True Skill Lies In The Details – Part One

This article was written by Sifu James Gao assisted by Jason Luo. It was selected and published on “Xi An Yong Nian Yang style Tai Chi association’s 40th Anniversary Commemorative and Research Papers“.

In “Wang Zongyue’s Tai Chi Quan Treatise,” it is said: “A slight error can lead to a great discrepancy. Learners must carefully discern this.” This is the concluding statement of his treatise. The phrase “slight error” in modern terms means that details determine success or failure. True skill is gradually developed through the mastery of details, not by merely watching videos and imitating routines. While many people have improved their health through the popular practice of Tai Chi, how many have truly mastered the art?

In our Tai Chi teaching in Australia, we focus on those subtleties that beginners cannot see in the movements and that are difficult to describe in words. Our goal is to cultivate true Chinese internal martial arts skills.

This article attempts to illustrate the detailed techniques hidden in the words of the treatise and in each movement through three stages: static Wuji opening stance, dynamic form practice, and two-person push-hands exchange. This will give readers a glimpse of our efforts to promote Tai Chi culture.