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Li Chi Hsiang Tai Chi Chuan

School of Health and Self Defence

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A brief introduction

The Sage governs him/herself by relaxing the mind,
reinforcing the abdomen, gentling the will, strengthening the bones.

	About Us
	Welcome. At Li Chi Hsiang, we practice the 37-posture Tai Chi Chuan form fashioned by the late Professor Cheng Man-Ching (1901-1975). A student of Yang Cheng Fu, he distilled the essence of the original Yang-style 108-posture form to develop his own "simplified" 37-posture form, which incorporates all the principles of the Tai Chi Classics and retains both the health giving and self-defence aspects of the traditional art.
	Tai Chi Chuan a Chinese discipline for health and self-defense is today practiced the world over, by peoples from all walks of life looking to enhance and maintain good health and well-being through a gradual process of relaxation, developing correct body posture, nurturing and the safeguarding of ones Chi (breath, intrinsic energy cultivation). The universal principle of Taichi and inherent Taoist philosophy applies equally to all, providing one with a robust vehicle for change through self-cultivation.
	Tai Chi Chuan (pronounced Tie-Jee-Chwan) as we know it today is usually credited to being created by a Taoist priest, Chang San-Feng, during the Sung dynasty (1279-1368), though the philosophical concepts on which it is based can be traced back thousands of years. Tai Chi Chuan is interpreted as Tai = supreme, Chi = ultimate, Chuan, as fist or boxing, thus, Supreme Ultimate Fist or Boxing, a reference to both the philosophical foundation and martial framework of TaiChi which emphasizes softness and yielding.
	Our school is entitled Li Chi Hsiang* to reflect three governing philosophical concepts arising from the Chou book of changes (I-Ching). Li Chi Hsiang is not a branch, style or new system of Tai Chi Chuan. Li = Principle, which is what makes Tai Chi Chuan function properly, Chi = Breath or intrinsic energy, meaning the energy which animates or enlivens a human being and Hsiang = form or manifestation, meaning the manifestation of Tai Chi Chuan principle and function. Fundamentally our school is so named to remind us of the importance of constantly nurturing these three vital concepts in daily practice and study of the 37-posture form.
	First edition 1983 page 156, Touchstones Yang Family Secret Transmissions, Sweet Chi Press complied and translated by Professor Douglas Wile.*
	Li Chi Hsiang curriculum Li Chi Hsiang Tai Chi Chuan is far more than just a feel-good workout. Our Method includes: • The seven fundamentals (qi-jibengong) • The Wu Chi standing meditation • The 37-posture 'short Yang form' of Professor Cheng Man-Ching • Sensing hands (push hands or T'ui Shou) • Ta Lu (four-corner Greater Roll-back exercise) • Double-edge sword fundamentals • Double-edge sword 54-posture form Produce and provide a good environment Produce but do not possess Act but do not control Raise but do not harvest This is called Profound Teh.
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