Tai Yi Main Forms @ Qi Dragon
Tai Yi Swimming Dragon Taichi 太乙游龙拳
(A unique Taichi Qigong and Yoga combination form)
Tai Yi Swimming Dragon Quan is Taoist Master Yu Anren ’s family heirloom, originating from the Wudang Mountain in China. Swimming Dragon is a unique and graceful moving form combining Tai Chi, Qigong, yogic stretching and dancing arts, emphasizing both internal energy and external form practices. It stretches all your tendons and ligaments, and promotes the circulation of Qi (energy) and blood. With persistent practice, it will naturally improves your flexibility, coordination, balance and energy circulation and complements any style of sitting meditation. This form is the external practice of the internal Taoist Qigong practice of Macro-cosmic Orbit (in which Qi is able to pass through all your twelve meridians and eight Extra Meridians.) This form has only been made available to the general public since 1980′s by Grandmaster Yu Anren.
“Tai Yi Swimming Dragon Quan or Tai Yi You Long Quan is a fairly advanced Daoist life preservation form which can be used for self-defense, fitness and self cultivation. Originally it was practiced exclusively in the Imperial Palace for health maintenance. It was believed by Daoist practitioners that, with consistent practice, this Quan promotes longevity and culminates in immortality. Legends say that the perfected Quan gives one a body that is as light as a bird and can come and go without a trace. Thus, in the past, this Quan was kept as a secret practice. Even though this might sound very mysterious, at present we do see that people who are persistent in practicing this Quan have achieved improved health and increased longevity. This Quan requires very little space to practice, as little as six by six feet (two by two meters). It combines Qigong, Waist and Leg Gong, Silk Reeling Gong and internal self stretching and massaging Gong into one. Therefore, this form is a comprehensive practice which is graceful and beautiful, fun and enjoyable and suitable for people of all ages, from the young to the elderly.”
–by Grandmaster Yu Anren
“《太乙游龙拳》是我们家族数代单传下来的，中华武术宝库中的一个稀有拳种。它是道家防身、健身、修身、养生术中较高级的一个派别，属武当太乙派。太乙即太乙真人。又称太一真人。史书封禅书载：天神贵者太。道家极其信仰，尊为天皇太乙，加以奉祀，尊称为太一救苦天尊。为纪念这位罚恶扶善的天尊而取名“太乙”。“龙”是中华民族的象征和古代王室的标志。华夏民族的先祖炎帝、黄帝和“龙”都有密切的关系。“龙”气势恢弘，天上飞、地上行、水里游、无所不能。它有强劲的生命力，象征着中华民族自强不息奋发向上的顽强精神。这套拳习练起来绵绵不断、行云流水、騰云驾雾，如龙游太空，故称《太乙游龙拳》。中华武术分为两大流派：一为外家拳，称“少林派”二为内家拳，称“武当派”。《太乙游龙拳》属内家拳，故又名《武当太乙游龙拳》。其中有拳术与器械套路，有动功也有静功。它包括《太乙七十二闭手》、《太乙三十六擒拿》、《太乙乘风剑》、《太乙封山棍》、《太乙游龙功》、《太乙行步功》、《太乙阴阳萌生术（又称太乙龟息功）》等。”
Tai Yi Riding the Wind Sword or Tai Yi Swimming Dragon Sword
太乙乘风剑 （又名：太乙游龙剑）
“太乙乘风剑”是《太乙游龙门》系列中的一个重要器械套路，又名“太乙游龙剑”。“太乙乘风剑”寓意太乙真人乘风舞剑、翩翩而起的道骨仙风形象。剑术中包含着浓厚的道家文化，还有许多祈求神明保佑以及驱魔、逐鬼的动作，这都是其他剑术套路中所没有的。它是以内为主，内外兼修的剑术套路。其剑法体现了“阴阳相生”、“天人合一”的道家理论，蕴含着中华民族古典哲理。动作舒展、园活、美观，有很好的观赏性又有极佳的健身价值。
“Tai Yi Cheng Feng Jian or Tai Yi Riding the Wind Sword is an important form in the Tai Yi Swimming Dragon Sect. It is also called Tai Yi Swimming Dragon Sword. The name gives the image of the Daoist Sage Tai Yi Zhen Ren dancing with the sword as if riding the wind. This sword form has a strong flavor of Daoist culture and contains many moves for praying to the Gods for blessings and for driving away demons and ghosts, which is rarely seen in other sword forms. Tai Yi Riding the Wind Sword is a sword form that emphasizes internal practice but at the same time combines both internal and external cultivation. It embodies the Daoist principles of the “mutual dependence of Yin and Yang” and the “oneness of Universe and Human” and sparkles with ancient Chinese philosophy. The open, fluid and graceful moves of this sword style are not only pleasant and enjoyable to watch but also have excellent health and fitness benefits.”
–by Grandmaster Yu Anren
Tai Yi Riding the Wind Sword is the brother form of Master Yu’s family heirloom – Tai Yi Swimming Dragon Quan, the hand form. Originated from the Wudang mountain in China, it is a very rare, uniquely beautiful and energetic style. Liping was a gold medalist in the Taichi sword form division performing this form in the 1997 International Martials Arts Tournament. No previous experience is necessary to learn it. You will need to get your own Taichi sword. Check Brenda Lai supplies in the Mission District (around 30th St and Mission St).
Tai Yi Xing Bu Gong (Tai Yi Walking Qigong) 太乙行步功
Tai Yi Xing Bu Gong or Walking Gong 太乙行步功 is a rare beauty and one of Grandmaster Yu’s family Tai Yi Swimming Dragon Sect series. It was taught by Mrs Yu to Qi Dragon community.
Tai Yi Xing Bu Gong or Walking Qigong is one of the dynamic Qigong forms in the Taiyi Swimming Dragon Sect. It consists of four sections with a total of 25 moves. This practice has the function of strengthening the bones and making the tendons flexible as well as increasing internal Qi, invigorating blood circulation and refreshing the mind. It is a Qigong practice that is done in a walking posture with a practitioner walking forward and backward in a Qigong state, thus it is called Xing Bu or Walking Gong.
Taiyi Walking Gong is simple and easy to learn and good for people of all ages. The movements can be done with big or small extensions and with more or less repetitions. Even though the movements are simple, they provide every joint a balanced overall exercise as well as good stretching for the tendons and meridians. This practice refreshes the mind and vitalizes the body and has great effects in fitness and slowing the aging process.
Tai Yi 72 Closed Hand 太乙72 闭手
A group of student studied this form in China in 2009.
“Tai Yi 72 Bi Shou or Tai Yi 72 Closed Hand is an important form in the family of the Tai Yi You Long Gong. The usual martial art forms mainly focus on attacking and defense with hands and feet. But this unique form primarily focuses on Qin Na (grabbing and acupoints pressing) and counter Qin Na and Feng Bi (blocking and locking) and counter Feng Bi, which is rarely found in the Northern or Southern Chinese martial art schools. In practicing, it emphasizes the harmony of the internal and external,up and down, and continuity of moves that are beautiful and graceful, like floating clouds and flowing water. It not only has its martial and artisitic characteristics but also has very good health benefits.”
–by Grandmaster Yu Anren
To read the Chinese introduction on Taiyi 72 Closed Hands, click here.
