T'ai Chi is Yin-Yang Balance

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The say that Wu Chi is the mother of all things, and the mother of all things gives rise to T'ai Chi, where yin and yang separate, and play, and harmonize. 

T'ai Chi is a Martial Art

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T'ai Chi is truly benevolent and peaceful, yet it is also concentrated and determined, and no less a fighting art than Kung Fu, Karate or Tae Kwon Do.  Each movement can, and does, have any number of self defense applications.  No, of course, you don't move slowly, if you're called upon to defend yourself.  But, just as Bruce Lee emphasized in Jeet Kune Do, you move with economy of effort and abide by principles of calm and centering.  If you need to move quickly, therefore, move quickly.  If not, then don't.

T'ai Chi is the Way of Nature (Tao)

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T'ai Chi abides by the teachings of Lao Tzu in Tao Te Ching.  Whether we practice its application, reflect on its philosophy, or raise our spirit to the Universal, following the Tao is a crucial precept.

T'ai Chi is Swimming in Air

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Early on I also learned that T'ai Chi was like swimming in air.  That is, in practice, we are to move slowly and imagine that we are underwater.  Our movement is smooth and unhurried.  The more we fight the water, that is, if we veer from T'ai Chi principles, the more the water resists our force and tension.  So swimming in air was also a call to center and relax.

T'ai Chi is Meditation in Motion

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I learned early on that T'ai Chi was like meditation in motion.  I took this to mean that whatever state we gained from sitting meditation, we worked at sustaining throughout the practice.  For me, this notion was the foundation of bringing T'ai Chi in our everyday life, that is, that calm, that centering, and that mindfulness. 

Jet Li Introduces Levels 2 and 3

Pull Down, Split, Elbow Stroke, and Release Shoulder

Advance, Retreat, Gaze to the Left, Look to the Right, and Central Equilibrium

These nine kinetic concepts, plus the four from Level 1, constitute the 13 Postures (cf. T'ai Chi Empower - 13 Postures).

T'ai Chi Meditation: Mind and Body

Meditation Lesson 1: Be involved, be productive, be connected. But step back, too. Meditate, and simply observe.

Meditation Lesson 2: How well does your mind focus in meditation, and how do you bring it back when it wanders? 

Peng, Lu, Ji and An: Review and Practice

Lesson 16 (brief review): Peng (expanding) | Lu (deflecting) | Ji (pressing) | An (pushing) energy... all together.

Lesson 16 (daily practice): Peng (expanding) | Lu (deflecting) | Ji (pressing) | An (pushing) energy.