then will the student gain maximum benefit from this art in every respect, have a complete understanding of its true depth, and develop an awareness which they had not previously known existed.
The Lee style is taught through the auspices of the Taoist Cultural Arts Association, who are ensuring that the Taoist Arts, which were maintained and developed by the Lee family, will always remain exactly as they wanted them to be. The Association also ensures that this great depth of knowledge will only be taught by teachers who have qualified, practised, and been taught within the Association.
Let us now look at the five sections of Tai Chi Chuan as taught by the Taoist Cultural Arts Association.
The first step is to ensure that you are eating and drinking sensibly, and it is recommended that anyone who is seriously interested in permanent good health should try to adhere to the rules laid down by the early Taoists. These are called Chang Ming (The Taoist Health Therapy for a long Healthy Life).
The second step is to start to practise the various physical aspects of the sections of the ‘form’ by aiming towards perfection of the stances (legs), posture (body) and technique (hands and arms). Having learnt a few movements or sections, try to magnify your sensitivity by learning to feel the rhythm and flow within the technique of your hands and arms, and match and harmonize the rhythm and flow from one stance of your legs and feet to another. Be dedicated and practise a few movements daily, morning and evening, and you will eventually achieve these aims.
Remember, whilst you will be utilizing your body to evaluate the depths of your movements, you must never become solely physical, or try to use your strength, for by so doing you will restrict your own development.
Many T’ai Chi teachers will tell you that your movements will exercise the whole body. In fact the parts of the body are complementary — it is the top that exercises the bottom and the bottom the top. The right exercises the left and the left the right. In our arts we prove this to you in a multiplicity of ways, so you learn to appreciate and understand your own body even more. Total harmony and perfection of all the movements is essential to achieve the ultimate of your physical self.
From the very beginning of your physical practise you will find that you become more mentally active, and a great deal of concentration is required to obtain the perfection you are aiming for and your teacher expects. You have to harmonize your stance on both left and right legs, attain the correct angle of your whole body, top and bottom and right and left. Then there are all the variations in your hands and arms, which can move in totally different directions, create their own characteristics, and move at varying speeds. All this is created by the mind, and must all be controlled from the mental source. A simple act of emptying the mind, as some try to do in meditation, actually fills it, so that it becomes more active than ever.
Dynamic mental control can create a tranquil mind without its being empty. It can utilize power without the use of strength, cause heaviness without weight, create length from shortness and speed from slowness.
All these aspects of mental control are practised continuously in all our Taoist arts classes. Perhaps one day you too will be able to execute every movement of T’ai Chi Ch’uan by remaining absolutely stationary and immobile. When you reach this very advanced stage, you can go one step further by practising the various aspects of the Taoist Wand (Taoist Mokun), which is the advanced control of energies by the mind.
Most people breathe in and out every minute of every day and never give it a second thought, unless they have some sort of respiration problem. Yet the Taoists of ancient China created over fifty different specialized breathing exercises, all of which are incorporated into our arts in a special section called Hūxī yīzhì 呼吸医治 (Taoist Respiration Therapy). Amongst them are many special breathing techniques which also incorporate specific physical exercises, purposely designed to assist in the cure of many different illnesses connected to specific organs of the body.
In addition to these, there are other very special breathing exercises that help to activate or sedate the natural energy (Sheng Chi) of the body, and these exercises are an integral part of our training.
It is important for a beginner to take things easy at the beginning of their training. Very few people have learnt to breathe fully, so their bodies are not used to dealing with a large amount of oxygen. Even fewer people have learned to breathe deeply in the lower abdomen (Tan Tien). Thus in the early stages of learning the form let your breathing be as natural as possible, then slowly your teacher will help you to co-ordinate your breathing with your movements and your mind.
If your breathing remains natural, then slowly through your training you will be able to let it sink lower and lower until it eventually reaches the lower abdomen. Your early training will also assist in this matter, because through correct stances with relaxed bodies and relaxed movements, breathing will naturally sink lower. Once breathing into the lower abdomen becomes natural and automatic, the energy of the body (Sheng Chi) will be enhanced.
The development of natural energy is dependent on eating and drinking the Chang Ming way, so that the tissues of the body become more supple and flexible, thereby helping the body to accept really deep breathing. Really deep breathing should take place in the lower abdomen, because this is where there are two energy centres, one of which is where the Qi develops and stores itself. As coal is the fuel of a fire, so breath is the fuel of the natural energy of the body. Respiration exercises are thus a natural part of Qi development. Shēngqì 生气 (Vitality Power) was also called ‘Internal Energy’ (Nèi bù qì 内埔气) or ‘Intrinsic Energy’ (Tiānrán nénglì 天然能力), and it is the energy that everyone who practises our Taoist arts strives to cultivate.
A strong Qi helps everyone to attain permanent good health. In our Taoist arts we learn to use it whilst practising our form of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, and learn also how we use it in every part of our lives, whether at work or at play.
Its force is colossal and far greater than brute strength can ever be, enabling anybody — man or woman — to have the power of five people. The amazing thing about it is that you were born with it, and you possess it all your lives. Its benefit to your health is beyond the understanding of the average person, but it helps to fight germs and bacteria within the human body, and a truly strong Chi will improve your health to such a degree that colds and influenza are never experienced.
The Qi is invisible, it has no aroma, and you cannot hear it, yet it is an integral part of your body and it influences your daily life. It is substantial and insubstantial; it is unyielding yet pliability itself; it is soft and gentle yet it can be as hard as steel; it is weightless yet it cannot be lifted. Our arts teach us to know what it is, and where it is stored and generated, and how we can cultivate, utilize and control it. When your health is really good and you have practised our arts for some time, then you will be able to feel the flow of your own Qi through your body.
Like mental energy, Shēngqì depends for its strength and regeneration on the personal good health of the person, constant deep breathing, and relaxation. That is why Tai Chi Ch’uan is good for the health in so many different ways. We must be able to store energy before we can use it, and we must learn to conserve our vitality before we can achieve good health.
Most people in the West, particularly those who live or work in cities, find it very difficult to relax, and require additional aids to help them to do so. The Taoist art of Tai Chi Chuan has the answer. Besides the specialized warming up exercises which all our classes commence with, there are also a number of simple breathing exercises that help to develop this vital energy.
Here is a simple breathing exercise that you might like to try. Begin by sitting on a chair or, preferably, cross-legged (your left leg outside your right) on the floor, freeing your body and mind from outside influences and internal tensions. Place your hands flat on your abdomen, and whilst keeping your body fairly upright without stiffness, allow your shoulders to drop as low as they will go. You may notice that your chest will depress slightly, but don’t worry about it, it is quite natural.
Now take a deep inward breath (Qì xī 气吸) through the nose, but instead of letting the air fill your lungs and chest, allow your breath to sink so that your abdomen swells outward. Then exhale (Hū qì 呼气) through the nose, but as you do so, press your hands firmly against the abdomen, so that you force the stale air out through your nostrils. Repeat this sequence six times daily. Whenever you feel tired and run down, use this breathing exercise. By repeating it regularly, your health will benefit and you will feel better within yourself.
It takes the average person in the West about six months to a year to begin to feel the vitality power within themselves. Once having learnt to feel this energy, the next step is to direct it from the lower abdomen to any other part of the body through mental control.
This is known as ‘propelled movement’ (Tuījìn Gǔdòng 推进鼓动), and it is only by obtaining mastery of it that a person can attain true mastery of their own energies.
This energy is known as ‘macro-cosmic’ or ‘external’ energy. It is the natural energy of the universe, for it comes down from the heavens, passes through everything on this earth, including our own bodies, enters the earth and, after gathering further vitality and power, returns upwards to return from whence it came. It is constantly present and passing through our human bodies, and it can be harnessed, stored, controlled and utilized by everyone, providing they have the mental training to do so.
By utilizing this dynamic energy, many ancient Chinese philosophers lived from 150 to 200 years of age, and even in this modern era it is possible to have, even at the age of sixty, the skin, body, mentality, energy and vitality of a twenty-year-old. It is not time or the number of years that matter, it is the true health of the individual that eventually shows through. The Taoist will tell you and show you the real truth: keeping fit does not necessarily make you truly healthy, but if you are truly healthy then you are automatically fit.
On its downward journey Jīng shēng lì passes through all men, down the spine and out through the lower abdomen. This circular action is centripetal in its flow, and this Li energy moves in this way through all Yang things. On its upward path, or return journey from the earth, it passes through everything that is Yin, in a centrifugal motion. In passing through all women it comes up from the ground, along the spine, and out through the head. These two directions are represented as follows:
When these two directions were placed together by the ancient Taoists, they represented the well-known Yin and Yang symbol:
Not only did this concept represent Yin and Yang, showing the two sides of everything, but it also expressed the idea that nothing had a beginning nor an end, everything is everlasting. Later, the ancient Taoists added a further permutation, as you will see in the next chapter, which demonstrated their closer appreciation of the work of the Tao.
A more complex symbolic expression of the workings of the universe is the Eight Trigrams (Bāguà 八卦) which are included in the Book of Changes (Yì jīng 易经), which is one of the most important books in the world, for thousands of years of wisdom and understanding have gone into it. Both Confucianism and Taoism have their roots here, so it is natural that the basic principles of T’ai Chi Ch’uan are derived from it.
From
The Chinese Art of T’ai Chi Ch’uan
by Chee Soo
The author of this book has been practising T’ai Chi Ch’uan for sixty years, and knows deep down inside that even though others may think what you do is perfect, something you feel and appreciate can continue to be understood ever more deeply as time goes on. Yes, perfection is a word that has no boundaries, for only you can fix the limit of yourself. However, from my own personal experience and from the foundations created by my own master, let me pass on a few tips that will help you in your training and practise, because your teacher cannot watch or be near you all the time during your endless search to become better and better.
For the truly dedicated person this is the ultimate goal pointed out to us by the Taoists of ancient China, and from my own personal experience I know it is true. In simple words, it means the complete understanding, harmony and conquering of our body, mind, spirit, our own Chi energy and universal Li energy.
You will learn in the Taoist Cultural Arts Association that every movement has a meaning, every meaning contains a depth, and each depth contains an essence, and through the full utilization of the essence, you will find out the true meaning of the expressions that our old masters told us. Thus you will prove to yourself that ‘the weakest is the strongest’, ‘the lightest is the heaviest’, and ‘the shortest is the longest’. You will recognize these truths over and over again, until you are fully aware of the essence they contain, and how they can be utilized not only in our arts, but in your everyday life.
The first golden rule is to let your body remain relaxed and natural at all times, without any tension whatsoever. But relaxation does not mean giving way completely and slumping as if you were a dead weight. It means being your natural self, without being artificial or going to the other extreme of trying to be too precise. T’ai Chi is therapeutic, for it gives very gentle exercise to all parts of the body. When you move the arms you exercise the legs, and when you activate the legs then you automatically exercise the upper parts of your body. So harmony within all movements is very important, and co-ordination between the upper limbs and lower extremities is an important aim towards perfection.
The legs are used to support the weight of your body at all times, and even when you are lying down muscle changes take place through the legs as the body turns. The legs, therefore, play an important part in all movements of the torso, so never oppose these natural dynamics of your own body. Other styles of T’ai Chi have quite large stances, with their body weight supported between the two legs with both knees bent. This, you will be told, conforms to the laws of gravity.
In a physical and materialistic sense they are right. We, on the other hand, explore the true meaning of the ‘Supreme Ultimate’ by using the essences that our legs can give, so you will find if you train with us that our weight distribution is changed for each particular stance, for this is essential to bring out the true essence that it contains. For instance, it is a golden rule in our T’ai Chi that when the foot is moved, the heel is placed on the floor first, then the ball of the foot, and finally the toes, just as if you were walking naturally. This movement from heel to toe is performed no matter what the angle of the foot might be, whether you step forward, back, or sideways, and even when you walk the air. This is not easy at first, so constant practise is recommended in order to maintain your balance while keeping control of your leg movements, which you should practise very slowly and lightly.
Learn to move from one leg movement to another, and ensure that you check and correct them constantly. Using a full length mirror is an excellent way to correct yourself.
Never fully straighten the arms, but always keep them slightly bent. Keep your elbows pointing down, except on the rare occasions when the arms are raised above head height. Ensure that your arms are completely relaxed, irrespective of how they are moved or held.
The hand movements not only have a meaning in their flow from one direction to another, but there is a far greater depth and meaning within the essence that they contain. Perfection in the execution of the movements of hands and arms is very important indeed. There is a wise saying within our Taoist arts: ‘the slowest is the fastest’. One illustration of this is a learner driver, who, once having mastered the techniques of driving very slowly, may well gain sufficient experience one day to become a champion racing driver. This applies to our arts as well. Don’t rush, give yourself time to perfect a movement, harmonize it with your posture, stance and breathing, and feel the essence that it contains. Then and only then will you have acquired the mental control to harmonize every aspect in one beautiful technique — at any speed you wish.
The hands are very important, but in our everyday life we are apt to take them for granted, and never really give them a second thought unless we injure them, in which case we feel very lost. They are also extremely important in T’ai Chi, because of the intricate movements and patterns they have to execute. Complete control over them is essential at all times, whether they are moving, stationary, open or closed into a fist. There are seven main types of hand formations.
The first is the Sun Palm (Jih Shouchang). The hand is pushed forward with the fingers completely relaxed, but pointing upwards. In this formation the vitality power flows from the lower abdomen (Tan Tien) up the spine, down the arm and into the palm. This movement of the hand and arm looks very soft and gentle, but the force pushed out of the Sun Palm, with mental control, is quite dynamic.
The second is the Cloudy Palm (Yun Shouchang). The back of the hand faces away from you and the palm is turned inward, fingers pointing upwards. The vitality power is recalled back to the lower abdomen, The hands and arms are completely relaxed and the shoulders are allowed to sink.
The third is the Crane’s Head Palm (Hao T’ou Shouchang). The fingers point downwards. The shoulders, arms and hands are now completely relaxed and loose, with the vitality power having been recalled back to the lower abdomen.
The fourth is the Lifting Palm (Chu Ch’i Shouchang). The back of the hand faces the floor and the palm faces upward. The vitality power may or may not be activated, whichever you decide.
The fifth is the Side Palm (Pien Shouchang). The tip of the thumb points upwards, and the edge of the little finger downwards. In this formation the vitality power will remain stationary unless you wish to activate it through your mental control.
The sixth is the Hammer Palm (Ch’ui Shouchang). The hand is firm, the palm faces downwards, and the little finger edge would, if required, become the striking edge. The vitality power flows very forcefully into the hand, especially to the little finger edge.
The seventh is the Closed Palm, or fist (Kuan Shouchang). The fingers are closed into the palm but should remain fairly loose. The vitality power in this formation is rather restricted.
Some say that you should imagine your head being suspended, but if you do then you become like a puppet, light headed and floating. So don’t let your head and neck be stiff, like that of a robot; just keep them both naturally upright, without any tension, and align them both with your spine. One day you will be amazed at the depth of essence they contain.
Breath is life, as we all know, but correct breathing is even more important than that. Not only does it sustain life and purify the blood, but it is also the fuel for the vitality energy of the body, just as coal is fuel for a fire.
In your early days of training, however, we suggest that you shouldn’t worry too much about breathing. If you join one of our affiliated clubs or classes you will be taught many specialized breathing exercises, but for the beginner who practises at home without an instructor, we suggest that you first practise some of the sequences over and over again. This will enable you to attain the perfection of stances and postures and a continuous flow of movement, and during these early periods you should just breathe naturally through the nose as you practise.
As all movements of our T’ai Chi Ch’uan style are based on an in-and-out movement, breathing can easily be harmonized with them. On the odd numbers or inward movements you should breathe in, and on the even numbers or outward movements you should breathe out. Your health will feel the benefit, and you will gradually learn to take deeper and longer breaths as you learn to co-ordinate the length of your inhalations and exhalations with your movements.
Next, try and learn to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth when practising the movements, and time them to your breathing, rather than timing your breathing to your movements.
The next stage is to learn to breathe deeply into the area below your navel. Lower abdominal breathing (Tan Tien Ch’i Hsi) not only excites and activates the vitality power, but it also helps to give you an internal massage by the expansion and contraction of the muscles and the intestines. It helps to improve blood circulation and liver functions and generally aids the working of the body metabolism. At first you will have to concentrate the mind on the sinking of the breath down to the Tan Tien. In Taoist thought and Chinese alchemy, the lower abdomen is known as the ‘lower cauldron’, and it can only be reached and activated by deep diaphragmatic breathing (what the Taoists call Yang breathing).
The Tan Tien is also a psychic centre of primary importance, and the main centre for the storage and circulation of Chi and Li energies. The harmonious mixture of Chi and Li energies in the lower abdomen is known in Taoist thought as ‘the Inner Circle’, The same area also acts as the centre of the ‘Outer Circle’ of the body, which governs the spiritual and psychic channels of the mind and body, It must therefore be looked after, nurtured and protected, for it is of prime importance for the health of your body, mind and spirit, in both their internal and their external activities.
From
The Chinese Art of T’ai Chi Ch’uan
by Chee Soo
