Seminars Presented by Hong Yuan Luo at Wuhan and Guangzhou Sports Universities
At the invitation of Wuhan Sports University, Master Hong Yuan Luo, President of the Ji Hong Wu Shu and Tai Chi College of Canada, and Master Daijuan Gu, the Vice-President and their two associates paid a visit to the University on the 23rd to 25th of October. Master Luo gave a seminar on the three elements of Taichi: the mind, energy and power, with over a hundred attendees. Among them were professors, specialists, graduate students and faculty students.
Wuhan Sports University is one of the four top-tiered sports education institutes in China offering programs at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels including masters and doctors’ programs. It is also one of the national sports research centres. For many years, the university and Ji Hong College have maintained exchange activities. As a guest professor of the university, Master Luo has conducted many joint research projects with the university.
The seminar presented by Master Luo at the university gave an in-depth discussion on the basic elements of Taijiquan: the mind, energy and power. It went beyond the traditional empirical approach in deciphering Taichi principles and mechanics. A model based on scientific human locomotion and bio-mechanical principles was employed to elucidate the fundamental nature of three basic elements of Taichi, namely the role the mind plays in the application of Taichi, the utilisation of energy of the body based on the “Qi” system and the generation of power that is unique in martial art.
Using daily familiar objects such as basketball and other elastic tools, Master Luo gave a lively demonstration of how the power of Taichi was generated. By means of some simple exercises, Master Luo provided those in attendance exquisite experience related to how the “qi” worked in the body during Taichi application.
As Professor Long, deputy-head of the Wushu Faculty commented at the seminar,
“Master Luo started with something we use, practice everyday, something we touch upon, and sense and yet have no true understanding: the “jing”, or power of Taichi, and took us to the application of “qi” and mind using diagrams and text and in-depth analysis to allow us to understand such vital aspects of Taichi in scientific terms.
Master Luo has given us a lecture on the theory and practice of Taichi that have immensely benefited us in our study. We have the utmost admiration for Master Luo for his passion for Chinese Wushu, and his single-minded pursuit in the understanding of Taichi, and in his contribution to our university. Today, he generously shared with us the fruit of his many years of dedicated research, and he has given us impetus to move with even more confidence towards a new cultural era.”
On November 5th, Master Luo gave the seminar of the same topic at Guangzhou Sports University. Among the attendees were Ji Hong instructors stationed in Guangzhou, Shantou, Xieyang, Zhaoqing and Zhaozhou. Working through exercises, the attendees got to experience what they learned at the seminar. Through scientific analysis, the mystery of Taichi was finally unveiled. There is no more need for that “Eureka” moment to get a glimpse of the art. And neither is Taichi simply some arms and legs movement for the seniors. There is a clear path of understanding of this exercise form that is suitable for all ages. Through the utilisation of the muscular, tendons and soft elastic tissues of the entire body with their accompanying eccentric extension, Taichi is finally a whole-body exercise uncloaked.
As the wisdom of Chinese culture gets more appreciated around the world, this ancient cultural gem called Taichi put on a new shine quickly becoming a favourite in many people’s daily lives. In the new world trend of adopting exercise regimes based on science, and in the pursuit of health and wellness, Taichi is destined to find its place in the mainstream that it so well deserves.