Academician Zhong Nanshan reminds: Authentic Tai Chi can fight against the epidemic

Tai Chi, the highest realm revered in ancient Chinese Yi culture; Tai Chi Chuan is extremely famous and embodies the highest admiration of the ancients for “Tai Chi Chuan”.

Tai Chi culture is extensive and profound. Tai Chi skills are unfathomable and profound. Tai Chi for health preservation, the supreme art.

In recent years, both at home and abroad, there has been vigorous research on the health benefits of Tai Chi.

Scientists from the National Institutes of Health of the United States said:Tai Chi has almost no drawbacks and no side effects at all. Time Magazine even wrote that”Tai Chi is the most perfect sport in the world”。

At a time when the epidemic is rampant across China nowadays,Academician Zhong Nanshan legitimizes Tai Chi:Tai Chi has an underestimated and special effect on enhancing immunity。Let this ancient health-preserving exercise regain its new charm.

In fact,Tai Chi can unlock the third potential of the human body and develop the internal life force of the human body, which is the true source of the human body’s own immunity.

The Songquan team is engaged in the battle against the epidemic with Tai Chi.Let’s continue to share the practice experiences and health insights of several boxing enthusiasts.

Tai Chi – The Way of harmony between heaven, earth and man

Under the guidance and instruction of Master Yang Songquan, I have been practicing Tai Chi for more than eight years. The practice of Tai Chi originated from the influence of the atmosphere among colleagues. Later, my mind and body were influenced by it, and my interest gradually increased. Although there were many miscellaneous tasks, the time was not fixed, and my dedication was limited, it was difficult to meet my master’s expectations. However, learning Tai Chi has become a happy and fulfilling thing. The joy lies in the fact that whenever one is in a low mood or unhappy, even a little movement can make one feel refreshed and overjoyed. Fortunately, when one is physically exhausted and on the verge of illness, after several rounds of relaxation, sinking, bending and turning, the primordial chaos will arise, minor ailments will not appear, and major illnesses will disappear.

This situation and state of mind have persisted for many years, uneventful and calm. Even though it has lasted for several years, there have been times of hesitation and retreat. The more one feels that the path is far away and unattainable, the more one is enlightened by a respected teacher. Suddenly, one realizes that the sense of joy and happiness still has the suspicion of self-satisfaction and seeking personal gain. Occasionally, one may experience a sense of weightiness and relaxation, as well as the presence and absence of Yin and Yang. In the blink of an eye, one realizes that Tai Chi is the great principle of the way of heaven, benefiting all things, neither favoring this nor neglecting that, and achieving success on its own. Tai Chi is the art of a gentleman, capable of resolving a thousand enmity, not being arrogant about oneself, not fearing others, and being upright and self-reliant.

As the saying goes, “The universe is vigorous and the gentleman strives to improve himself without ceasing.” As the master said, Tai Chi is the way of goodness and the art of harmony between heaven, earth and man. A gentleman should stand tall and upright, return to simplicity and truth, seek the great Way and follow nature. The current spread of the epidemic is caused by people’s violation of the laws of nature, making all actions difficult. Only the art of Tai Chi is not limited by the timing of heaven, not confined by geographical conditions, and not abandoned by men, women, the elderly, and children. It strengthens the body, forges the spirit, and fights against diseases and epidemics. Everyone in the world should always be embraced by the grace of Tai Chi, master the art of Tai Chi, understand the way of heaven, keep poisons at a distance of a thousand miles, and thus transform the eternal nature of all things in heaven and earth.

— The leader of the Peking University Law Tai Chi Songquan Team

Yang Xiaolei

February 23, 2020

Let’s talk about Tai Chi in the fight against the epidemic

The year 2020 was destined to be an extraordinary one. Due to the rampant spread of the novel coronavirus, this year’s Spring Festival was particularly quiet, with empty streets and few people and vehicles. Everyone is responding to the call of the country, trying to go out as little as possible, avoiding gatherings and staying at home to fight the epidemic. The epidemic is an order, and prevention and control is a responsibility. As a member of the team responsible for preventing and controlling the epidemic and maintaining market order, I went to the front line of the fight against the epidemic on the third day of the Lunar New Year after receiving the order and began my normal work. Check goods, quality and epidemic prevention materials, investigate reports, respond to complaints and resolve conflicts and disputes to stabilize supply and demand, prices and transaction order. It has been nearly 30 days since I started working, and I have been in a state of continuous combat. During the day, I work normally at the unit, and in my spare time at night, I take the opportunity to report to the community as a Party member and participate in the community volunteer duty. This kind of work intensity is something that no one with a strong body can handle. Here, I was somewhat presumptuous. Not only did I keep a close eye on it, but I also felt quite at ease with it.

Perhaps someone has asked, how did you manage to do it? This makes me have to mention one person, and that is my Tai Chi master – Teacher Yang Songquan.

Master Songquan was a disciple of Grandmaster Chen Zhaopi and is the 11th generation inheritor of Chen-style Tai Chi. He is modest and keeps a low profile. The master treats all his disciples and students equally, imparting knowledge through words and deeds, and doing everything himself. He spares no effort to carry on the lost learning of the sages and promote the treasures of traditional Chinese culture. Since I systematically studied the Chen family’s Old Tai Chi under Master Songquan, I have deeply felt the profoundness and vastness of traditional Chinese Tai Chi culture. Just as the master said, Tai Chi is not something that can be achieved simply by “learning”. It is a process of cultivation, through self-cultivation, mental cultivation and character cultivation, to achieve a perfect unity of man and Tai Chi. Practicing martial arts is not about people practicing martial arts, but about martial arts training people, that is, martial arts are cultivated on people. Just like a fruit tree, from sowing a seed to sprouting, taking root and growing, it is all about cultivation. All we can do is to fill the soil, fertilize and water. The great Way is always in the process until it finally bears fruit, that is, the practice of boxing is completed. Learning boxing should not be rushed. It is a natural growth process. Slow is fast, and fast is slow. If the natural growth law is broken, what seems to be a quick progress at present is actually counterproductive. The master often said, “Practice the methods with your heart, and you will naturally attain enlightenment.” If the method is correct, Tai Chi will naturally move up. When practicing boxing, one must be carefree and indifferent, that is, not put one’s heart into it. Don’t think about anything except the key points of the movements. If you feel you have gained something from practicing boxing today, you should immediately let it go. But if you have gained something from practicing boxing tomorrow, you still need to immediately let it go. Let go today, let go tomorrow, let go every day. Let go of today’s small self to achieve tomorrow’s greater self. Once everything is lost, it’s nothing. Nothing is nothing. The infinite gives rise to the Tai Chi.

The master often says that we can practice Tai Chi together because of a three-thousand-year connection. Thank you, teacher, for your kindness and for the karmic connection! Through Tai Chi, I have indeed benefited a lot. My physical functions have undergone significant changes, thus enabling me to always maintain physical and mental health and be energetic. At present, it is the right time to fight against the epidemic and make good use of people. Good physical reserves have just come into play. To maintain a good physical condition, I continue to practice Tai Chi every day in my spare time from work. Because practicing Tai Chi is not restricted by time or place, whether before or after work, at the workplace or at home, having a place to stand is all that matters. Even during the breaks when standing guard in the community, standing for a while when there is nothing to do is a form of cultivation. Life is full of Tai Chi everywhere. Once you master the methods, walking, sitting and lying down are all Tai Chi. In the face of the great path of Tai Chi, I may still be just a young tree at present. However, I believe that through the pruning of my master like a gardener, and with the colleagues and fellow practitioners of all the teachers and friends, we can learn from each other’s strengths and make up for our weaknesses. Through our joint efforts, we will surely grow into a forest of Tai Chi.

This epidemic has also awakened many people. Health is the foundation of everything. Without a healthy body, nothing can be discussed. Having a good body is in itself a contribution to the fight against the epidemic and to the country. At this time, being in good health, free from any major or minor illnesses, keeping the cat at home, not causing any trouble to society or the already overburdened medical system, is making a contribution to society. Academician Zhong Nanshan has proved through modern experiments that practicing Tai Chi can improve and enhance the human body’s immunity, which adds a new footnote to the ancient Tai Chi culture, a treasure of Chinese civilization.

Dear teachers and friends, in order to achieve a comprehensive victory in the fight against the epidemic, let’s practice at home, prevent the epidemic scientifically and healthily. Having good health is patriotism! Come on, everyone! Come on, Wuhan! Come on, China! Come on, Tai Chi!

In the face of the major epidemic, moved by the heroic deeds of the country and the people in fighting the epidemic, I composed a poem to record it:

“The Fight Against the Epidemic is Decided”

The epidemic has come quietly.

Control is like a golden soup, and there is no room for competition.

Support from all directions reveals true feelings.

The ancient Tai Chi still exists today.

  – Xu Hongtao, the coach of the Tai Chi Songquan Team

February 23, 2020

Persist in practicing Tai Chi and calmly experience the rhythm of Tai Chi

The master always says that one should keep practicing boxing. Practicing boxing every day is just like reading books in the library every day. Now I practice boxing every day, and it seems to have become a habit for me. As of today, February 22, 2020, I have persisted in practicing boxing for 279 days. During this period, I fell ill twice and was lazy a few times, so I didn’t practice boxing for a total of 24 days. My practice rate is over 90%. I haven’t been able to practice boxing every day. There is still room for improvement. Once, a senior fellow said that if you want to persist in practicing boxing, you have to treat it as an important matter and prioritize it over all other things. One has to treat practicing boxing as something that must be done, just like eating and sleeping. With these two points, it was once thought that practicing boxing every day would not be difficult. In my opinion, the greatest advantage of persistently practicing boxing is that it has become a habit. If you don’t practice for a day, you will feel uncomfortable.

The master always says that when practicing boxing, one must keep a calm mind; only with a calm mind can wisdom arise. In this complex and diverse world, it is really difficult to calm one’s mind. The master also said that one should calm the mind during the practice of boxing. During this epidemic, I have been at home for a month. The biggest realization I have is this sentence – calm your mind while practicing boxing. One round of boxing cannot calm the mind, but after three rounds, the mind will surely be calm. And when the mind is calm, the effect will be achieved, and all the experiences will come. I think the greatest benefit of calming the mind is that it enables one to experience every move, every posture, every stroke, every waist turn, every extension, every pull and so on in Tai Chi. Once experienced, one will have insights and make progress.

When the heart calms down, experiences come. The deepest realization is that the rhythm of Tai Chi is the rhythm of Tai Chi’s speed and slowness. Fast boxing and slow boxing each have their own rhythm, and the experiences are different. Fast boxing experience is smooth. Follow the rhythm and smoothly complete all the moves. In slow boxing, one can experience the number of strokes in each pose, feel the connection between the middle finger and the shoulder well, the connection between the convergence point and the coccyx, and sense the changes in every part of the body, and gain insights in a peaceful state of mind.

The greatest advantage of rhythm is that it can help you correct incorrect movements. If your rhythm is not right, you will feel very awkward. When it’s awkward, actually, the punches are also wrong. When it’s no longer awkward and you have a rhythm, the punches will also be correct. For instance, the 50th form of the old Chen-style Tai Chi frame, “LAN Zha Yi”, has two strokes. This is different from the fourth form, “LAN Zha Yi”, which has four strokes. The two-stroke “LAN Zha Yi” always gives people the impression of being incomplete. When I first started playing, as soon as I reached this point, the rhythm got messed up. The two strokes of the “LAN za Yi” always made me flustered. After the “Yu Nu” completed the shuttle and jump steps, it was either half a stroke or half a stroke missing, and it was never on time. Later, after repeated practice and more practice, the rhythm was established. The two strokes of “LAN”, “zha” and “yi” became correct. They were neither more than half a stroke nor less than half a stroke; they were just two strokes, neither too many nor too few. Once the rhythm was right, it immediately became smooth. However, during my practice, I found that the earlier movements had better rhythm due to more practice, while the later ones were practiced less, so there was no question of rhythm. This confirms what the master said: If you haven’t practiced for 100 days, you can’t say you are practicing boxing. So only when you have practiced each move for 100 days can you know the wonder of this move, understand its true essence, and then you will have the rhythm.

Feel in the rhythm, understand in the rhythm, master in the rhythm, and make progress in the rhythm.

— Zhang Wei from the “Virtue Bears All Things” class

February 23, 2020

Me and Ta

My Ta

 It cannot be seen with the eyes.

But she has a beautiful face like a flower and a vigorous figure.

My Ta

 It can’t be touched by hand.

 But it is full of vigorous vitality.

When I first met him/her

 Ta is like a teenager in the prime of his youth.

 One can feel vitality but lacks the courage to approach.

Slowly, as time goes by,

 We got to know and understand each other.

Sometimes we are like men and women in love.

 Holding hands on a moonlit night

 Accompanied by the morning sun.

Ta is sometimes like a loving mother.

 I fully release all of myself.

Including my elegance and nonconformity.

Sometimes Ta is like a newborn baby.

 I hold it gently in my arms.

 Watch him/her grow up slowly.

Ta is my most loyal friend.

 As long as I don’t turn around and leave,

 Ta has always been by my side.

Ta is my beloved family member.

 No matter how far I go,

 Ta will always be there waiting.

I am extremely fortunate to have met him/her in this life.

It is the crystallization of five thousand years of Chinese culture

— Real Tai Chi!

I dance with Ta with my life.

Dance out the brilliance and glory of Tai Chi!

I dance with Ta with my life.

 Carry forward the glory and dream of Tai Chi!

– Liu Li from the class “The Greatest Goodness Is Like Water”

February 21, 2020

Insights on Learning Boxing

I have been practicing Tai Chi under Master Yang Songquan for six years. During this period, my greatest realization and gain is the impact of Tai Chi on my health.

Over the past six years, under the guidance and instruction of my master, along with learning Tai Chi push hands, the pain of my lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and patellar wear in my knee has gradually subsided, and my work and life have returned to normal.So I deeply understood the subtlety of Tai Chi that my master mentioned. I firmly believe that the illness will be completely eradicated and my body will become healthier.

When the novel coronavirus was rampant, I abided by the national requirements for prevention and control and isolation, and persisted in practicing Tai Chi in a limited space, which gave me strong confidence in resisting the virus.

I hope that in the future, more people can, like me, experience the benefits of Tai Chi through learning and join our healthy big group.Wish every person who practices boxing good health and a pleasant mood.

— Pang Hongbin from Class Liu Liu Shun

February 19, 2020