Engage with T'ai Chi spirit and principles

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What distinguishes martial arts in general from other fighting systems, such as boxing, fencing and wrestling is spirituality.  Of course, as I've emphasized before, we can endow any and all activities that engage in with the spirit, mindset and principles of T'ai Chi.

Be wholly alive, aware and alert

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Bruce Lee speaks plainly yet profoundly at the same time.

T'ai Chi is about higher purpose

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T'ai Chi is about higher purpose, otherwise it is merely convention and calisthenics, and that's not T'ai Chi at all. 

T'ai Chi adopts a peaceful spirit

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To my point in the preceding article, true T'ai Chi martial art adopts a peaceful spirit and attitude.

The wise win before the fight

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I'd like to believe that T'ai Chi eschews any sort of fighting, but I know that that's in an ideal world.  In the real world where conflict very much exists, it is crucial that T'ai Chi practitioners adopt the proper spirit and attitude.

Song of 13 Postures (3) Stillness

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Be still, when touched by the opponent; be tranquil and move in stillness.

Reference: Song of the Thirteen Postures.

Song of 13 Postures (2) Yin-Yang

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Be mindful of the interchange between insubstantial and substantial; the chi circulates throughout the body without hindrance.

Reference: Song of the Thirteen Postures.

Song of 13 Postures (1) Waist

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The Thirteen Postures should not be taken lightly; the source of the postures is in the waist.

Reference: Song of the Thirteen Postures.