Tai-chi Nei Gung

Tai-chi Nei Gung (太極内功) consists of stationary stances and moving forms. The objective is to build a strong body structure with good alignment, so that a practitioner will be fit enough for the vagaries of combat. For those who are not interested in combat, such practice will benefit one's physical and mental health.

Each style of Tai-chi has its own system of Nei Gung. Some put more emphasis on the stationary stance and some put more emphasis on the moving form. 　The one system I like most is Wu-style's 24 styles. In the past, it was considered as a system only to be learned by disciples "who took the vow to keep the system in-house". Today, it is no longer a seller's market but a buyer's market. Everything is out: as least as far as the look of the forms is concerned.

Today, those who are interested in having an initial understanding of the 24-styles can simply buy a book: like one written by well known Wu-style master Wang DiXian (汪棣賢) titled "Tai-Chi Nei Gung" with the subtitle: the Yin and Yang 24-styles (太極内功：陰陽段２４式). And Master Mantak Chia also includes some of the stances, in particular the Golden Turtle stance (金龜式), into his own system of Iron-Shirt Chi-kung.

Nowadays strengthening one's body ready for combat can be done in a gym with the help of a professional coach. And those are interested in combat would most likely choose mixed martial art instead of tai-chi!

Having said that for those who practice meditation, tai-chi or related discipline, it will be beneficial to know that there is a body building "combat-ready" system that fits in well with what they are practicing. All fall under the the generic category of chi-practice or chi-kung. Needless to say, "a body ready to learn combat" is not the same as "a body that can do combat".  Unfortunately, some tai-chi Nei-Gung teachers or practitioners fail to notice the difference (hopefully without some disastrous consequence).

I shall go into some details of some of the 24 styles Nei Gung in future posts.

Golden Turtle stance: 金龜式