Tai Chi - Belly of the Beast

[@houseson]

The organic way my body responds to the 24 form...having such a great time. The 24 Yang form Mr. Sinclair teaches has resonated with me for about 2 years now, since I began practice. It seems like progress will happen randomly where my body finally understands: don't be afraid to just move! I just had another portion of a movement settle into itself. So much fun.

[@houseson]

My lower back opened up for the first time. Period. I could not stand for more than a few minutes comfortably. I am 65. I put my wireless headphones on their stand every evening. The stand is just low enough where I have to bend my knees or lean forward to reach. After about two years of daily tai chi practice, standing and moving chigong (the ones the cool kids do, 8 brocade, yi jin, etc), I actually love standing and walking. No running for me,though. I practiced other styles in my 20s and 30s that really didn't resonate with me. I say that because it was at least a sandbox to play in until decades later I would find this! I just enjoy being a part of the conversation. That is also why I like to play guitar. Tai chi form and playing a song. Their ambition is not to reach the end, or win, or lose. You just breathe, and the moment and you are not separate.

[@joshuatoms7664]

"You better be careful what you teach... Some people might learn it." Haha, love the energy you bring, Sifu Sinclair ;-)

[@getavideo]

I really like the part about peng at about 7:05! Thanks for sharing and helping me improving my learning experience.

[@etienneteilleryrodinis3959]

Always a good class 🥋🤘🎶❗

[@getavideo]

I love the expression "harmonics of peng". Very insightful! Thanks again!

[@joshpickles9022]

I love your good humour Ian. Keep the videos coming. I hope you've lost the belly now - it's not good for your health long term. Best wishes.

[@juandiego149]

so great and funny in small dinamics. lovely class

[@mademax1]

thanks for the insight on the waist relaxation. because I used to push towards the floor with thighs but that was painfull after a few minuets and then found wu style tai chi and bagua which said tuck in the tail bone and that was seeming to work but not throught an entire or more than a few seconds at a time of sparring. I think ill just put in some more leg work and try this some more of course in a month or two i need to get that habit back properly.

[@terrysucrana1318]

Hello Ian. I'm a big fan of your videos and how you teach your concepts. First time I've seen was the one with the mma guys, and then I saw this one. You seem to have great skills and being nice person, your pupils sure are a privileged ones. The Alfred Hitchcock school joke almost killed me :D

[@charlesseymour6936]

Great class.....thank you!

[@danwyry5661]

I must say man, your videos are awesome. If I ever go to Canada, I'll try to visit your school. Greetings from Argentina

[@lebarosky]

Dear Sifu of Wonder: thanks for your scintillating sense of humor. Thanks for bouncing people off your tummy. Thanks for removing that ridiculous disclaimer. Your American friend from Ohio, Gerry.

[@macboron6106]

I'm glad you're back ;)

[@MichaelFJ1969]

Made me laugh! Thanks for the upload :-)

[@ALK]

All joking apart, this video and the one on "Tai Chi tuishou for striking and mid-range grappling" demonstrate clearly how an expert can change between the fundamental energies (Peng, Lui, Gee, Ahn) with minimal actual movement. It can be a subtle shift of shape/direction of intent, almost invisible to the eye. Unless the opponent is equally skilled and sensitive, they may miss the change, and that creates an opportunity. Thank you!

[@etienneteilleryrodinis3959]

thanks

[@TritdawG]

This video was great! I wanted to ask, does anybody know the Chinese characters of the 8 Tai Ji energies he is discussing throughout the video?

Jada Pinkett Smith calls it Grown Man's Gerth. The next secret weapon for James Bond.

[@bencoomer2000]

The kids I teach love when I use this. Though I'm not quite as... proficient as you here.

[@橋本絵莉子]

I am thinking of learning Tai Chi to improve my Table Tennis skills. What do you think of that ? As far as I know there is a lot where I can use Tai Chi in Table Tennis, like it is also used in sword tecs. 1. To be more focused, relaxed and balanced before a game and during a game, right breathing, relaxed muscles, powerful grounded positions in the game... psychological is also very important in Table Tennis Sport, so be more free, peaceful minded during a match for better focus and sportspirit. 2. To be more physical more powerful grounded to earth with a good center of gravity and balanced stand right before preforming a strike, hit. 3. Developing new strikes by Tai Chi Power, so they come faster and in the right place, without letting know and using short Chi Energy Technics. Modified strikes would be: The Block: Is a counter/defending strike/(or just hold the blade) on low, fast balls near the table, where is enough time and to execute the block slow on fast incoming balls with a light, short forward direction, which will give more power by Tai Chi and come faster and it is not to see for the opponent. The Flick: A Flick is an very fast attacking strike by a short movement of balls coming on the table very slow in the beginning of the Match right near the net. I think I can also get here more power in the strike and without showing that the ball will come fast. The Service: To be very focused on the service and also here getting some extra power. A Shot: Is a very fast strike where the ball is played just with power directly without giving it rotation, important is to get it right in the place and to generate a lot of energy and power. A Chop: A Chop is a defending strike, where you need mostly to neutralize some of the energy of the incoming ball and right after also to get it back on the table mostly far from the table, so it needs a lot of right placement. For Loops/Topspin: I can not use it, because they need a very long and wide movement of the arm, but here is a bit Tai Chi always involved, because you need to give the energy from your feet like chain to the end of your Table Tennis blade by short rotating and coming with the body up and forward to create the maximum of power for this attacking strike. But this strike is very time consuming and I do not think there will be time to get the Tai Chi power and right grounded position so fast to use it. 1. What do you think of this ? 2. Did you ever heard people learning Tai Chi to improve other Sport Skills ? 3. Would Tai Chi Help, also in these strikes, or would it not be so good because the light ball is not much resistance/force to react on with Tai Chi ? 4. Where should I start, when wanna use Tai Chi ? 5. On developing and to get Tai Chi into the strikes, what kind of technique, are close and useful to the Strikes I wanna modified and how are they called ?

[@dianne3196]

Hi Ian, Two old lady aficionados here in BC. You mentioned 'opening' the back. How does one do that? Also how does one open the qua at the hip? Thank-You for posting your clips.

[@GhthorVX]

Awesome intro!

[@agskater1914]

Welcome back Laoshi

[@enhuang8565]

Hi master, I live in Toronto how can I find you?

[@IanSinclairTaiChi]

NighV Loo SinclairMartialArts.com I teach ongoing full-time and part-time classes in Orillia. Students come from all over, including Toronto. I can do seminars and private lessons in Toronto for a fee, as schedule permits.

[@Shindai]

lmao and all this time I've been calling myself kung fu panda, when all along it's been you xD Put a smile on my face, thanks for that :)

[@GeneBurnett]

Good stuff Ian. Love the Tchoung story. He was awesome. Forget the broccoli, unless you like it. Diets don't work. Not for long. And not if you want to stay healthy and fit. The best way to lose weight is to do 15 minutes (at least) of aerobic exercise every day. And not just mild aerobic exercise but aerobic exercise where your heart rate hits that "target" rate for your age. And you can't count the time it takes to get to that rate. It's 15+ minutes evert day at the target rate. It's not a quickie weight loss that comes back quickly...it's really a life shift. It takes a while...but eventually, you have the right lean muscle mass ratio and enough fat burning enzymes, that you burn fat even in your sleep. It can be T'ai-Chi movements, but you have to do them fast enough to get your heart going. Be well. GB

[@LifeForceChannel]

Hi Ian. it has been a long time since you've put up any videos. you and your videos are missed by many.

[@beckaflynn1128]

Nice work Ian. About the big belly, is this how higher-level taichi bodies develop? I dont think you have a big belly but it is the evolutionary climax of all your years of training. your diaphragm is extremely low now, which is a good thing, so it looks like you have big belly but its the training.

[@IanSinclairTaiChi]

Becka Flynn Nope. The belly is the result of exercising less and eating the same way I did when I was burning 6000 calories per day. Tai Chi does not make people fat. But it is good for digestion.

[@jasonsecretsword7606]

wow! true cotton belly!!

[@OldJong]

This is Friar Tuck favorite technique! ;-)

[@taokapow]

anyone live near topanga who wants to practice? so hard to find a dedicated training partner :\

[@IanSinclairTaiChi]

taichicentral.com/directory/#!directory/map

[@adammorris5104]

1 minute in and im in stiches! :DD

[@mrmao3708]

LMAO Now it's like dry tofu "

[@nihao3616]

很多太极大师都是胖子

[@coronal2207]

reminds me of kung fu panda lol...

[@thomasdrinkmoore9827]

Ever thought about going vegan, eating a plant based diet? That could rehydrate your tofubelly ;-)

[@wils8886]

That's one powerful belly . xD You might have low testosterone which causes belly fat . Check your testosterone levels because you might need testosterone therapy.