The Official magazine of Wu’s Tai Chi Chuan Academy, Bethnal Green(The Original Wu’s Tai Chi Chuan Academy for London, the U.K. and Europe)

Volume 6 Issue 1 October 2013

SLANT FLYING

Fire

LI

Water

KAN

Earth

KUN

Moun

tain

KEN

Lake

TUI

Thun

der

CHEN

Heaven

CHEN

Wind

SUN

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CONTENTSPortugal Jason Pratt 2Gradings 3Our better selves Karen Dabrowska 4Autumn Residential 5London Competition 2013 Mirilee Pearl 6Competition pictures 8The empty mind Timea Eathorne 9With a little help from my friends Fiona Anderson 10Paradise practice Mirilee Pearl 11Chi Tea at Tai Chi Sam Leon 12Unofficial guide to every day tai chi Sam Leon 13Back cover picture Fiona Anderson 14

Front Cover:

The front cover shows the Later Heaven (also known as the King Wen) arrangement of the eight trigrams. This sequence shows the cycle of change, growth and decay of the seasons or in relation to nature. It is often referred to as the World of Phenomena of the Senses, emphasising feeling and intuition. It is relatively more complex than the Earlier Heaven Sequence

I took this picture while on Holiday in Portugal and had only started Tai Chi in October of 2010. It was an over-cast day, blissfully quiet, just perfect conditions to go outside and practice between the trees and nature.

It was a warm day. I had already bought some Tai Chi music and had it on my iPhone. I popped on my headphones and lis-tened to the music while slowly practicing my Ch-uan. I must have been

outside for about 40 minutes, just going over what I had learned over the last 6 months.

I had a very turbulent 2010 in terms of health and it led me to seek out different forms of physical exercise.

The combined medical benefits of Tai Chi for blood circulation and core strength was the per-fect form of exercise for me. It didn’t take me very long to realise that Tai Chi is nothing like other forms of martial arts that I have tried.

I have taken on Tai Chi as more a way of life than just a martial art and the meditative proper-ties of Tai Chi breathing really help to calm and focus me.

So when I took this picture I wanted it to portray how I was feeling to you the reader. Peace.

Jason Pratt

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GRADINGSCONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY GRADED

October 2013 Grzegorz Janukowski RedOctober 2013 Valentina Picchi Red

May 2013 Davide D’Alto YellowMay 2013 Dominic Morris YellowMay 2013 Mark Spencer YellowApril 2013 Michael Ho YellowApril 2013 Orit Gal YellowApril 2013 Davide D’Alto RedApril 2013 Joe Kane RedApril 2013 Mark Spencer Red

February 2013 Michael Ho RedNovember 2012 Robert Wymer YellowNovember 2012 Mark Reeve RedOctober 2012 Andy Salt GreenOctober 2012 David Muller GreenOctober 2012 Fiona Anderson GreenOctober 2012 Luke Deefholts GreenOctober 2012 Mike Selby GreenOctober 2012 Nicole Lomas GreenOctober 2012 Richard Davies GreenOctober 2012 Stefanie Sachsenmaier Green

September 2012 Everton Green BlueSeptember 2012 Jono Podmore BlueSeptember 2012 Piers Wallace BlueSeptember 2012 Samuel Leon BlueSeptember 2012 Timea Eathorne BlueSeptember 2012 Benoit Audureau WhiteSeptember 2012 KyungRan Ko WhiteSeptember 2012 Dominic Morris RedSeptember 2012 Robert Wymer Red

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Tai Chi: Presenting our best selvesRegardless of our experiences during the day most of us manage to concentrate when we come to the academy. The warm-ups relax our muscles, the meditation helps to free our minds from an endless stream of thoughts and the martial arts applications sharpen our awareness. Studying the form is always a challenge but when we finally go through it at the end of the class our mind is brought to stillness and we leave the academy with a profound sense of peace in harmony with the God of our hearts, the God of our realization.

But coming to the academy and giving the practice of Tai Chi our undivided attention is only half the story. When we come to the academy we are presenting ourselves – our unvarnished selves. It does not matter what letters we may, or may not, have in front of our name, what we do for a living, whom we know, which planets square our moon. What matters is our willingness to learn, to develop, to contribute and to share what we know with our fellow students.

When presenting our unvarnished selves it is incumbent on us to present our best selves. This means over and above our Tai Chi practice we have to put our lives in order and eliminate any negativity which clouds our mind. This can range from minor matters like keeping our house tidy, creating a positive environment, making sure we greet and appreciate all the fellow travellers on lifes journey, to major concerns like relationship issues, ensuring we are in the right job and serving our community – making a difference is a tall order but at least we should ensure that we do no harm and that no one is worse off for having come into contact with us.

Only our 100 percent is good enough in the way we practice Tai Chi and the way we live our lives.

In the words of master Lao Tzu:What is still is easy to hold.What is not yet manifested is easy to guide.What is brittle is easy to crack.What is minute is easy to scatter.Deal with things before they appear.Order things before they become confused.

Karen Dabrowska

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AUTUMN RESIDENTIAL 2013AT GAUNTS HOUSE IN DORSET

Above: Full Group Photograph

Above: Sifu and Mirilee practice San Shou

Left: Warmups

Left: Rich and Fiona practise spear sticking

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THE 6th ANNUAL LONDON COMPETITION FOR TRADITIONAL TAI CHI CHUAN

With nearly 135 competitors, plus officials, friends and family, it was the largest since the event began. About 200 people enjoyed a whole day of individual and group events with participants ranging from 7 years old to, well, people of a certain age. The Juniors events, group forms and san shou, and qigong competition events, are now a regular feature of our competition, alongside traditional individual forms and push hands competition. Despite having a packed house, many commented on the happy feeling vibe that filled the hall, along with the early summer sunshine. The relaxed, family orientation at the competition seems to provide an opportunity for tai chi players who might not ordinarily compete to give it a try.

Six years ago, Sifu Gary Wragg started the London Competition to give trainee judges the opportunity to work alongside top style leaders and gain supervised, hands-on experience in judging tai chi. It grew out of the Judges Seminar programme. started by Sifu Gary and the Tai Chi Union Great Britain in 2005 to improve the quality of judging at competitions. The Seminars not only provide opportunities to learn about other tai chi style from top Masters, by showing us another perspective they also give us new insight into our Wu style. Such formal training benefits competitors because judges are able to make fairer decisions based on the real characteristics of the style they are viewing and not by comparison to the judges own tai chi style. Push hands referee training may soon be added to forms judging as part of the Seminar Programme.

Among the high points of the weekend, for Wu Stylists, was that Jonathan Krehm joined us from Wu’s Academy Toronto which was started by Grandmaster (Eddie) Wu Kwong Yu in 1973. He generously

Master Liming Yue demonstrating Chen Style sword at the pre-competition Judges Seminar

Johathan Krehm discusses rules with Form competitors

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co-presented Wu Style Sword with Sifu Gary at the Saturday Judges Seminar, headed up the Wu style desk at the Competition, and came to our classes helping us to improve our push hands and forms. Jonathan is the number three Disciple of Grandmaster Wu, who is the 5th Generation Lineage Holder of the Wu style.

Children’s events at the Competition continue to thrive and this year, along with form demonstrations and fixed feet push hands, we added a moving step competition. Three of the 4 participating clubs were from the Wu style: with kids from Bethnal Green, Archway and Somerset. The children amaze us all with the soft direct naturalness of their movement and the fearlessness of their minds.

The quality of the performances ensured an interesting and lively time for all spectators. Over the years participants have been offered increasing categories of entries. for example in group forms and san shou, along with our collaboration with the British Health Qigong Association. One interesting feature has been the approach to competition displays. We now see many more entries from people who don’t fit the mold of traditional martial arts competitors. Some are much more keen just to ‘give it a go’ in a group form.

The push hands desk offered much excitement this year with high quality refereeing from members of our own Academy and a guest appearance from Cliff Cox, well known many from the British Open. It was excellent to see more and more competitors able

to stay true to their training, gaining point by using recognisable techniques under pressure. The value of having of foot judges cannot be overestimated and is a valuable asset to the referee.

Training for form or push hands competition can be a great experience, sharing focused learning with Academy members and deepening one’s understanding of the art. Details of the competition results are available at http://www.wustyle-europe.com/results20130602.html. Academy members are most welcome to come and train as foot judges and helpers for the next competition.

Mirilee Pearl

Lan and Dick demonstrating the Wu style Competition Form

Ceciel Kroes presents awards in the Intermediate mixed Sa-bre category to Mohammed Ayaz (Bronze), Alfia Nakipbekova (Gold) and Samuel Leon (Silver)

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For the past few weeks I have been think-ing about one of the most important Tai Chi aspects, which might actually be one of the most challenging of all: emptying the mind.

My contemplation started after an incident in our local pub. It was a Friday night and the place was quite full, so I was really hap-py when I spotted an empty table. To mark that the seats were taken, I left my shopping bags and heavy laptop bag at the table while I went to get a drink. I continued to keep an eye on my belongings, thinking the devil never sleeps. Quite right, for just as I turned my full attention back to my seat, I saw a man picking up my laptop bag while nervously looking around and starting to walk toward the exit. In that very moment, all my tai chi training and practice gathered together into a strong, loud and powerful sound (or better to say noise). Why do I know it was powerful? Well, regular feedback I get from Shifu is that I talk softly and not from my dantien. That noise I made in that moment was so loud and clear that the whole pub stopped for a second and stared at me – including the man with my bag. This was enough to ‘distract’ him and, in a blink of an eye, I found myself right in front of him – while he was still looking puzzled about what had just happened.

I looked him straight in the eyes and with a firm but soft voice I told him “That’s my bag.” It was as if time had stopped. I could see the thoughts and emotions on his face while I was having visions of how to grab his wrist and kick his knee to stop him getting away. Thankfully, he was ‘wise’ enough to drop my bag on the floor and leave.

This story left me marvelling about how an empty mind could make me act so prompt-ly in a situation when time was critical. My whole body including my voice and feet acted in unity to do what was required in that very moment...and last but most importantly, my sense of time disappeared, allowing me to judge and assess my “opponent’s” poten-tial next moves and action. (And of course, another key lesson learnt is not to leave my bags unattended.)

Since this incident I have started to explore and experience how an empty mind helps to focus on the inside and leave the exter-nal worries and thoughts. My last two weeks at work were incredibly difficult – I was put under tremendous pressure in a way I have never experienced before. Pressure is not

new, but the responsibility and strict dead-lines seemed to double the weight of the “regular” pressure I’ve got used to. During those days, the more my mind was telling me how much pressure I was under, the more emotional, tired and nervous I became. The critical moment peaked 3 hours before a deadline to submit the salary figures of 1,200 people to the payroll department. I felt the pressure was so intense and high in my body that I found it hard to breathe. “That’s it”, I thought and put my music on, took a few deep breaths and got back to the data file for the very last, final check. Again, time seemed to disappear completely and I felt I was lost in what I was doing.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi talks about this as the “Flow” – one focuses on the task at hand so much that all senses seem to disappear, including that of time. Csikszentmihalyi is a Hungarian-born psychologist noted for his work in the study of happiness and creativity. He described flow as “being completely in-volved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, move-ment, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one. Your whole being is involved, and you are using your skills to the utmost.” *

I find it fascinating that he explicitly mentions ego falling away – again something that we hear from Shifu regularly when he talks about emptying the mind.

Thankfully, I managed to complete the work on time and with the results required. And as before, I have my list of lessons learnt from this experience.

But the most important outcome for me was to realise how much an empty mind can help in our every-day life: silencing the monkey thoughts that are continuously trying to divert us from our task – be it a specific activity or work or our inner desires and ultimate dreams.

An empty mind helps us focus inwards and slow down more and more, making us more centered and allowing us to stick to and hold on to our most precious and true qualities and thoughts. This is ultimately the greatest challenge to achieve in these current times, given that life only seems to be speeding up and getting louder and louder.

* Geirland, John (1996). “Go With The Flow”. Wired magazine, September, Is-sue 4.

Timea Eathorne

The Empty Mind

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I started practicing Tai Chi after failing to get into any Chinese painting courses. I wanted to do something different, something beautiful, something Chinese, even if it wasn’t painting...

From being a couch potato to earning my living through Tai Chi, it’s been a surprising and enjoyable transformation. Tai Chi improved me physically, but more than that it made me a calmer, more confident person.

Setting up in business has been interesting, challenging and enjoyable. Brainstorming with the The Boyfriend, who has been a rock!, and suggestions from friends provided ideas. The first step was to create a portfolio to show to potential clients – paperwork and qualifications, bank stuff and taxes – so I would be ready to go, the moment I actually got a client.

Now, there is the ongoing work to get clients. My private clients mostly come through the TCUGB and TaiChiFinder websites and my charity clients mostly come through personal contacts. The business postcards Piers designed have been extremely helpful in selling the professional look.

My boyfriend set me up with a website, turning my barrage of ideas into a user-friendly exciting experience. Jono produced videos for me, which add a vibrent feel.

Facebook provides further publicity. It has also put me in touch with people I haven’t seen in years, and I now have to avoid becoming addicted.

I was recently contacted by the Young At Heart Show, to put on a demonstration at Alexander Palace. Numerous club members helped - many took part in the demo, looking striking in their blue or white tshirts. Behind the scenes Piers, organised the giant signs and LTCI leaflets, Mirilee transported signs and Wu leaflets, Stroud rescued the signs later, Jenny ensured no-one in the audience escaped without being leafletted, Timea brought chairs for our stand (otherwise my knees might not have lasted the course!), Philippe took photos and last but not least The Boyfriend carried all my gear and manned the stand for hours, talking to various passers by. This event was a chance for publicity for the club and for my business, hopefully leading to positive follow-ups for both. I’ve been very impressed by how everyone got into helping make both days a successful experience - well done everyone!

Teaching outside the club is different. I teach individuals and large groups. I try to relax and tune into what they want. Some are determined to learn the 108 form, others just want to copy. I try to give everyone a positive learning experience, tailored to them.

The charity I am most excited about working for is MIND. I am aware that Tai Chi can really help people with mental health issues, as it has helped me with my own depression over time. Persistence is the key to sustained improvement, so becoming one area of life

Above: The audience take part in the demo at Alexander Palace

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

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that gives us all a consistent positive experience.

With my new lifestyle, I am poorer in the monetary sense but richer in the life sense. I have time now to visit parks, museums, have coffee with friends and take up painting, circling back to my original intention. I have no illusions about actually being a good painter. I do it because I enjoy it. I have looked at hundreds of ancient Chinese paintings and landscape scrolls and started by copying small sections. Now I take bits from all different paintings, put them together, altering them into a harmonious feel, then painting over with different colours. After months of this, I have finally produced 2 paintings that my teacher didn’t say “next week you might like to try...” hah!

Life is good! There’s time and opportunity for fun, and Tai Chi helped me appreciate that. It’s a really nice thing to do for a living. The first six months were hard, but apparently that is absolutely normal for any new set-up. Anyway, everything is onwards and upwards...

Fiona Anderson

(see back cover for Fiona’s painting)

Paradise PracticeDawn on the pier in Wind protectionSea birdsThe low sucking sound of surfacingGlance reveals a porpoise curving ‘roundJoyed.Again? Yes, Hello, it Was me.Sunrise warmups gather interestA few from the 37 increase the throngEmbarking on the 108A settled audience of gulls, pipers andMy own great white heronIntent.Pelicans float by.The gulls flinch with the lotus kicksMy heron watches sideways to the end Only leaving after the sittingIn the now warm morning.

Umbrella sabre on the thin beachBare feet, hard pebblesBring the water shoes next time.

Mirilee Pearl, Islamorada 2008

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Sometimes the best lessons occur when we least expect them.

It seems that when you surround an activity with ceremony you invite moments of illumi-nation, or even minor epiphany. What I mean by this is that someone does or says some-thing that makes so much sense to us on a fundamental level that a concept actually be-comes tangible by experiencing what it means to us personally.

The teacup is passed with both hands and always first to Sifu. But once everyone has sipped from their cup, then all become equal and it doesn’t matter how long someone has been doing tai chi, we can all become each other’s teachers. A deeper understanding can emerge from the fluidity of sharing ideas and experiences that spring from what might appear at first to be the most mundane of subjects.

One such lesson occurred for me. It began something like this:

“How’s it going?”“OK, a bit tired, doing an essay for my MA at SOAS”“Oh, What in?”“Taoist philosophy.”“Cool. What’s it about?”

My basic recall of the gist of this conversation as it unfolded was that, some western transla-tions of Taoist writings were misinterpreted on a fundamental level. This was because when we Westerners read the word ‘mind’, we as-sume that it is something located in the head, whereas early Taoists placed the mind in the heart.

I went away and reflected on this concept. ‘Think with your heart’ I told myself every time something happened that affected me. What it did was to change my approach, instead of thinking about external conditions concerning myself with conclusions and rea-son. It internalized my thoughts and helped to bring me into the moment. This new process offered the opportunity to take a different

course of action that was more in tune with what I have come to understand as the path of least resistance.

My personal conclusion to this experiment (so far), is that thinking with the mind in the head creates resistance that takes the form of a hesitation in responding to a situation or influence. It is almost as if a translation period takes place, which goes something like this:

Incident/situation:Step 1: work out what it’s about, what it means, how it may affect me. Step 2: weighing up the consequences and deciding what to do.Step 3: taking up a suitable position to deal with the response to the action I have decided to take.

My experience of thinking with the heart is entirely different.

Imagine a situation or thought is like a call into a cave, a time of reflection takes place while waiting and listening. With the echo comes a reply that is informed, because an alternate perspective can be gained during this process allowing a natural response to flow like a conversation from the sound of the echo.

This experience is much like our pushing hands system of asking a question and listen-ing, where the response follows on from the direction of the energy or pressure that you feel. The difficulty in both is to keep relaxed with a clear mind, which makes us empty enough to hear what is going on without pre-dicting or forcing an outcome.

There are many stories from around the world and indeed philosophies that talk about fol-lowing your heart, could this be what they mean? Although I have only just begun this journey it has already taught me a lot, the first thing being to enjoy the journey itself.

Sam Leon

CHI

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AT TAI C

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The Unofficial guide to developing Tai Chi principles in everyday life.

Part 1 - Riding a bike

Step 1Releasing the thumbThe usual handlebar grip tends to raise the elbows and hunch the shoulders.

Placing your thumb on top (see below), allows your elbows and wrists to sink and you are now stearing with the heal of your hand.

Step 1 - BonusSteering with the heel of the hand can help to develop stickiness, es-pecially going over bumps.

Warning; If sticking is not well de-veloped then going over bumps can be viewed as an opportunity to test your breakfalls at speed.

Step 2Adding the stretch.Tilting your seat backwards a couple of inches, emphasises the pelvic tuck adding a good stretch to the principles set up in step 1.

This also incorporates the stretch across the back and a sinking in the chest, for a solid frame which should help to stabilise your bal-ance over rough ground.

There is one important thing to bear in mind and that is to wear something wind-proof, as your joints will be open when riding this way. Sam Leon

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