Everett Tai Chi Chuan
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Everett Tai Chi Chuan
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Classes, etc.
Tueday Tai Chi classes are from 7-8:30 pm at Bally Total Fitness located at 7621 Evergreen Way in Everett at the Cascade Plaza. Non-members are welcome and classes are ongoing so beginners and advanced students train simultaneously. The fee is $8 per class.
Thursday night Tai Chi class is at the Everett Community College Gymnasium from 7-9 p.m. during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Click on the Everett Chiropractic Center site below and follow the "Helpful Links" link to contact the college for registration information.
What is taught: Hand Form, Push Hands, Self-defense Applications, Spear Form, and Chi Kung (Immortal Family Eight Pieces Brocade)
Personal Tuition is available by appointment. The rate is $45 per hour.
Practice is FREE. The whole purpose of teaching is to have people to train with.
I do the Long Round Hand Form, both the left and the right, the left and right Spear and Sabre Forms each morning at roughly 8 a.m. in Legion Park, when I can (weather permiting and I am in town). If you are interested in watching or participating feel free to join me. (Send me an email to find out if I will be there.)
Contact information:
Email: DDilday239@aol.com
Cell: (509) 429-0518
Home: (425) 259-5932
Office (425) 348-5207
Mail: 1513 - 51st Place SW
Everett, WA 98203-1667
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Tai Chi Chuan, The 5 Pillars & The Styles of the Long Hand Form
For the most part everything written here about Tai Chi Chuan came directly from the writings of either my teacher or his teacher, Master Cheng Tin-hung. (Any inaccuracies or errors are probably my misunderstandings or mistakes.)
Tai Chi Chuan is the ancient Chinese system of exercise and self-defense developed by the Taoist Chang San Feng. Chang had already learned other Taoist martial arts in existence since the Tang Dynasty (617-907 AD). He combined his practice of these martial arts with the study of Taoist philosophy creating a martial art or “Chuan” based on the theory of Yin and Yang (Tai Chi).
One of the greatest Tai Chi Chuan masters was Yang Lu Chan (1799-1872 AD) who, during the Ching Dynasty, served as the Chief Combat Instructor of the Manchu Imperial Guard. He practiced Tai Chi Chuan for many years and his fighting ability earned him the nickname “Invincible Yang”.
This ancient system simultaneously gives you strength, flexibility, endurance, coordination, as well as balance. The mental focus, concentration and deep rhythmic breathing provide the meditative experience of a calm, relaxed mind and body. Health and longevity result from training in the popular slow Hand Form. Martial skills, including deep awareness and sensitivity, develop out of the more athletic Push Hands drills, Self-defense Applications, Weapons training, and Internal Strength exercises.
Our focus is on integrating the soft and hard aspects, focusing on the practical application of Tai Chi Chuan principles - in self-defense and in applying and responding to the forces encountered in life and in relating to other people.
The “Five Pillars” of Tai Chi Chuan
(The Traditional Tai Chi Chuan syllabus)
The Hand Form - 119 postures/movements, which are performed in a set sequence, each posture or “Style” having many possible self-defense applications. Slow, gentle practice of the Hand Form - concentrating on the movements - will result in a tranquil mind and relaxed body. Regular practice improves respiration, balance, coordination, strength, flexibility and endurance.
Pushing Hands - a variety of two-person drills which train the methods of applying techniques to disrupt an opponent's balance, increase sensitivity and improve reactions. These drills are designed to train coordination, footwork, balance, distance and timing as well as other skills or concepts.
Self-Defense - modified techniques taken from the Hand & Weapons Forms. Practice of the techniques produces reflex responses and focus. This is where the Strategy and the Tactics of Tai Chi Chuan are integrated into practical application. The two major principles of Tai Chi Chuan self-defense strategy are using stillness to defeat motion, and using softness to defeat hardness. To accomplish this there are Thirteen Tactics, which combine the Five Steps with the Eight Powers or eight different ways of using force. The Five Step Path is the strategic approach to using the Thirteen Tactics in close quarters and includes the concepts of Adhering to the opponent, staying Connected and Continuous in the movements, maintaining Softness of touch and feel as appropriate, Following or Yielding in reponse to an opponents actions, and not using brute force against an opponent’s force.
Internal Strength - meditation combined with exercise designed to increase health and strength, and produce a well-coordinated body that is full of energy. There are 24 Internal Strength exercises, 12 Yin and 12 Yang. The Yin exercises are designed to develop our health and physique; the Yang set increases our power and physical strength.
Weapons - The three weapons used in Tai Chi Chuan are the Straight Sword, Sabre and Spear. The techniques of the Weapon Forms can be adapted for combat purposes in the same way as the techniques of the Hand Form. Training in weapons is quite different than other components of Tai Chi Chuan yet all the principles are the same and the result is overall improvement in all aspects of practice. Tradition has it that the Spear takes 100 days of practice to learn while developing Wisdom; the Sabre takes 1000 days of practice to learn proficiently and cultivates Resolve; the Sword takes 10,000 days and nourishes the Chi.
The Styles of the Long Hand Form
1. The Ready Style
2. The Beginning of the Form of Tai Chi VA/EA
3. Form of Seven Stars
4. Grasping the Bird’s Tail
5. The Single Whip
6. Flying Oblique
7. Raise Hands and Step Up /SSL/DSL/BA
8. White Crane Flaps it’s Wings
9. Brush Knee Twist Step
10. Form of Seven Stars Left
11. Brush Knee Twist Step
12. Form of Seven Stars Left
13. Stroke the Lute
14. Step Up, Parry and Punch
15. As if Shutting a Door
16. Embrace Tiger & Return to Mountain
17. Cross Hands
18. Oblique Brush Knee Twist Step
19. Turn Body, Brush Knee Twist Step
20. Form of Seven Stars
21. Grasping the Bird’s Tail
22. Oblique Single Whip
23. Fist Under Elbow
24. Step Back & Repulse Monkey
25. Flying Oblique low/high
26. Raise Hand & Step Up
27. White Crane Flaps its Wings
28. Brush Knee Twist Step
29. Form of Seven Stars Left
30. Needle at Sea Bottom
31. Fan Through The Back
32. Turn Body Throw Fist
33. Step Back, Parry & Punch reverse 7 stars
34. Step Up, Grasping the Bird’s Tail
35. The Single Whip
36. Wave Hands in Cloud
37. The Single Whip
38. Left Pat the Horse High SH/TEH
39. Body Facing Left Side
40. Right Separate Legs
41. Right Pat the Horse High
42. Body Facing Right Side
43. Raise Left Leg and Kick in Curve
44. Pivot Body on Heel and Kick with Heel
45. Brush Knee Twist Step
46. Step Forward and Punch
47. Turn body Throw Fist
48. Step Up, Left High Pat the Horse
49. Body Facing Left Side
50. Raise Right Leg and Kick in Curve
51. Step Back and Form of Seven Stars
52. Step Back to Beat the Tiger
53. Side Facing and Kick
54. Box the Fists
55. Body Facing Right Side
56. Raise Left Leg and Kick in Curve
57. Pivot Body on Heel and Kick with Heel
58. Swing the Fist
59. Step Up Parry and Punch
60. As if Shutting a Door
61. Embrace tiger and Return to Mountain
62. Cross Hands
63. Oblique Brush Knee Twist Step
64. Turn Body Brush Knee Twist Step
65. Form of Seven Stars
66. Grasping the Bird’s Tail
67. Oblique Single Whip
68. Form of Seven Stars
69. Wild Horse Parting Mane
70. Form of Seven Stars
71. Wild Horse Parting Mane
72. Form of Seven Stars
73. Wild Horse Parting Mane
74. Fair Lady Works at the Shuttle
75. Form of Seven Stars
76. Wild Horse Parting Mane
77. Fair Lady Works at Shuttle
78. Form of Seven Stars
79. Grasping the Bird’s Tail
80. The Single Whip
81. Wave Hands in Cloud
82. The Single Whip
83. Snake Creeps Down
84. Goldern Cockerel Stands on One Leg WSSOIT
85. Step Back and Repulse Monkey
86. Step Aside, Flying Oblique
87. Raise Hands and Step Up
88. White Crane Flaps its Wings
89. Brush Knee, Twist Step
90. Form of Seven Stars Left
91. Needle at Sea Bottom
92. Fan Through the Back
93. Throw Fist
94. Step Up, Parry and Punch
95. Step Up, Grasping the Bird’s Tail
96. The Single Whip
97. Wave Hands in Clouds
98. The Single Whip (3)
99. High Pat the Horse
100. Slap the Face
101. Turn Body - Lotus Leg Cross
102. Brush Knee Twist Step
103. Step Up, Punch to the Groin
104. Step Up, Grasping the Bird’s Tail
105. The Single Whip
106. Snake Creeps Down
107. Step Up - Seven Stars
108. Step Back, to Ride the Tiger
109. Turn Body - Slap the Face
110. Turn Body - Swing Leg
111. Curve Bow to Shoot Tiger
112. Left High Pat the Horse
113. Slap on the Face
114. Turn Body - Throw Fist
115. Step Up, High Pat the Horse
116. Step Up, Grasping the Bird’s Tail
117. The Single Whip
118. Yin & Yang are in Harmony & Become One
119. Completion
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Our Lineage & The Latest Research (Or some of it)
Dr. Dilday has been a student of health and fitness for over 35 years, a practicing doctor of chiropractic for over 25 years; and a Tai Chi Chuan practitioner for 15 years.
His teacher: Sifu Dan Docherty, London, England, 1980 South East Asia, Open Weight Martial Arts Champion; co-author, of Wutan Tai Chi Chuan (1983); author of Complete Tai Chi Chuan (1997, 2001), and Instant Tao, The Tai Chi Chuan Discourse and Canon (1995), Dan served as an inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force from 1975-84.
His teacher: Master Cheng Tin-hung, Hong Kong, 1956 South East Asia Middleweight Martial Arts Champion; author of several texts on Tai Chi Chuan in Chinese as well as Tai Chi Sabre, Sword, Spear (1990) and co-author of Wutan Tai Chi (1983)
About Master Cheng
Preface to An Intensive Examination into Tai Chi Chuan by Cheng Tin-hung
Reprinted from Instant Tao Volume 1, by Dan Docherty © Cheng Tin-hung 1961 & Dan Docherty 1995
My grandfather's personal name was Lin, and he was proficient in Southern Boxing which he taught for a living. Our deceased father, (Cheng) Min-cheung would teach us this boxing when we had finished our chores. When we grew older, our uncle (Cheng) Wing-kwong took an interest in me.
He put all his effort into practicing the art of Tai Chi Chuan and Tai Chi Nei Kung (Internal Strength) and his character was well-suited to this endeavour. Training day and night, he gradually absorbed the art, hoping to make himself outstanding amongst persons in the same field and so he would not feel himself to be pitiable even if it took him many years to achieve his goal. Though gradually to some extent successful, he had still not achieved perfection.
In midsummer 1946, he luckily met Master Zhi Meng (this is a Buddhist name meaning Sagacious Elder). The Master‘s secular name was Qu, and given name was Min-xuan. He was from Wen County, Hebei Dao in Henan Province. He was well versed in the art of Tai Chi Chuan and the mysteries of Nei Kung. I felt very grateful that my Master, when he visited Hong Kong, took a special interest in me and taught me all that he knew. When the Master taught me, he constantly emphasised the practical application of the art. He himself would act as my opponent and order me to make use of Tai Chi Chuan techniques to dissolve his attacks and furthermore to hit back at him. At that time I was in the prime of life being young and vigorous. I found his methods to be deeply interesting. Morning and night I stayed with him under a relentless discipline, eager to obtain his secrets.
In the first month of winter 1948, he travelled North. When on the point of going, he told me that the original purpose of Tai Chi was to pay attention to Following (i.e. moving in concert with the actions of the opponent) therefore the external appearance does not emphasise daring and ferocity. Furthermore, recent generations of the well-known Tai Chi families do not want to transmit the teaching of the practical application of the method and as a result of this, successful men are few. This makes people despise Tai Chi Chuan.
He went on to say to me that if I wanted to gain a reputation in this art, not only must I be sound in mind and body, but also able to defend myself properly; because of this and to allow the art to be transmitted to more people and develop, he said he did not dare keep anything secret from me.
Though I was ashamed of not being diligent and skilful enough and of not yet attaining perfection, however, I must follow my teacher's instructions to spread Tai Chi Chuan to benefit the physical and mental health of students and particularly to help them to understand the application of the techniques. I dare not be arrogant, if learned men come to teach me, I regard myself as very fortunate indeed. This is the Preface.
1961, 4th day of the 5th Month, written by Cheng Tin-hung from Zhong Shan in Kowloon.
Chang San-feng, various masters, Yang Lu-chan, Yang pan-hou, Wu Jian quan, Cheng Wing-kwock, Ching Yat, Qi Min-xuan, Cheng Tin Hung, Dan Docherty....
An Abstract from a Recent Comprehensive Review Article
Arch Intern Med, Vol. 164 No. 5, Pages 493-501, March 8, 2004
The Effect of Tai Chi on Health Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Conditions; A Systematic Review, Chenchen Wang, MD, MSc; Jean Paul Collet, MD, PhD; Joseph Lau, MD
Objective: To conduct a systematic review of reports on the physical and psychological effects of Tai Chi on various chronic medical conditions.
Data Sources: Search of 11 computerized English and Chinese databases.
Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled studies, and observational studies published in English or Chinese.
Data Extraction: Data were extracted for the study objective, population characteristics, study setting, type of Tai Chi intervention, study design, outcome assessment, duration of follow-up, and key results.
Data Synthesis: There were 9 randomized controlled trials, 23 nonrandomized controlled studies, and 15 observational studies in this review. Benefits were reported in balance and strength, cardiovascular and respiratory function, flexibility, immune system, symptoms of arthritis, muscular strength, and psychological effects.
Conclusions: Tai Chi appears to have physiological and psychosocial benefits and also appears to be safe and effective in promoting balance control, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness in older patients with chronic conditions. However, limitations or biases exist in most studies, and it is difficult to draw firm conclusions about the benefits reported. Most indications in which Tai Chi was applied lack a theoretical foundation concerning the mechanism of benefit. Well-designed studies are needed.
From the Center for Clinical Evidence Synthesis, Division of Clinical Care Research, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, Mass (Drs Wang and Lau); and Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec (Dr Collet). The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article.
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