Articles and Other Writing

March 15, 2017

Using Tai Chi for Relaxation in Daily Life

Most of us who practice Tai Chi are well-aware of how relaxing it can be – WHILE we are practicing it! What does it take to […]
March 15, 2017

The Elusiveness of Traditional Chinese Teaching

The way Tai Chi and other martial arts have traditionally been taught in China has often raised some eyebrows in the West. Let’s try to understand […]
March 15, 2017

Tai Chi’s “Hidden” Secrets

In every martial art, people search for the “secrets” – the elusive techniques that are shrouded in mystery. But in Tai Chi, these “hidden” skills aren’t […]
March 15, 2017

How Long Does It Take to Learn Tai Chi Form?

This week’s question comes from an anonymous inquirer, who asks, “How long does it take to learn Tai Chi?” That is a relative question. The first […]
March 15, 2017

What Made Cheng Man-Ch’ing So Brilliant and Influential to So Many People?

Here is a question from Rachel in Michigan. She asks: “Having met the man himself, (Professor Cheng Man-Ch’ing) what do you think made him so brilliant […]
March 15, 2017

What should you think about when you do Tai Chi?

I suppose if I was the kind of teacher who enjoyed being cryptic,I could simply answer this question with “so much, and yet, so little!” But, […]
February 28, 2016

Tai Chi Chuan As Meditation

In order to understand Tai Chi Chuan as meditation, it is first necessary to have a working definition of meditation. This obtained, we can see how […]
February 20, 2016

One Way of Practicing Form

 The quality of one’s Tai Chi form practice is dependent upon many factors. One important ability to cultivate, for instance, is that of letting your attention […]
February 18, 2016

The Nature of Push Hands Competition in America

The person who is able to physically dominate the opponent within the framework of the rules wins the push hands match. Sounds simple right? Wrong. The […]
February 17, 2016

Taoism and Tai Chi Chuan

Outside of Confucianism, Taoism is probably the most important and influential school of thought native to China. In almost direct contrast to the solemn gravity and […]
February 16, 2016

Why Do You Practice Tai Chi?

Why do you practice Tai Chi? Do you know? Do you remember? Why do you still practice it now? When was the last time you asked […]
February 15, 2016

Ten Essential Points of Practice for Tai Chi Chuan

William C. Phillips No matter how long we may have been practicing Tai Chi Chuan, be it weeks, months, years, or decades, these ten points are […]