Wednesday, March 21, 2012

All elephants are gray, but not all gray things are elephants.

A mentor of mine once commented rather forcefully that "Tai Ji is NOT Qi Gong." Having thought about this for a while, it is fair to say that the differences are related to goals.

We've been training the "Eight Pieces of Brocade" over the last month or so. This is a very popular (for a thousand years or more) form of Qi Gong, which goes very well with Tai Ji. For the most part it is performed in a similar manner as the Tai Ji form, in the sense that we want to move in a smooth, rhythmic, and fluid manner for almost all the postures. The exception being posture 7, Punch and Glare, which is performed with a good bit of muscular intensity.

The other major difference is that Tai Ji is a martial practice, with martial intent in each movement, while Eight Pieces of Brocade is not a martial practice at all. The Eight Pieces is only concerned with health development and the development of the Qi system. The Tai Ji seeks to develop good health and powerful Qi flow in the Grand Circulation to support the martial aims of Tai Ji. Incidentally this improves health and well being. The Eight Pieces seeks nothing beyond the improved health and improved Qi flow in the grand circulation.

This distinguishes Tai Ji from Qi Gong practices, in that Tai Ji has a practical and utilitarian aim for the "use" of the Qi, while Qi Gong practices do not. Another way to view this, is that I can lift weights and do various calisthenics solely to feel and look better, or I can do these same practices because I want to play football better. In one case, I am able to increase the amount of weight lifted or the number of pull ups I do, just to have measured improvement in those specific activities. In the second case, the increase in weight lifted and pull ups performed is incidental to the true goal to improve the ability to block, tackle, catch and throw. In either case I will improve my health and appearance but in only one case is that the intended goal.

All elephants are gray, but not all gray things are elephants.