Master Huang's 13 Questions and Answers
1. Are there different schools or sects of Taiji?
Taiji embodies a comprehensive set of knowledge, developed and handed down by our learned predecessor with mystifying principles and profound philosophical learnings....
2. How should we practice Taiji in order to reach accuracy?
The gap between accurate and non-accurate achievement is wide. Remember the words of the old master, Wang Tsung Yueh that the body must be naturally and vertically balanced.....
3. There are different forms of Taiji. Are the principles different?
The founder created the art. But through the years, the forms of Taiji have differed: some have 24 basic movements while others have 37; some have 64 set movements and some have 72 while others have 108 movements or even 124....
4. Is it better to practice Taiji more frequently or less frequently?
There are no extremes in Taiji. The essence is in the training method. If the method is not correct, it is no different from ordinary drills with a lot of time spent but relatively little achievement...
5. Is it correct to practice the art fast or to practice it slow?
The earth rotates at a constant and specific rate. Similarly, Taiji should not be practiced too slowly or too fast but should be practiced comfortably...
6. Is it correct to have either high or low postures in the set movements of Taiji?
The art of Taiji does not distinguish high and low postures, but is rather based on the idea of four "balances" or equilibriums:...
The muscles, the skeleton and the nerves are parts of the body system. When practicing the movements, the use of consciousness to sink and relax the body is most important....
8. How could the movements be practised in order that they can be usefully applied?
Take the five loosening (or relaxing) exercises as an illustration. These exercises are based on Taiji principles. During practice there must be full concentration since any distraction will nullify any effects...
9. What is the rationale for relaxing the abdomen and withdrawing the coccyx (or tailbone)?
Qi is stored in the Dan Tien as a result of using consciousness to sink the Qi to this point. From here Qi should circulate to the whole body....
10. What is the true spirit of Taiji?
Good and famous masters of Taiji teach the same stuff but students will learn differently. This is because students differ in natural endowment and physical make-up....
11. How many times must we practice the set movements everyday?
The important principle is moderation. The practicing technique must be correct in the first place....
A lot of students are using wrong learning and practicing technique. Students must start with understanding the Dao of philosophy, then the principles, then using the correct method and finally putting in the effort....
13. How should a student relate to his teacher?
In the present day, science is very advanced, affecting all aspects of human endeavor day by day....
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