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| Subject:
Jingdao Yen-nien daoguan Belgium. |
Author:
Carl Bruyndonckx(卜凱爾) |
Upload time:
2008-03-25 15:27:47 |
Content:
Jingdao Yen-nien daoguan Belgium.
How it started
In many western countries, taijiquan is known by the large public for the last decennia. Also Belgium - a small country in Europe with the neighbours France, Germany, the Netherlands and the overseas neighbour England – didn’t escape from this movement (luckily).
I - Carl Bruyndonckx – had to stop by force of circumstance now 12 years ago with mountaineering and alpinism. But didn’t remain seated and I went looking for an exercise with which I could stay in shape and healthy, an exercise that did not harm my body anymore. For a long time I had interest in the East and particularly in the mysterious country China. It was therefore to be expected that I would start my quest here, not least because I have heard a lot of good and had saw - on television - of the "Chinese gymnastics' (taijiquan), as it was called here those days. The images of thousands of Chinese people practicing taijiquan in the morning are still very alive and have left a lasting impression to me. The decision was quickly made and I began to study taijiquan. Like almost everybody I started with taijiquan in a room next to a fitness-center, it was there that my journey in taijiquan started with a 24-form if I still remember it correctly. After practicing this style for a few months, I felt that there has to be more than just external slow movements. A deeper investigation was necessary, a new world opened up for me, a world of qi, yin yang and other - strange - Chinese terms. And also that taijiquan a martial art was, not an external art with spectacular external movements as reflected in 'shaolin quan', but an internal art. An art which uses internal energy and softness. During this quest the masters of the taijiquan appeared on the scene especially those of the Yang family. Changing to a traditional long style, the ‘Yang-style 108 movements’, continued the taijiquan journey.
After studying this style for several years, I came in contact - during a trip to Taiwan in 2003 - with the Yen-nien daoguan in Taipei, where I had the pleasure to meet Master Wang Yen-nien and members of his staff. Following a number of tuishou classes that time, has led to this present day that the trip to Taiwan has become an annual tradition. This to obtain a further deepening in taijiquan in general and in the Yang Jia Michuan Tajiquan system particularly.
The daoguan
In Belgium taijiquan is mainly given by leisure and fitness-centers.
Schools with only taijiquan lessons are not very thick sown in Belgium. Because the main objectives of today's taijiquan are health, relaxation and balance, it frequently happened that a mix of ‘taiji’ with relaxation-health exercises is offered. Little or no principles of taijiquan can be found here. Another unfortunate development is taiji as a sport. Competition pressure is a worldwide phenomenon also this art can’t escape from it. Soon we will see in 'Beijing 2008 Olympic games', acrobats practicing taiji. Externally almost perfect, but without control of the inner principles. Contests are not equal to working with a partner. They result in superiority feelings or inferiority feelings. In addition, this approach creates a high threshold for the newcomers. The exercise evokes fear, confrontation and resistance. Tuishou is then discarded on the side with disapprove: "We do not do that", which is unfortunately the proverbial ‘throw the baby away with the bathwater.’
To keep the age-old tradition and family legacy of the Yang-family alive in all its aspects. 'Jingdao taiji-school' was founded in September 2006 by three enthusiastic taijiquan practitioners (Pascale, Marc, and Carl). With the aim to teach and to promote traditional taijiquan and in all its aspects. The trip to Taipei that year and Yen-nien daoguan has resulted in switching the taiji-switch from the 'traditional Yang-style 108 movements' to the 'Yangjia michuan taijiquan' system. A few months later 'Jingdao taiji-school' came a great honour, we were allowed to change our name in 'Jingdao Yen-nien daoguan Belgium’. This had also an impact for the content of the lessons; the basic exercises from the 'Yang jia michuan taijiquan' were immediately introduced to the students after the return from Taiwan. To get the students the necessary basis, a correct posture, the correct positioning of the feet, coordinating the breath with the movements, and obtaining and maintaining a flexible and elastic body without disadvantageous effects.
During instruction, the focus is on relaxation. Not only the relaxation of the physical body but also the calming of the mind. We all know that stress - which many Westerner are exposed to - causes your mind to race, to tense up muscles and your body to issue its ‘fight or flight’ response, depressing the immune system. These effects increase the risk of accidents, physical injuries and disease. Instead, the students are encouraged to use 'soft' to overcome 'hard' and gentleness to defeat aggression. The textual representation of taijiquan we find back in form of the taiji-classics, where during the instruction frequently linked to. Thus we find the above principle 'soft' to overcome 'hard' as follows back by Laozi:
""The soft and the pliable will defeat the hard and strong."
If one uses hardness to resist violent force, then both sides are certain to be injured at least to some degree. Such injury, according to taiji-theory, is a natural consequence of meeting brute force with brute force. The collision of two like forces, yang with yang, is known as "double-weighted" in taiji-terminology. Instead, students are taught not to directly fight or resist an incoming force, but to meet it in softness and "stick" to it, following its motion while remaining in physical contact until the incoming force of attack exhausts itself or can be safely redirected, the result of meeting yang with yin. Done correctly, achieving this yin/yang or yang/yin balance in combat (and, by extension, other areas of one's life) is known as being "single-weighted" and is a primary goal of taijiquan practice.
An important part in the study of taijiquan is the ‘Yang-jia michuan taijiquan-form’ this broad range of consecutive slow movements are performed without the use of hard muscle force. By accurately and repeatedly practicing the 'Yang jia michuan Taijiquan-form' is the correct postures retain, and the flow of qi is encouraged through the organisms. The flexibility of the joints is maintained and the students are more familiar with the applications of the movements in the 'Yang jia michuan taijiquan-form. "
This principle - not to use hard muscle power - to exercise with a partner, the students taught in tuishou.
If tuishou is placed in a correct perspective – that of “finding the middle” and “discovering blockades with your partner and yourself” - then it really as a control and guide to the claims on the inner path. Nobody wins or loses, everyone learns! In essence, this is an indispensable part of the instruction. It is important as instructor to be constantly open to more knowledge and life wisdom to receive. One can be a good instructor if we are self a good student. Giving instruction is give and take this creates a dialogue between instructor and student. This same dialogue we can find in the practice of tuishou. But also continue to apply, it is everyday life.
Applying t恷ij覉 principles in daily life activities increases the benefits that the art can offer. She encourages mental and physical relaxation and allows tensions to flow away when they appear. Stagnations in the energy system caused by stress and a false body line will be effectively removed. This in turn allows the q罱 much freer to circulate inside the body. By integrating taijiquan in the physical aspect of our lives our operations will improve by flexibility, balance and harmony. The students will be more centered, balanced and stable feeling. It also aims to encourage flexibility and coordination. Thus taijiquan is ideal for those who wish to improve their mobility. A greater awareness of your body will also help to execute simple daily movements more efficient. Instead of excessive force to be used, the principles permit to use less effort to achieve the same result. So you can move with the same intention and result, but you retain your energy and use them more efficiently. This means that you can cut down on your efforts and at the end of a long day you will be less tired.
Taijiquan is a very subtle art, where detail is essential. It must be taught properly; otherwise, the essence will be lost and precious time wasted. As a proverb from the taiji-classics formulates:
“Being off by a hair's breath is to miss by a thousand miles”
While taijiquan has the external expression of a marshal art, it can be said that the main advantages by practicing Yang-jia michuan taijiquan and taijiquan in general can be found in a good health and longevity. Everyone is welcome at 'Jingdao Yen-nien daoguan Belgium' to practice Yang-jia michuan taijiquan regardless of gender or age. From this philosophy already workshops are created for people with disabilities and special classes for youth. Even though 'Jingdao Yen-nien daoguan Belgium' doesn't exist that long, in anyway, the instructors weekly welcome a 40 students - from 10 till 65 years old in various groups - and guide them on their journey in Yang-jia michuan taijiquan.
Taijiquan is the path to internal development and a long life. Taijiquan differs from medicine, which only focused on healing of a specific part of the body. It does not have the shortcomings of meditation, which, although qi is brought in operation, the body is not practiced. It is a form of self-defense and can make the body strong. This exercise provides a hundred benefits without harmful effect.
With these words 'Jingdao Yen-nien daoguan Belgium' wants to wish anyone who practiced taijiquan good luck on their journey.
Carl Bruyndonckx
卜凱爾
Edegem (Belgium)
January 5, 2008
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