Eastern U.S. Tai Chi Seminar

Eastern U.S. Tai Chi Seminar

From October 29 to November 13, 2024, I, along with World Tai Chi Chuan Federation Secretary General Tsai Meng-Hung, was invited to represent Chairperson Yeh Wen-Kuan of the General Association to host two Supple Tai Chi seminars in Washington, D.C., and Kansas. During this visit, we also extended invitations to Tai Chi enthusiasts in the Eastern U.S. to participate in next year’s World Cup Tai Chi Chuan Championship at Taipei Arena.

During a break before the seminar, we practiced Supple Tai Chi Push Hands on driftwood by the lakeside with Charles, Executive Director of the Charles Koo Foundation, and Secretary General Tsai Meng-Hung. The suppleness, lightness, and harmony of Tai Chi combined with the serene beauty of nature allowed us to momentarily set aside the complexities of daily life. 

［美東太極拳講習會］

2024年10/29-11/13筆者與國際聯盟秘書長蔡孟宏獲邀，代表總會葉文寬理事長前往美東華盛頓DC、堪薩斯州舉辦二場鬆柔太極拳講習會，並邀約美東地區太極拳同好，參加明年在台北小巨蛋舉辦的世界盃太極拳錦標賽。

講習會前的空檔，與陳鉅基金會執行長Charles 、蔡孟宏秘書長在湖邊的枯木上，演練鬆柔太極拳推手，太極拳的鬆柔、輕靈、柔和與大自然優美的環境，讓我們暫時拋開人世間繁瑣的事務。

Sharing from the Washington D.C. Tai Chi Seminar

Sharing from the Washington D.C. Tai Chi Seminar

On November 2-3, 2024, I represented the National Tai Chi Chuan Association, led by Chairperson Yeh Wen-Kuan, in hosting a Tai Chi seminar. The two-day event featured six hours of classes each day, along with personalized instruction sessions, which were successfully completed. The Taiwanese Supple Tai Chi method received high praise.

During the seminar and individual instruction, I had direct contact with students from the Eastern United States, gaining close insights into their learning styles and habits, thereby fostering a closer connection with them.

Participants showed great interest in the traditional Supple Tai Chi techniques, which embody the Zhuangzi and Laozi philosophy of "Wu Wei" (non-action), emphasizing the skills of yielding and suppleness, as well as the I Ching’s philosophy of balancing yin and yang. They were also intrigued by the traditional methods and attitudes of masters guiding their disciples. I made every effort to meet their needs throughout the courses.

［華盛頓DC太極拳講習會分享］

2024 年11/2、3代表總會葉文寬理事長，舉辦太極拳講習會，每天6小時的上課時間，及個別指導的課程順利完成，台灣鬆柔太極拳法獲得好評。

在講習會與個別指導課程中，直接面對美東地區的學員，近距離的地接觸到當地學員的學習方式與習慣，拉近了彼此的距離。

學員對傳統鬆柔太極拳法內涵老莊「無為」的思考邏輯，也就是走化、鬆柔的技藝，及易經陰陽相濟的哲理，有濃厚的興趣，另外對傳統師父指導徒弟的態度與方法也很感興趣，我在課程中盡可能的滿足他們的需求。

訓練法由基礎的腿力訓練（五行步法）、關節鬆與定產生太極八法，到拳架的運行，再到鬆柔推手的演練，讓學員瞭解，拳法「由腳而腿而腰，總須完整一氣」的訓練要訣。

此行感謝華盛頓DC無為拳社、陳鉅基金會張瓊瓊老師與Charles 老師的接待，及總會蔡孟宏秘書長、張瓊瓊老師精準的即時翻譯。

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157蘇東明 and 156 others

The training progressed from foundational leg-strength training (Five-Element Footwork) to the release and stabilization of joints that generate the Eight Powers of Tai Chi, transitioning into form practice and finally to Supple Push Hands drills. These steps helped participants understand the critical principle of Tai Chi boxing: "From the feet to the legs to the waist, all must unite as one flow."

Special thanks to the Wu Wei Martial Arts Club in Washington, D.C., the Charles Koo Foundation, Master Chang Chiong-Chiong, and Charles for their hospitality. I am also deeply grateful to Secretary General Tsai Meng-Hung and Master Chang for their precise and timely translations, which ensured the seminar’s success.

Application of Supple Push Hands

 Application of Supple Push Hands

The application of supple push hands requires a light and agile body. Throughout the process, the hands and legs must adapt to the situation by maintaining a flexible transition between movement and stillness, as well as emptiness and solidity, allowing the body to naturally exhibit a balance of hardness and suppleness.

The "Xi Ci" of the I Ching states: "Movement and stillness follow a pattern; hardness and suppleness are thus determined." Mastering the interplay of movement, stillness, emptiness, solidity, and the dynamics of hardness and suppleness reveals the skill of overcoming hardness with softness.

［鬆柔推手應用］

鬆柔推手應用，必須具備輕靈的身手，過程中兩手與兩腿要隨勢保持動與靜、虛與實的靈活轉換，使彼此的身體自然產生剛柔的現象。

易經繫辭：「動靜有常，剛柔斷矣」，能掌握動靜、虛實與剛柔變化的脈絡，就能展現以柔克剛的技藝。

Tai Chi and Qi Gong with Fang Association

On November 9-10, 2024, I traveled to Massachusetts on hehalf of Chairperson Yeh Wen-Kuan to participate in a seminar hosted by the "Tai Chi and Qi Gong with Fang Association." This association was founded by Master Li Fang, who has lived in the United States for over 30 years, promoting Chinese martial arts and culture. Master Li returns to Taiwan every two years to participate in the World Cup Tai Chi Chuan Championship.

The seminar attendees displayed advanced skills in Tai Chi forms and Push Hands techniques, alongside a deep understanding of Tai Chi theory. As a result, the courses covering Tai Chi theory, footwork, forms, and Push Hands were met with an enthusiastic response, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere akin to seminars held in Taiwan. Additionally, plans are underway for Master Li to visit Taiwan in 2025 to attend the International Tai Chi Coach Seminar and the World Cup Tai Chi Chuan Championship.

Special thanks go to Charles of the "Wu Wei" Martial Arts Club in Washington, D.C., Master Chang Chiong-Chiong, International Federation Secretary General Tsai Meng-Hung, and Coach Hsu Chiu-Hsueh, whose participation facilitated smooth communication throughout the seminar. 

［芳太極氣功協會］

2024年11/9、10代表葉文寬理事長前往麻塞諸塞州，「芳太極氣功協會」舉辦講習會，這是旅美李芳之老師所創立的協會，李老師每2年固定返台參加世界盃太極拳錦標賽，在美國傳承中華武術與文化30餘年，學員對太極拳太極拳架與推手的技巧純熟經論的理解深入。

因此，對太極拳經論、步法、拳架、推手等等課程反應熱烈，場面溫馨，如同在台灣舉辦講習會，同時也預約2025年前往台灣，參加國際太極拳教練講習會，及世界盃太極拳錦標賽。

感謝華盛頓DC「無為」拳社的Charles 、張瓊瓊老師、國際聯盟秘書長蔡孟宏、許秋雪教練等人的參與，使講習會溝通順暢。

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156蘇東明, 鬆柔太極拳 Supple Tai Chi and 154 others

[Push Hands Training Combining Hardness and Suppleness]

 [Push Hands Training Combining Hardness and Suppleness]

Tai Chi Push Hands trains the transformations of emptiness and solidity, movement and stillness, as well as hardness and suppleness. By engaging the body's nine key joints, it creates a sense of lightness and seamless connection, subtly fostering opportunities to "overcome hardness with suppleness."

［剛柔並濟的推手訓練］

太極拳推手訓練身手虛實、動靜、剛柔的變化，藉由身體九大環節，產生輕靈與貫串的現象，在不知不覺中創造「以柔克剛」的契機。

[Visually Impaired Individuals and Supple Tai Chi Push Hands]

[Visually Impaired Individuals and Supple Tai Chi Push Hands]

Supple Tai Chi Push Hands is not only a training method for general fitness and health preservation but also one of the best exercises for visually impaired friends.

Due to visual impairments, visually impaired individuals cannot exercise and sweat like others, leading to obesity, which indirectly affects their mobility and health.

Mr. Qiu, 44 years old this year, gradually regained his confidence and health after practicing Tai Chi and Supple Push Hands.

［視障者與鬆柔太極拳推手］

鬆柔太極拳推手不僅是一般人健身養生的訓練法，也是視障朋友最佳的運動之一。

視障者因為視覺的障礙，使他們無法像一般人一樣運動流汗，因此造成肥胖的身體，間接影響到他們的行動與健康。

邱先生今年44歲，接觸太極拳與鬆柔推手後，慢慢地找回自信心與健康。

[Supple Push Hands Through Natural Action (自然而為的鬆柔推手)]

[Supple Push Hands Through Natural Action 

(自然而為的鬆柔推手)]

The Eight Methods of Tai Chi (太極八法) are natural phenomena that arise when the body’s various joints and connections are relaxed. This concept aligns with the "Wu Wei (無為)" philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi, emphasizing effortless action that arises naturally and unintentionally. Therefore, the application of supple techniques is characterized by independence, eternity, and unceasing movement (周行不殆).

Grandmaster Zheng Manqing (鄭曼青) once said:

"Tai Chi does not move first; to invest in loss is to gain an advantage."

This mirrors the principles in the Ten Essentials of Tai Chi (太極十要):

Sinking the shoulders (沉肩), dropping the elbows (墜肘), containing the chest (含胸), and lifting the back (拔背). On the surface, these seem like "Wu Wei" (無為)—effortless, useless, or even a loss—but in reality, they represent natural action (自然而為).

Through this process, they become pathways to "Wu Bu Wei" (無所不為)—achieving great utility and gaining advantage. The dynamics of loss and gain (吃虧與佔便宜), effortless action and boundless action (無為與無不為), and uselessness and great utility (無用與大用) cycle endlessly through the interplay of Yin and Yang (陰陽), forming a perpetual cycle of transformation and return.

太極八法是身體各環節放鬆後，所產生的自然現象，如同老莊的「無為」思考邏輯，是自然而為，是無心而為，故鬆柔招法的應用，是獨立永恆，周行不殆。

鄭曼青宗師言：「太極不動手、吃虧即是佔便宜」，如太極十要的沉肩墜肘、含胸拔背⋯，從表面上看似「無為」、「無用」、「吃虧」其實是自然而為，也是達到「無所不為」、「大用」及「佔便宜」的途徑。吃虧與佔便宜、無為與無不為、無用與大用，藉由陰陽之變，彼此循環往復。