The purpose of this practice is the development of the Mind, with work on the body gradually leading us to expand our field of consciousness.
The necessary precision of movement is only the external part of the work, and only the first stage. Concentrating on the sensations leads the mind to detach itself from the movement itself, in order to apprehend its source and act upon it.
Practising Taiji can lead to agility useful as a martial art. As its philosophy is based on the notion of non-resistance, we learn to yield to our partner's intention, and then neutralize their force so as to issue it in return
However, this elastic force (Jing) is difficult to implement: faced with an attack, the untrained person reacts by contracting in order to oppose a stabilizing force.
The yield-neutralize-issue cycle can therefore only be learned slowly, with concentration and constant improvement leading to spontaneous movement. The next step is to apply these principles in everyday life.
During the preparatory exercises, the practitioner listens to the sensations provoked by the movement in order to gradually detect its sources.
Every movement requires an alternation of muscular contraction and relaxation, preceded by changes in the joints.
Awareness of these changes helps to improve relaxation, fluidify the body and finely modify its alignment.
The essence of Taiji is working on the Form (a sequence of codified movements). It's worked slowly at first, listening to the internal forces (Qi) inherent in the movements. We offer :
The presence of a partner during Pushing Hands (Tui Shou) enables to deepen one’s sensitivity by being receptive to the partner's intention (Yi)
After feeling the effect and exercising one's own intention, applications are used to test one's ability to generate an elastic force (Jing), the result of work carried out during the practice of Taiji Forms. The use of rough forces has no place here.
Each class ends with a meditation, either standing or seated (8 paths, 5 clouds...). The absence of movement isolates the sensations sharpened by previous work.
Deep concentration on the internal senses enables the Deep Mind (Shen) to awaken as external sensations fade away.
Frédéric Gilles started martial arts studying Karate in 1978. Seeking a more traditional form of teaching, he met Bui Xuan Quang in 1982, who proposed a Karate-Do combining research into energy, sensitivity and communication without giving up efficiency. At the same time, he began learning Taiji Quan with the same teacher.
His encounter in 1992 with Patrick Kelly, who had undertaken to disseminate Master Huang's teaching in Europe, changed his vision of Tai Chi.
After 10 years of intensive practice, Frédéric decided to share his experience while continuing to follow Patrick Kelly's teaching.
Myriam
(2002)
Matthew
(2003)
Olivier
(2009)
(have been practising Taiji since the date shown)