What is the most widely practiced Tai Chi form in the world? Depending on who you ask, the answer would be The 24-Pattern Form, The Peking Form, The Short Form, or The Simplified Form. So which is it? Any of the above, really. All of these names refer to the same Tai Chi form developed in 1956 by the Chinese Sports Committee. Sadly, one of the most elegant forms ever invented also has some of the most awkward names ever conceived.
kung fu
7 Reasons to Avoid Over Practicing
In my Karate days, my daily training was much different than it is today. The famous Karate master, Mas Oyama, offered the following advice: “Train more than you sleep.” That was the philosophy that I followed back then. I practiced hard. I pushed myself. I trained as much as possible. I suffered, but I endured.
The Man Who Made Shaolin
What do Cosmos Qigong, Shaolin Kung Fu, and Zen Meditation have in common? Sure, they’re all energy arts, and they all came from the Shaolin Temple. But did you know that they also came from the same man?
Reflections on 20 Years in the Martial Arts
Twenty years ago, in the winter of 1992, I signed up for my first martial arts class. After growing up watching endless hours of Kung Fu Theater on Saturday morning TV, I finally decided to take the plunge.
8 Reasons to Track Your Progress with Qigong
You’ve probably heard it before: If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. This truism also applies to arts like Tai Chi, Qigong, Kung Fu, and Meditation. If you aren’t measuring your progress, then you aren’t managing your arts (or yourself!).