HERITAGE & The Soft Circle Method of Tai Chi

ZHAOBAO TAI CHI PRINCIPLES

Principles - Zhaobao Taijiquan Health as fundamental to practice but Combat skills as its soul (養生是根本，技擊是靈魂)

The Zhao Bao method holds true to the classics of Taijiquan, its movements are continuous and unbroken, there are circles within lines and structure with formlessness, the center must be balanced and the movements must coordinate with the energy in a harmonious yet dynamic way. In terms of sequence many of the elements externally share some similarity with style, but in actual practice emphasis and application there many are the aspects that make them different.

The principles of Zhaobao are its essence which differentiates from the Chen style cousin. Methods for the training of internal circulation cycles ( cultivation) are completely followed within Zhao Bao style. The are many structural guidelines that stipulate the method of postures and movements which are all either ensure the health and strength of the body or to align for the most efficient and effective flow of energy and power for execution.

Such rules, as an example the alignment of the six coordinates including the knee to the ankle, allow the prevention of damage and joints, whilst in other Taijiquan methods like Yang style such factors are not considered.

Additionally these guidelines allow for the center to always maintain excellent level of balance and central co-ordination. In combat one of the key features of Zhaobao Taijiquan which has lead to the style being also known as 'Sanheyi' - 3 combine into one, is the fact that the practice of forms is the same as of push hands which in turn are the same as in combat. Thus all elements are one, a key principle that is in ancient Taiji classics but few styles actually display such a feature. In Zhaobao Taijiquan this is a core requirement and feature.

One of the most important characteristics of the style is called Beisikou (背扣). The principle of this concept is based on the Taiji diagram of Lai Zhide Of the emptiness ("kòng") without poles (lacking) or fundamental chaos, one goes to the polarization (to have), from there to the sprouting of the connected opposite curves in the form and to the extreme polarization (formation of yin-yang) which can be seen on the diagram Lai Zhide.

Beisikou is a skill, that actually always has to be present part of Zhao Bao, from the beginning of the first movement and finally to the last one. This is also relates back into the 64 Trigrams of the Book of changes (Zhouyi). Without its assimilation and development it is impossible to enter the deeper aspects of Zhaobao Taijquan.When beginning to study the Zhao Bao style, one has to Fan Dantian (Rotate the Dantian energy centre). Each position practices the improvement of the "empty circles".

Inside the state of everything are three uprights, four alignments, six coincidences and eight pursuits. During the four alignments the center of gravity of the body cannot be lifted. The internal flow of each movement is going to the end of four points: The teeth are the ends of the bones, lingua is at the end of the muscles, the nails are the ends of the sinews, the hair and the pore are at the end of Qi.

Keys to Practice Quan Yuan (Circles) - Within each posture there are circles that have to be successfully practised. Whether it is movement of the hands or body or footwork each has correlating circles to practice. From a large posture the circles are often obvious then with that there many smaller circles. Therefore when practicing one should focus on ensuring the precise and fluid forms of the circles that are found within each movement.

San Zheng (3 Straights) - Straight head, straight body, roll with ankle straight. It is necessary to keep the head upright and the trunk of the body as with the leg (tibia and fibula '), perpendicular with the ground, that is, that the knee and the ankle must be under the same straight line.

Si Xun (4 Alignments) - Leg, foot, hand and body, all go in the same direction. This means that the leg, properly aligned knee and ankles, the hand, properly aligned elbow and wrist, and the body, all aim towards the same direction, when executing a movement.

Liu He (6 Harmonies) - The hand corresponds with the foot, the elbow with the knee, the shoulder with the hip, the heart with the mind, the "energy" (qi ') with force, the sinews with the bones. Xun Sui (Pursuits) - The eight small joints (two elbows, two hands, two knees and two feet), pursue the four great ones (two shoulders and both sides of the hips)

Bu Bu Ting (Not Omit, Not Stopping) - If the left hand moves and the right does not, that is to omit. If the position is not yet finished, but the hand or the foot already has arrived at their aim, this is called to stop.

Bu Liu Shui (Not Flowing like water) - Movement and calm follow one another. Each posture should not flow onto each so that there is no clarity, thus must not flow as water.

Thirteen Keys of Taijiquan Taijiquan irrespective of style has at its core the concept of 8 methods and 5 directions which total 13 key focuses.

These are • Peng (ward off/Bump out), • Lu (lead/pull back), • Ji(Squeeze press), • An(push press), • Cai (pluck), • Lie (split), • Zhou (elbow), • Kao (lean shoulder), • Jin (enter), • Tui(retreat), • Gu(take care/left), • Pan (Aspire/right) and • Ding(Set in centre/equilibrium).

These keys have substantial depth and requires much practice and reflection to comprehend and apply successfully. The manifestation of the methods are on the basis of the primary Peng power which is considered the most fundamental/essential form power in Taijiquan. It is often described as like a rubber ball filled with air that has both a resistance yet a flexibility about it but anchored to specific centre of gravity (which can shift), so it is neutral yet possesses the ability to both resist, absorb, transform and exert force. The other methods or powers are often manifestations of Peng.

Five Elements of Taijiquan Although the five primary elements of traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy are • metal（金）, • wood（木）, • water（水）, • fire（火）, and • earth（土）,

Zhaobao Taijiquan also refers to its five basic fighting techniques as the five primary elements. They are: • zhān（adhere, 粘）, • rào（spiral, 繞）, • bēi（Carry, 背）, j • ìn（Stepping, 進）, • jí（Striking, 擊）

Eight Methods of Taijiquan The eight methods of Taijiquan are applied on three planes (San Pan), therefore referring to the hands, hips and legs. Eight hands include • yǐn（引）, • lǐng（領）, • suǒ（鎖）, • kòu（扣）, • lāo（撈）, • guà（掛）, • lóu（摟）, • fān（翻）.

Eight hips include • tūn（吞）, • tǔ（吐）, • kāi（開）, • hé（合）, • xuán（旋）, • bǎi（擺）, • zòng（縱）, • héng（橫）.

Nine Legs are • chán（纏）, • guì（跪）, • tiǎo（挑）, • liào（）, • tiē（貼）, • cuò（挫）, • dèng（蹬）, • chuài（踹）.

The Eight Foundations [趙堡太極功法] Taiping Taijiquan places great emphasis on the Eight Foundations (fundamental practices). This traditional foundation is the essence of Taijiquan and today is very rare and seldom practiced but to obtain the in depth skill of Taijiquan they are essential. It was said that Chen Qingping had developed these practices which became the foundation for the many frames of Zhaobao Taijiquan. It is also thought that with this practice that the various masters would formulate their Taijiquan principles (e.g. Kaihe emphasized by , Sanquan Sanpan emphasized by He Zhaoyuan and so forth).

The Core practice of Taijiquan [趙堡太極拳套] The practice of Zhaobao Taijiquan is often at the basic level practiced in three fundamental frames. • Learning (Central) Frame, • Large Frame and • Small Frame.

The Middle frame is the basic standard it ensures the accuracy of movement and the most structured approach.

The large frame develops the Gongfu of the body, it is a challenging and extremely physical frame.

The small frame is then the more natural here large circles become small and transitions become as if walking, nimble and continuous.

The use of frames in Zhaobao is to develop an understanding of each and then thereafter the practitioners evolves into their own nature, their own frameless (Cheng frame is such a concept of this) style of Taijiquan. Some styles of Zhaobao Taijiquan practice or specialize in a certain frame, often that of the teacher or founder's preference. However irrespective of frames the movements are in essence the same in sequence.

Further to the fundamental frames Zhaobao also has other forms of practice to suit the individual or as practice methods to achieve a deeper understanding of the art, these include Gongfujia, Tengnuojia, Shanzhanjia, Huleijia, Zoujia, Che Luen Jia, Man Jia and others.

There are also additional sequences: A short set of fast boxing (36 and 24 strikes) and an extension of kicks (Jiu Xiang Bu Luodi - 9 sounds not touching the ground) to the main form, these are rarely shown or not important until the practitioner reaches an adequate level of proficiency in the core methods. • Large Frame (大架) • Small Frame (小架) • Daili Frame (理架) • Paochui Frame (炮捶架) • Tengnuo Frame (挪架) • Shanzhan Frame (展架) • Qiankun Frame (乾坤架) • Hulei Frame (呼雷架) • Cheng Frame (承架) • Nine Sounds off the ground (九响不落地)

Tuishou (Push hands) Practice Taiji Hand Pushing is one of the most useful means for the realisation of internal power. By the practice of Push hands one may gain the momentum of indomitable spirit, a solid fisting frame with the feet placed firmly on the ground. A body posture that can withstand an attack from eight directions and most importantly a really superb skill to know oneself and the opponent. To know oneself and the opponent is the skill known as Ting Jing or to 'understand the operation of force executed by an opponent.' However this skill as such will never be easily acquired until the practitioner begins to throw himself into the exercise of Push Hands "

Zhaobao push hands has a few salient features, such as there is no stationary push hand practice traditionally (some have added recently), this is along the same lines of 'Sanheyi' and as a result Zhaobao Taijquan practices moving push hands straight away constantly refining along the way. Two key elements of push hands practice include Bu tan bu qian (Not eager not deficient) and Sanjie Zhi Jintui (The three parts know how to enter and retreat).

Taijiquan Combatives [趙堡太極散手] After grasping the principles of Tajiiquan, its movement dynamics, equilibrium considerations, push hands sensitivity and adherence, the concept of free combat are considered. Taijiquan is highly applicable and even dangerous for applications because of its ability to completely take advantage of dis-balances of incoming force, opponents are often able to be injured by their complete unpreparedness for such an attack. At the combat stage, footwork, body and speed are all important to obtain the advantageous positions and the ability to adhere, close in and feel the movement or intention is essential.

The Weapons practice of Taijiquan [趙堡太極器械] Weapons include: • Sword (太极) • Staff (太极棍) • Broadsword (太极刀) • Spear (太极十三) • Long Handled Axe (太极大) • Double Broadsword (太极双刀) • Spring Autumn Long Handled Dao (太极春秋大刀)

Source: http://taipinginstitute.com/menu-styles/njqx/taiji-quan