Mastering the Art of Taijiquan

Mastering The Art of Taijiquan

Insights into The Path The Practice The Patience The Art

Introduction

Taiji is one of the internal martial arts and is practiced by millions around the world. There are many Taiji Masters too numerous to count in China and throughout Asia. Fortunately there are a few Masters and Teachers who have relocated or traveled to different parts of the world in such countries as America, Europe to name a few. Mastering The Art of Taijiquan is written to help all those who having practiced Taiji and are trying to become masters of the Art. It sounds simple but in order to become a master, practitioners need a Master or Teacher who has mastered the art, and can share his knowledge and wisdom with those trying to reach the same level. Even with a Teacher one needs to do research on the classics in order to understand the principles until one can replicate them in their practice.

Writing Mastering the Art of Taijiquan tries to fill in the blanks of all those practitioners who have no teacher or master, who are trying to self teach themselves and those who have Teachers that have not yet reached the level of Masters of the art. The need for this book is predicated on the fact that Taiji and internal martial arts is a gigantic body of knowledge and requires training, research, understanding, a qualified Teacher and a lifetime of practice and patience. Mastering the Art of Taijiquan also realizes that there are a group of practitioners that are trying to reach higher levels of the art and need assistance, information and insight in order to progress to the next level. Also, Mastering the Art of Taijiquan requires one to study in order to learn what is required to become a master of the art. Mastering the Art of Taijiquan also was written in order for practitioners to understand that learning and practicing Taiji and internal martial arts is an ART and should be understood at that level with the goal in mind of progressing and evolving to the level of mastery and art, and not just as a health exercise or self-defense course. It is not easy to meet high level Masters who practice the art of Taiji as an art but in order to spur excellence and evolution of the art in the West one must understand that Taiji is an art. One must also take the inianative to grow and gain mastery in the art of Taijiquan.

Mastering the Art of Taijiquan also is written to help those who after practicing, trying to excel, and progress are missing vital information on how to progress to higher levels and correct their forms and practice. This is due to the secrecy of the art and its protection by its Masters and practitioners. Also Taiji is considered a secret art and there is a lot of confusion around what is shared and not shared amongst its practitioners who have paid the price to learn this precious art and treasure and should be served meat and not the milk. But this is part of the confusion because many practitioners overlook the secrets in plain sight, namely the classics that are available for all to see. So Mastering the Art of Taijiquan pushes these Classics to the forefront and lets practitioners know the secrets are in the Classics and the answers to their questions are in the Classics so it is imperative to clarify why one must look to the Classics just as one looks to the Teacher or Master. Unfortunately most practitioners in the West can’t have the best Teachers but that is no excuse, and no reason why all the lovers of the art cannot reach a high level. One should research, study and let us direct them to where the answers are located in order to help the practitioners evolve into masters for the Art’s sake. 

So writing this book is an attempt to foster more teachers and masters, to share vital information with its practitioners and lovers of the art. Also this book brings some important classic information together to assist all the practitioners who don’t have a Teacher teaching and explaining the essential points of Taiji that are required, needed and absorbed in order to self-cultivate their mind, body and energy, and reach a high level of expertise in the practice of Taiji. 

Mastering the Art of Taijiquan is an opportunity to help assist others to become Masters and appreciate the art and become lovers of the art. Mastering the Art of Taijiquan also answers questions such as, what you need to know to learn and practice Taiji and is Taiji and other internal gongfu styles a martial art. Mastering the Art of Taijiquan answers the question; Is martial arts only learned for fighting, is that the goal for internal martial art? What is the highest goal of martial arts and Taijiquan? These questions need to be answered so one can channel their ship to the distant shore for arts’ sake or for mastery. Renowned Taiji Master Cheng Man Ching stated: “To share good things with others is my true heart’s desire.” Delve in and enjoy for as we enter the door we are in a place for artists for arts’ sake! Remember Taijiquan is an ultimate art and we must learn as much as we can in order to excel and not be satisfied with low skills, we must seek the high mountain, the mastering of the art of Taijiquan!