Born in the ninth month of 1941, the eldest son of the third generation of Tung Family martial artists, there was never a time in his life when Master Tung Kai Ying was not learning Tai Chi Chuan. He began his formal training in the village at the age of six under the supervision of his uncle while his father, Master Tung Hu Ling, and grandfather, Master Tung Ying Chieh, were down south establishing their school. Fully immersing himself in his studies from the onset, he quickly proved that he was more than ready for the great task that lay before him.
When he reached the age of fourteen he was invited to come live with his grandfather in Hong Kong in order to receive deeper training in Tai Chi Chuan. It was there, in recognition of his clear ability and bright potential, that his grandfather gave him the honorary name of "Kai Ying," which in Cantonese means "Succeeding Ying" and plainly reveals the deep level of trust that existed between the great master and his young apprentice. The grateful Kai Ying spent the next several years in very close contact with his grandfather and learned his entire system of Tai Chi Chuan, not only how to practice and apply it, but how to teach it as well. He eventually came to preside over the majority of classes in Hong Kong at that time, often giving the bulk of instruction while his grandfather would quietly watch on from the side.
The final phase of his early training began in 1961, when his grandfather passed away and his father, Master Tung Hu Ling, returned to Hong Kong to assume the head position at the Gymnasium. In the following year, when it came time for Master Tung Hu Ling to go back to Singapore and Malaysia in order to resume the instruction of his many students there, he sent his son, Master Tung Kai Ying, in his stead. His students were deeply impressed by the enthusiasm and skill of their new teacher, and the size of the classes grew rapidly. Subsequently, Master Tung Kai Ying spent the next several years traveling back and forth between Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, continuously practicing and teaching, gaining invaluable experiences, and significantly deepening his insight into the meaning of the fist.
So by the time he arrived in Los Angeles, California, in 1971, Master Tung Kai Ying could not have been more prepared for the difficult task of bringing the traditional Chinese art of Tai Chi Chuan to the modern Western world. Initially earning a living as an acupuncturist, he set up classes in Los Angeles and San Francisco and began to build his initial layers of students. Immediately gaining the respect of the fledgling Tai Chi community of the Western States, he appeared on magazine covers and festival stages more than once and was well known for his elegant demonstrations, friendly displays of power, and open readiness to share what he knew. The number of students in his classes grew steadily as martial arts enthusiasts from all around came to see what they could learn from him.
Never one to dwell on his successes, Master Tung Kai Ying has simply continued to practice and teach, selflessly helping his students to find their strength. In 1984 he was invited on his first of many teaching trips to Europe, via Denmark and France, and in accpeting, opened the door to a fruitful relationship with yet another continent. Also in that same year he hosted his first of many intensive Tai Chi Chuan "camps" in the redwood forest just south of San Francisco. Here, dedicated students were given the opportunity to study Tai Chi Chuan in the traditional manner of living with the master and practicing several times a day.
Before long he was teaching in Italy and Scandinavia as well, all the while faithfully maintaining his Asian contacts and continuing to cultivate his ever-growing American school. His many students around the world began to number in the thousands. Students became teachers and began generating students of their own -- all held together by the Master's keen eye and strong guidance. From Hong Kong to Singapore and Thailand to Hawaii, from California to Colorado and Arizona to New England, from Sicily to Paris and Finland to Greece, Tung family Tai Chi Chuan has almost completely encircled the globe.
The full circuit was finally achieved in September of 1999 when Master Tung returned to his home town of Xing Tai, one of the oldest cities in China, with an entourage of 216 Western students from 8 different countries. There he was greeted with the highest honors from the mayor at a festival held in his name at the center of town. There were over 20,000 people in attendance, all eager to witness the return of the master. None were disappointed by the caliber of the demonstrations and the sincerity of the speeches. The mayor praised Master Tung not only for his supreme skill in the martial arts, but also for the invaluable service he has done the world by so effectively sharing and communicating the cultural wisdom of China.
Although still climbing towards the peak of his long and illustrious career, Master Tung Kai Ying has fully realized his grandfather's dream and successfully established the legitimate presence of Tai Chi Chuan on the world stage, entirely unabridged and unadulterated. Over the years, there have been many great practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan, but very few of them have been great teachers as well. Continuously radiating a calm and vital blend of modesty, confidence, joy and perseverance, he has touched and inspired countless lives with his steady and patient efforts. Many people who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to learn authentic Tai Chi Chuan, thanks to the considerable accomplishments of Master Tung and his family, are now able to enjoy the great fortune of its timeless gift.
-- by Christopher Kiely, Vermont
Related Links - Profiles Of Masters
Original article and pictures take www.tungkaiying.com site
Martial Arts Video - Star Wars Tai Chi - Character Animation
42 Movement Sword Form - Featuring Darth Vader
42太极剑 - 星球大战
Chi is the Chinese word meaning 'life force' - an energy created by all living beings. A Tai Chi master's strength flows from this FORCE.
Known for its health benefits, Tai Chi is in fact a martial art, evolved for combat over 4,000 years. The secret is inner calm, relaxed concentration and lethal precision.
Original article and pictures take s.ytimg.com site
Chacun d’entre nous peut bénéficier de l’apprentissage du Tai Chi. Cet art chinois ancien a été qualifié de «méditation en mouvement» et est connu pour prévenir et traiter de nombreux problèmes de santé, comme en attestent plusieurs études.
C’est une pratique qui se concentre sur les mouvements provenant du torse. Pourquoi est-ce important, et comment pouvons-nous perdre cette capacité lorsque nous vieillissons?
Voici un aperçu, présenté par Synerchi Publishing :
Un jeune maître Tai Chi a écrit que le but ultime de l’apprentissage du Tai Chi était de vivre à jamais dans la saison du printemps de votre vie. Le Tai Chi n’est pas simplement pour la longévité, c’est aussi pour la robustesse, même à un âge avancé. Les avantages pour la santé du Tai Chi Classique peuvent être vus sous différents angles et à différents niveaux, tous fortement liés à la pratique de la discipline interne.
Lorsqu’on étudie les mouvements des très jeunes enfants, nous voyons que leurs mouvements de bras et de jambes proviennent souvent de leur torse, leurs mouvements sont détendus et sans tension. Quand nous vieillissons nos mouvements ont tendance à se concentrer sur nos bras, nos jambes et nos épaules et moins sur notre torse: il commence également à y avoir une tension et une raideur dans nos mouvements. Peu à peu, nous perdons le contact avec le torse. Nous ne pouvons que faire que des mouvements simples, mais pas de mouvements subtils, complexes et puissants que le torse est intrinsèquement capable de faire. Nous parlons de la dextérité des mains ou des pieds, ne sachant pas que le torse peut être capable d’avoir autant de dextérité, mais nous pensons au torse comme une partie inutile du corps.
Nous voyons souvent la marche des personnes âgées avec un changement de la marche-mouvement qui ne se prolonge plus dans le torse. Avec tous les principaux organes et le système circulatoire complexe situés au niveau du torse, on comprend facilement l’effet défavorable de l’inaction et de la stagnation du torse sur la santé du corps. On peut affirmer que l’apparition de la rigidité cadavérique interne précède réellement la mort!
Si vous souhaitez conserver la jeunesse des systèmes internes du corps, vous devez apprendre à déclencher les mouvements du noyau interne du corps, à cultiver l’énergie interne de votre corps. Une fois que nous sommes en mesure de retrouver notre connexion avec le torse, notre corps commence à fonctionner plus efficacement, ce qui entraîne une meilleure santé.
Apprendre à canaliser son énergie, retrouver une harmonie avec soi-même et avec le monde, voilà ce que propose cette discipline ancestrale. Les bienfaits du Tai Chi Chuan sont doubles. Recommandé pour ses vertus relaxantes, cette pratique agit également en profondeur sur l’organisme. Yves Blanc, professeur à l’école de style Yang originel nous éclaire sur ce qui est à la fois « un art martial, une gymnastique et une méditation ».
Comme une gym douce, il agit sur la souplesse des articulations et le tonus musculaire. Il permet de mieux coordonner les mouvements dans l’espace. Selon Yves Blanc, il s’agit de « retrouver un équilibre en accord avec les rythmes de la nature ».
A la fin d’une séance, on éprouve une sensation de chaleur et de bien-être. A long terme, on se sent plus alerte, mieux en forme. Pour trouver le mouvement juste, une position tenue sans effort, on doit travailler en total relâchement. Le travail respiratoire enseigne à bien placer son diaphragme et à conduire son souffle. Les mouvements réalisés en étirements apportent souplesse, tonicité, renforcent les tendons et les muscles.
Bien qu’aucune étude scientifique ne puisse réellement appuyer ces propos, une pratique régulière du Taï chi apporte de nombreux bienfaits, tant sur le plan physique que sur le plan psychique.
Bienfaits physiques :
– Travail sur la posture et l’équilibre.
– Contrôle de la respiration et harmonisation avec les mouvements du corps.
– Amélioration de la souplesse grâce aux étirements.
– Décontraction des tensions lombaires.
– Entretien des amplitudes articulaires.
Bienfaits Psychologiques :
– Meilleure gestion des situations de stress.
– Relaxation et détente.
– Amélioration de la concentration et de la mémoire (mémorisation de l’enchaînement des mouvements).
La pratique du Tai Chi Chuan
Aucune aptitude particulière n’est requise. Adolescents ou personnes âgées, tous peuvent se laisser tenter par cet art martial qui n’utilise pas la force brute comme valeur première. Enchaînements de mouvements souples et de postures précises incarnés dans une espèce de combat dansé au ralenti, le Tai Chi Chuan se concentre autour « d’une mise en mouvements doux et d’étirements légers et constants », rappelle Yves Blanc, professeur à l’école de style Yang originel. Mais attention aux apparences : « Les gens arrivent avec l’idée qu’on se fait du bien facilement. Il faut travailler. Le plus important dans l’apprentissage du Tai Chi Chuan c’est l’observation et l’humilité.
In this tai chi video Bruce Frantzis talks about his experience learning tai chi with T.T. Liang. Who was an amazing man and teacher of tai chi who loved life and tai chi.
Bruce took his 1st class with T.T Liang is 1972 in Boston, Ma.
They studied pushing hands, free fighting, sword form system and his 2 man set.
T.T had a love of life and continued to learn throughout.
To join Bruce's tai chi list goto: https://energyarts.leadpages.net/tai-... “Energy Arts is dedicated to offering the most comprehensive tai chi, qigong (chi gung), internal martial arts, breathing and meditation programs on the planet.”
Original article and pictures take s.ytimg.com site
If you want to learn tai chi, you’ve found the most comprehensive system in the West for starting and advancing your practice!
Tai chi is a miracle health exercise with applications as a powerful martial art and effective form of moving meditation. We hope you discover for yourself how this wonderful, gentle art can change your life.
Click into any of the following six articles written by Bruce to get started now. Additionally, you can sign up for Bruce’s mailing list to receive his FREE Tai Chi SecretsReportwith more in-depth information for serious students:
Practicing the Wu Style Tai Chi short form at the beach Original article and pictures take www.energyarts.com site
