The Tai Chi Space

Paul Cavel is the founder and principal of The Tai Chi Space, a London-based school established to teach Water method arts. Since 1987 Paul has studied Taoism, the I Ching, Five Element nei gong, medical qi gong, Yang and Wu style tai chi, Pre- and Post-birth bagua, yoga, tui na energy healing and Taoist meditation. Paul is a certified soft tissue and injury therapist (ITEC Level 4), editor of the Inner Quest journal and he holds a mechanical engineering certificate from London City and Guilds. He began teaching internal energy arts in 1995 with the encouragement of his primary teacher, after healing himself from a serious motorcycle accident.

About the Author

About the Artist

Acknowledgements

Foreword by Michael Mettner



Introduction

All Forms Are Not Created Equal

Myth Is an Image

Journey towards Unity

Through the Eyes of the Ancients

How Principles Are Presented

Three Stages for Embodying Internal Principles

Why Use Tai Chi Postures?

Visual Lexicon

Who Can Benefit from This Book?

Creating a Practice Microcosm



Part 1 Fundamental Principles: Nuts and Bolts

Principle   1: Cultivate the Arts

Separate and Combine

Cyclic Training

Principle 2: The Rule of Third

Principle 3: Become Sung

Principle 4: Build the Pyramid of Giza

11 Steps to Good Posture

Principle 5: Breathe with the Diaphragm

Principle 6: The Mind's Focus

Principle 7: Grow Your Root

Phase 1: Plant Your Feet and Sink Your Qi

Phase 2: Release Tension to Develop Your Root

Principle 8: Moving in Three-Dimensional Space

Principle 9: Arms Are Led by Hands and Wrists

Principle 10: Create Circular Motion

Principle 11: Water Doesn't Flow through a Kinked Hose

Principle 12: Shifting Weight Is Like Walking Upstairs

Principle 13: The Body Turns Like a Revolving Door

Principle 14: The Down Creates the Up

Principle 15: Move Like a Puppet on a String

Principle 16: Don't Play the Juggler

The Five Primary Principles



Part 2 Internal Principles for Connectivity and Flow

Principle 17: Warm Up Body and Mind

Beginning Form

Principle 18: The Body Operates Like the Powertrain of a Car

Peng (Ward Off)

Principle 19: Soften to Close, Release to Open

Lu (Roll Back) and Ji (Press)

Principle 20: The Body Makes Use of Anchors

An (Push)

Principle 21: Opposites Spread Open the Body

Single Whip

Principle 22: Grow Like a Tree

Lift Hands

Principle 23: The Six Connections

Shoulder Strike

Principle 24: Tune in to Heaven Above and Earth Below

White Crane Spreads Its Wings

Principle 25: Create Balanced Openings

Brush Knee

Principle 26: The Continuum of Empty versus Full

Play Guitar (Play the Lute)

Principle 27: All Body Parts Move Like a Swiss Clock

Step Forward, Parry and Punch

Principle 28: Balance Yin and Yang Energies

Apparent Close Up

Principle 29: The Body Moves in Circles

Cross Hands



Part 3 Deeper Principles for Fluidity and Energy Development

Principle 30: Generate Internal Momentum

Embrace the Tiger, Return to the Mountain

Principle 31: Turbine Power Eradicates Inertia

Fist under Elbow

Principle 32: Swing the Pendulum

Repulse Monkey

Principle 33: Spring the Five Bows

Slanted Flying

Principle 34: Unify the Yin Snake and the Yang Crane

White Crane Spreads Its Wings

Principle 35: Sinking Creates Rising

Needle at Sea Bottom and Fan through Back

Principle 36: Energy Moves Fluids, Fluids Nourish the Body

Turn and Chop with the Fist

Principle 37: Balance the Sphere

Lu and Ji

Principle 38: Become a Sandbag

Single Whip

Principle 39: Ride the Wave

Waving Hands Like Clouds

Principle 40: Moving into Stillness

Single Whip

Principle 41: Gather and Bank

Closing Form

Principle 42: Postures Link into Fluid Forms



Afterword

Blood and Qi Are Inseparable

The Fabric of the Internal Arts

Practicalities

To Advance, First Retreat

Moving towards the Tai Chi Space

References