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Yang Luchan was originally an assistant in a Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy called Taihetang in Nanguan in Yongnian county, because he had piji (seems like some sort of disease causing swelling of the abdomen), he went to Chenjiagou with Li Bokui to learn taijiquan from Chen Changxing. His health improved, he achieved a very good level of skill, the two of them both returned to Yongnian county...
Josh Young wrote:wpgtaiji wrote: If what you say is true, then modern taiji (including your art) is all BS because today, it is all about healing!
That is incorrect, it is not about healing, it can help maintain health, but it is not a cure or treatment for disease. However the art i was taught was not about healing, it was and is a martial art and no claim is made that it will cure or treat any illness. There are spiritual aspects to it relating to the 13 postures and their true meanings as well, but the emphasis is totally martial.
If you claimed the art was about maintaining health i could agree, but the idea that it is about healing is BS, just like you say.
I think the Tai Chi world, and instructors in particular, do themselves and others a huge diservice by promoting Tai Chi as some cure all.
Josh Young wrote:Excellent point JOSH!
I add comments that you did earlier and am still the bad guy!
Josh Young wrote:J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2004 Jan-Feb;19(1):48-57.
Effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise in improving aerobic capacity: a meta-analysis.
Taylor-Piliae RE, Froelicher ES.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2010, 10:23 doi:10.1186/1472-6882-10-23
Published: 21 May 2010
Tai Chi on psychological well-being: systematic review and meta-analysis
Chenchen Wang, Raveendhara Bannuru, Judith Ramel, Bruce Kupelnick, Tammy Scott and Christopher H Schmid
This site links to refferences of many studies showing so many health effects for taiji that there isn't time or space to list them all here:
http://www.taichiresearch.com/
And Wu Tunan in his writings wrote the following:Yang Luchan was originally an assistant in a Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy called Taihetang in Nanguan in Yongnian county, because he had piji (seems like some sort of disease causing swelling of the abdomen), he went to Chenjiagou with Li Bokui to learn taijiquan from Chen Changxing. His health improved, he achieved a very good level of skill, the two of them both returned to Yongnian county...
Translation by David Lenkovitzki et al
Even the founder of Modern Taijiquan took advantage of the health benefits.
It is shown by many studies that the less martial and less traditional practices of taijiquan are still very healthy, though the greatest health benefits are linked to traditional practice, which is not easy and is physically demanding.
I would not call it a cure all either, but it is kind of amazing.
Tai Chi, as practiced in most classes today, has very, very little exercise involved
therefore very little heath improvement or benefit will be noticed. It's just not "physically demanding" enough to really show results.
· Greater Orderliness of Brain Functioning
· Improved Ability to Focus
· Increased Creativity
· Deeper Level of Relaxation
· Improved Perception and Memory
· Development of Intelligence
· Natural Change in Breathing
· Decrease in Stress Hormone
· Lower Blood Pressure
· Reversal of Aging Process
· Reduced Need for Medical Care
· Reduction in Cholesterol
· Increased Self-Actualization
· Increased Strength of Self-Concept
· Decreased Cigarette, Alcohol, and Drug Abuse
· Increased Productivity
· Improved Relations at Work
· Increased Relaxation and Decreased Stress
· Improved Health and More Positive Health Habits
Villicus wrote:......... It's rather ironic to me that after a lifetime of fighting as a Marine on the battlefield and later a 17 year law enforcement career fighting on the streets that learning a martial art has brought me so much peace.
Dvivid wrote:.......health benefits like increased muscle mass and bone density and dozens of others.
It is a complex issue with many factors. Two people in the same exact tai chi health study will have diffrent results, based on a multitude of factors.
wpgtaiji wrote:pete, i say this with all the sincerity I can muster: mate, you need a new teacher AND a new taiji style. You say you have done it for 40 years? I dont buy it. Maybe 1 year at most, or worse, 1 year 40 times...
There are indeed taiji styles that do have shocking movements to build the bones. There are teachers who can teach the classics simply and with zero mystery.
Your attitude seems to be "since I havent done it, it cant be done". If it was towards "empty force" you would have a point, but you question Classic teachings! Mate, I pray that you find a new style that will give you what you desparately seek: understanding.
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