Martial Art Styles

T ai-Chi Chuan was established during the Qing dynasty in the 16th century by Chen Wang-Ting of Chen Jia Gou in Henan province. With its origins from Wushu boxing, it absorbed all the famous forms of boxing at the time, especially the 32 movement ‘Chang Quan’ (Long Boxing) of Qi Ji-Guan, (a famous Chinese general and military strategist) combined with the ancient internal arts such as Daoyin and the concept of the meridians from Traditional Chinese Medicine and the theory of Yin & Yang.

 

The Academy of Eastern Arts offers training at all levels both for health and martial practice in Sun and Sha Family styles of Taiji, both ‘free-hand’ and sword forms. International standardised forms in all styles are also taught for those wishing to enter competition.  Following the beginners course, Tui Shou (pushing Hands) is also introduced.

 

Tui Shou is designed to allow practical martial applications of the hand moves against a training partner in a controlled manner. This gives the practitioner insight into the ‘meanings’ of the movements and postures. Over a period of time, one develops the sensitivity to anticipate the opponents intention and redirect the attack using the opponents own force as well as directing one’s own internal energy. Total physical relaxation, calm and a focused mind are enhanced through Tui Shou practice.

 

Eight core postures are fundamental to Tui Shou translated from the Tai-Chi form:

• Ward Off (P’eng)
• Roll Back (Lu)
• Press (Chi) & Push (Ang)
• Pull (Tsai)
• Split (Lieh)
• Elbow (Chou)
• Shoulder, (Kao)
• At an advanced level, movements are applied spontaneously for combat practice and/or competition.

T ong Bei is one of the lesser known internal arts and was rarely taught broadly until quite recently. It literally means  “Generating Power from the Back Boxing”, The training methods of Tong bei quan are based on 72 techniques and traditionally this art form was taught as basic training of stance work employing angles of movements, arm and leg techniques as well as body conditioning.

 

The Late Grandmaster Sha Guozheng together with several other masters simplified the understanding and thereby training of Tong Bei skills, by pulling together the individual techniques and developing various sequences (forms) which contain some or all (depending on the sequence) of the 72 techniques. At The Academy Of Eastern Arts, Tong Bei techniques are practiced in both ways (individual techniques as well as various forms).

 

Some Tong Bei techniques are also integrated within Sha family Tai Chi and Xing Yi and the basic skills of Tong Bei and body conditioning can complement any martial art training.

 

Shifu Birinder’s additional knowledge and extensive training  in Chinese Medicine allows him to personally prepare herbal medicines for both internal and external use to aid body conditioning. Some of the ancient formulas and medicines used have been passed down to him by the Great Grandmasters.

X ing Yi Quan translates as Mind-Form Boxing and is the oldest of the internal arts of China. It has a reputation for being the secret fighting art of the Chinese military developed by General Yue Fei and later expanded by Ji Ji Ke. Its applications are characteristic of rapid and explosive power with continuous forward attacking movement. Even in stepping back, the exponent is still attacking.

 

In Xing Yi the practitioner learns the  six harmonies (Liu He), 3 internal and 3 external. It utilises body shape or form with ‘mind’ intention to release internal power.

 

The core practice of Xing Yi is based on San Ti Shi (specific standing practice to develop the 6 harmonies); the five element fists – Metal; Water; Wood; Fire and Earth; and the 12 Animals – Tiger; Dragon; Tai (often referred to as the Chinese Ostrich); Horse; Alligator; Snake; Swallow, Sparrow-hawk; Bear; Eagle; Chicken and Monkey. In addition to these core forms, there are several connecting forms and advanced sequences; 2 person sparring practices (Dulian/San Shou Pao) and weapons forms.

 

Traditionally, Xing Yi is initially taught with hard obvious power (Ming Jing) and refined to softer, less obvious internal ‘hidden’ power (ang Jing) and eventually development of Hua Jing. (Neutralising power).

 

At the Academy Of Eastern Arts, the complete syllabus of Xing Yi is taught and from the very beginning, ‘Ang Jing’ principles are introduced. Whilst the appearance of Xing Yi can look very physically demanding, it is infact a very suitable practice for people of all ages and can be adapted to one’s own abilities.

B a Gua Zhang translates as eight palm changes. The 8  trigrams (bagua) each representing a natural phenomena – Heaven; Earth; Water; Fire; Mountains; Lakes; Wind and Thunder, make 64 possible combination of hexagrams when one is combined with a second. These 64 combinations form the I Ching or oracle which is used in divination; medicine and martial arts to name but a few.

 

Bagua Zhang is characterised by ‘circle walking’ and the footwork is described as that of walking through a muddy pitch. Once the walking is learnt, basic palms are introduced followed by more complex palm changes and sequences and eventually the 8 animal forms which have a correspondence to each of the 8 phenomena. There are also two person practices as well as weapons forms.

 

At the Academy Of Eastern Arts, equal focus is placed on Martial practices, the internal spiralling practices and mediatative aspects of the art from which this martial practice was originally developed by its founder – Dong Hai Chuan.

Q igong can be defined as the skill of training the Chi. In China, chi is often referred to as the chi or air that we breath. In Chinese medicine and health practice terms, it is referred to as the energy force upon which all the bodily functions are maintained. ‘gong’, literally refers to the skill acquired over a long period of practice, so in the case of Qigong, it can be translated as a skill acquired in regulating the breath, posture and movements by focussing the mind.

 

During Qigong practice, one uses the mind to control the nourishing of the chi and focuses it’s direction along the routes of the meridians. (A network of pathways within the body through which Chi is said to flow).

 

There are countless methods of qigong practised widely for many different purposes, each with their own characteristics and are broadly divided into four categories:

• Strengthening the health and preventing disease
• Treatment of disease
• Martial arts
• Development of the intellect and spiritual potential

 

At the Academy, Qigong forms a core part of our training and every student learns Qigong which is practiced throughout the year according to Daosit theory of ‘five seasons’. Where a student has specific requirements, these are tailored to suit the individual and offered on a 1:1 basis. We also offer regular seminars & retreats as well as an in depth teaching certificate and diploma course.

P ersonal training is about setting your fitness objectives and taking on a coach to help you achieve them whether you just want to improve your general fitness levels or have something more specific in mind such as weight loss; Muscle building/toning or sports specific conditioning.

 

A good personal trainer can help you set and achieve realistic goals through focussed training, dietary/nutritional advice and other appropriate lifestyle adjustments. Whilst a standard program can help achieve some results, a tailored plan is ultimately superior in hitting your objectives as not everyone responds to diet and exercise in the same way.

 

At our academy, professional personal training can be tailored for those individuals with specific objectives who prefer not to do martial based exercises or in addition to a martial arts regime.

 

We can help you with:

• Weight loss programs
• Endurance
• Plyometric exercises
• Muscular size and strength
• Flexibility
• Cardio
• Sports specific fitness development
• Dietary/Nutritional and Lifestyle advice