The Rising Sun School of
T'ai Chi Ch'uan

General Information
General Information
The Rising Sun School
The Art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan
History of T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Influential Philosphers
Taoist Principles (BBC)
Health Benefits
Master Lee's Handout
Finding a good instructor

Toronto T'ai Chi Classes at

The
Rising Sun School of T'ai Chi Ch'uan

The Rising Sun School Weekly Schedule (Toronto, Canada)

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You will find this book and others
at the

T'ai Chi Bookstore

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If you have comments or suggestions email
Paul McCaughey at:

taichitoronto@rogers.com

Soft...
Slow...
Smooth...

~ finis ~

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Master Lee's Class Handout

T'ai Chi embodies the Chinese philosophy of the "Supreme Ultimate". It is the rhythmical exercise of the Taoist primary principle of wholeness in which opposites are balanced as yang and yin: male and female, light-dark, firm-soft, active-passive, positive-negative, substantial- insubstantial, power and yielding.

According to the ancient masters, T'ai Chi Ch'uan is the highest development of the psycho-physiological power of blood and breath. Chi, or intrinsic energy, is controlled by training the body-mind in the regular performance of 86 forms integration. With the heightened sensitivity of concentrated awareness, these cyclical movements achieve relaxation, suppleness and subtlety. They become meditation in motion. Slowly, deeply, evenly breathing, they become flow without interruption into an art and science of elegance.

The practice of T'ai Chi requires no special place, no special time of year, no special costume or equipment. Young or old, weak or strong, men, women, children can healthfully accomplish it, alone or together. To do T'ai Chi every day is to ensure a long and youthful life in which the forms of the external body is the expression of the harmonious functioning of the internal organs. T'ai Chi Ch'uan can prevent disease and correct the malfunctioning of the systems of digestion, respiration, circulation, elimination. Feeble limbs can be energized. Weight can be stabilized. Rheumatism, insomnia, neurasthenia and stress can be overcome.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan breathes peace of mind. Fear dissolves in the patient discipline of a self-defense promoting tolerance, gentleness, humility and humor. All motions, all manoeuvers are done softly.

They perpetuate the teachings of Lao Tzu:

What is more fluid, more yielding than water?

Yet back it comes again, wearing down the rigid strength

Which cannot yield to withstand it?

So it is that the strong are overcome by the weak.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan trains the body-mind to "move so well that a footprint never shows, reckon so well that no counter is needed", and to foresee harmful events so as to not allow them to be. To practice T'ai Chi with a "fixed heart" is to aim at developing the magnanimity which prevents a man from thrusting first. When he or she strikes there is no alternative. She or he moves with speed and kindly accuracy, but not away from the centre of her or his being. Within all, T'ai Chi teaches "the way to do, is to be".

Yeung Cheng-Po (Yang Cheng-Fu) was widely acclaimed as the greatest master of China. His T'ai Chi Ch'uan was carefully taught to Chin May-Men (Chen Wei-Ming) of Shanghai. Lee Shiu-Pak, Chin's beloved disciple, has practiced his art for over forty years.

This writing was handed out to new or prospective students to explain in a simple clear fashion what T'ai Chi was all about. It is as good a description as any I have read over the years. It was written by one of his senior students with Mr. Lee's approval.

Added Note: Lee Shiu-pak studied with Chen Wei-Ming in Shanghai, then taught in Chen's classes and at the University. He first taught his own classes later in Hong Kong and finally in Montreal from the 1960's through 1982 when he passed away. Master Lee's passing was a great loss to the general T'ai Chi community. He was survived by his T'ai Chi Family, who continue to strive to fulfill the excellence of his teachings. The last T'ai Chi Family reunion was in 1998 in Montreal.

Breath
To Gather the Ch'i (Qi)

If the Qi is dispersed, then it is not stored and is easy to scatter.
Let the Qi penetrate the spine and the inhalation and exhalation
be smooth and unimpeded throughout the body. The inhalation
closes and gathers, the exhalation opens and discharges.
Because the inhalation can naturally raise and uproot the opponent,
the exhalation can naturally sink down and also discharge him.
This is by means of the mind, not the strength, mobilizing the Qi (breath).

Five Character Secret
by Li I-yu

Practitioners Corner

Biographical Information

General Interest