The Tao of Yiquan: The Method of Awareness in the Martial Arts

by Jan Diepersloot

Overview

Based on the techniques and practices of various masters of Yiquan, this book focuses on the ability to defeat power and speed with the softness and stillness taught by this Chinese martial art. Yiquan, also known as I Ch'uan, is an ancient health and martial art system that has its roots in Buddhism and draws on Chinese meditative traditions. Central to Yiquan training methods is a practice of meditation that integrates mind and body to produce fajin, a powerful and potentially lethal force. Yiquan also relies on skills of awareness and stillness to counter and control this deadly force. This is volume two of the Warriors of Stillness trilogy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780964997646
Publisher:	Qi Works
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Series:	Warriors of Stillness Trilogy
Edition description:	Fifth edition
Pages:	251
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Jan Diepersloot has studied martial arts for more than 35 years and is the author of Masters of Perception and Qigong of the Center. He is the founder of the Contra Costa Center for Healing and the Arts, where he teaches. He lives in Walnut Creek, California.

Table of Contents

Author's Introduction i

Part I Buddhism and Martial Arts in Ancient Asia

Chapter 1 Bhuddism and Martial Arts in Ancient India

1 Pre Buddhist India 3

2 Buddha's Childhood Training 7

3 Buddhism and Indian History 9

4 Buddhism and Martial Arts 10

Chapter 2 Buddhism and Martial Arts in Ancient China

1 Buddhism in Ancient China 13

2 Bodhidharma: The Founder (520 C.E.) 17

3 Long Dynasty (600-900 C.E.): Martial Arts As Spiritual Quest 22

Chapter 3 The Secularization of Buddhist Martial Arts

1 Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) 27

2 Shaolin Ethical Legacy 30

3 Yueh Fei and Xingyiquan 32

4 Buddhism, Taoism and the Creation of Xingyiquan 34

5 Yuan and Ming Dynasties (1271-1644 C.E.) 39

6 Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 C.E.) 40

7 Guo Yunshen's Summary of Xingyiquan 42

Part II The Life and Art of Wang Xiangzhai

Note and Coveat 51

Chapter 4 The Life of Wang Xiangzhai

1 The Apprenticeship 53

2 Early 1900: The Quest 57

3 Shoalin Monastery 60

4 Wang Xiangzhai and Dunhuang 63

5 Naming the Art 68

6 The 1930s: Domestic & Foreign Challenges 70

7 The 1940s: Beijing and Dachengquan 73

Chapter 5 Wang Xiangzhai's Writings

1 Introduction 81

Historical origins 81

Criticism of normal exercise 83

Standing as preferred exercise 84

2 Zhanzhuang: Pile Standing 86

Unification is simplification Conducting internal investigations 87

Promoting energy flow through non-exertion 88

Movement and stillness 88

Polarity as a tool of enlightenment 89

3 Shili: Building Strength 91

Sources of strength 91

Stretching 92

Integration 93

4 Fali: Using Strenth 95

5 Radical Criticisms 97

Xingyiquan 97

Taijiaquan 98

Baguazhang 99

Part III The Tao (Yang) of Yiquan

Chapter 6 Zhanzhuang and the Structure of Stillness

1 Master Han Comes to America 103

2 Practice with Master Han 104

3 Therapeutic Discoveries 108

4 Pile Standing 110

5 Centerline 111

6 Centerpoint 112

7 Activating the Torso Spring 113

8 Foundation 115

9 Sphere 116

10 Nervous System Integration 117

Chapter 7 Polarity and the Grammar of Movement

1 Introduction 119

2 Vertical CL Movement 120

3 Horizontal CL Movement 123

4 Rotational CL Movement 125

5 Functional Stances 126

6 Walking 127

7 Turning 131

8 Movements of the Sphere 133

Extension retraction 134

Inversion-Eversion 135

Up-down 136

Opening closing 139

Chapter 8 Building Strength with Awareness

1 Discovering the Pulse of Life 145

2 Breathing for Relaxation and Strength 148

3 Pulse Energy Exercises 150

4 Wave Energy Exercises 154

5 Further Wave Exercises 157

6 Spiral Energy Exercises 161

7 Functional Stances & Movement Exercises 166

8 Walking Movement Exercises 170

9 The Use of Sound 178

Chapter 9 Using Strength with Awareness

1 The Internalization of Movement 181

2 Awareness Exercises 182

3 Internal Isometrics 182

4 Discharging Energy 184

5 Partnered Work with Professor Yu 186

6 Master Cai and the Refinement of Jin 190

Part IV The Tao (Yin) of Yiquan

Chapter 10 Yiquan and Taijiquan

1 Polarity of Pengjin 197

2 Wang Xiangzhai and Taijiquan 198

3 Yu Pengxi and Empty Force 201

4 The Genesis of Empty Force 203

5 Empty Force as a Game of Awareness 205

6 The Limitations of Empty Force 207

Chapter 11 Stillness and Movement with Master Tam

1 Meeting Sam Tam 211

2 Sam Tam and Taijiquan 212

3 The Spine and Central Equilibrium 215

4 Structure of the Sphere 217

5 The Foundation of the Legs 219

6 Circular Movement 221

Chapter 12 Master Tam and the Practice of No Force

1 Using Force 223

2 Using No Force 224

3 Using Attention 229

4 Using Intention 230

5 Sticking 232

6 Mind Games 234

7 Pattern Practice 236

Afterword: Martial Art as Transformative Process 241

Notes 245

Index 253

Database 275