Qigong of the Center, Essence of Taijiquan: The Teachings of Grandmaster Cai Song Fang (Warriors of Stillness Trilogy)

Song of Central EquilibriumWe are centered,stable and still as a mountain.Our qi sinks to the dantian. We are as if suspended from above.Our Spirit is concentrated within and our outward manner perfectly composed.Receiving and issuing energy areboth the work of an instant. *-Classical Taijiquan poemBased on the teachings of Grandmaster Cai Song Fang, Jan Diepersloot, in his book, Warriors of Silence, explores the theoretical and the practical aspects of meditative Chinese martial arts and their application to the partnered practices of Push Hands, various other martial arts techniques such as "fajing" and to the cultivation of relaxation and total body integration for health benefits and the healing arts. I teach Taiji and Qigong in San Francisco, California and I highly recommend this book to all of my students through my website mini magazine: [...]The book is divided into three sections: The first section, "Being Mindful of the Center", deals with the cultivation of relaxation and integration for health and healing. In this section, discussing the historical and philosophical reasons for the cultivation of the Center Point, Diepersloot talks about the "wuji" Center as a center of gravity, as a biological center and as a center of awareness. From the Center "wuji" point he expands his discussion to the cultivation of the Center Line, sinking the qi, the importance of foundation and the Upper Torso, advanced standing techniques and closing practices. Finally, as he expands the concepts of the cultivation of "qi" life energy, "yi" intention and blood circulation in the body, Diepersloot makes a definitive and coherent argument showing the relationship and connection between the Chinese view of health and longevity and the Western perspective of healing and prevention of disease. For example: "The principle of wuji qigong is that the practice of optimum posture promotes optimum health. We put awareness on the centerpoint so the qi will generate in the belly. When the center is full and the centerline is truly plumb and open, the qi begins to overflow and circulate up and down in the centerline and the other meridians. Therefore, meditation on the centerline, ie. postural meditation, is the key to proper circulation of the qi through the entire body where the qi can do its healing work, breaking down the blockages and strengthening weak areas. The skill of wuji qigong and central equilibrium utilizes the mind to suffuse all parts of the body with qi." **The second section, "Being Mindful of The Foundation & Sphere", talks about the cultivation of relaxation and integration for use in the martial arts. In this section, the author advances to the cultivation of the Foundation through shifting, opening and closing of energy, and stepping and walking forward and backward. He talks about the stages of practice and the structure and types of spheres through the cultivation of the sphere; horizontal, vertical, and diagonal circling. Finally, he combines the Center Line, Foundation and Sphere concepts through a series of exercises that develop power and energy in the body for martial arts application. He describes various Push Hands strategies, advanced methods for neutralization, and the principle of Relative Motion.The third section, "Being Mindful of the Connection" examines the use of energy and strength in the partnered practice of Push Hands. Diepersloot describes how using movement and stillness to neutralize and using stillness and total body integration to discharge energy is the essence of the power of the internal martial arts practice. He examines Master Cai's unique use of Stillness, how to cultivate Jin, and the four levels of skill development: Integration and Cylindricality, Sphericity and Unitary Expansion, Spherical Awareness and Peripheral Intentionality and finally the fourth level, Empty Force and Interacting Fields of Awareness.Warriors of Stillness is a book that extensively develops and explores this relationship between Chinese (internal) meditative and (external) martial arts and the correlative relationship between "soft" energy overcoming "hard". According to Jan Diepersloot : " Chinese martial arts is a vast body of principles, techniques, theories and practices developed over a period of time in an attempt to gain control over human conflict. External martial arts is based upon the energy of movement and internal martial arts is based upon the movement of energy. The external arts are based on strength and movement, the internal on awareness and stillness. Stillness is the ultimate weapon to be used against the adversary"***Master Cai's unique achievement in martial arts, according to Diepersloot, is "his mastery of the paradox that the perfection of stillness leads to the control of movement. Wuji Gigong is, first and foremost, the cultivation of energy skills in the stillness of the center. ` In his work as a martial artist, Master Cai pushes the art of "achieving more by doing less" toward the ultimate limit of "achieving all by doing nothing."****Warriors of Stillness is a MUST read for students of internal martial arts. It is an amazingly detailed and completely engrossing book. I could not put it down and I will certainly review it again and again. A book for both beginning students, as well as for more advanced practitioners, Warriors of Stillness will keep you expanding your thinking with its wealth of information, diagrams, examples and its clearly presented synthesis of Eastern philosophy and Western psycho-physiological explanation.Reading Jan Diepersloot's book gave me insight into my own Wuji Qigong meditation practice and opened the door to new levels of understanding. It inspired and encouraged me to practice and gave me confidence to search deeper within myself to use my wuji-taiji knowledge as a "spiritual path to refine my character, personality, and spirit".Song of Wuji Qigong"Stand with the feet parallel the width of the shouldersKeep the knees unlocked and expanding,Feel as if they're squeezing a big boulderRelaxing the hips and keeping the pelvis tuckedExpand the lower back and keep the abdomen sucked"Hollowing the chest and rounding the back"The arms hang naturally by the sideHolding your head high as if suspended from the skyTongue touching the palate, close your eyesSink your awareness down the bellyNaturally breathing in and outWhile aligning the three points on a straight lineLet the qi fill your bodyand peace will fill your mind."Master Cai Song Fang instruction for Wuji Qigongcompliled by Jan DieperslootPostscript: Author, Sifu Jan Diepersloot, has been a student of internal martial arts since 1975 and is a senior student of Master Fong Ha and has studied with Masters Han Xingyuan, Yu Penxi, and Sam Tam. He studied extensively with Grandmaster Cai Song Fang and was so profoundly affected by the practice of Wuji Gigong that he based this book on Master Cai's teachings and philosophy. Jan Diepersloot has been teaching internal martial arts since 1981 and is the founder and current director of the Contra Costa Center for Healing and the Arts in Walnut Creek.* Warriors of Stillness, Vol. 1, Jan Diepersloot, 1995, page 5**Warriors of Stillness, Vol. 1, Jan Diepersloot, 1995, page 50***Warriors of Stillness, Jan Diepersloot, Vol.1, 1995, page ii**** Warriors of Stillness, Vol.1, Jan Diepersloot, 1995, page xi, xivKiyoko Hancock@all rights reserved March 2010

I only started reading WARRIORS OF STILLNESS a few days ago but so far I'm very impressed. The author, Jan Diepersloot, studied with two outstanding tai chi masters. One, Cai Songfang, placed great emphasis on qigong standing practice, Zhan Zhuang. The book focuses on Zhan Zhuang and its importance in developing the quality of Zhongding, central equilibrium. The author explains the vital importance of central equilibrium in the development of all tai chi practice and postures. Without establishing this quality, the practitioner is never likely to develop true tai chi skills and abilities. My own tai chi training emphasized standing qigong as well and it is something that I have come to more greatly appreciate and value over the years. This is a great book for anyone interested in developing deeper skills in their exploration of tai chi. I heartily recommend WARRIORS OF STILLNESS for all with high goals in their tai chi practice.

Edit to my original review (below). To give this book less than 5 stars like I did was unfair of me. Yes, the visuals generally stink; however, the most important ones are good enough. And the text itself combined with the best visuals makes this book a classic. It would be no exaggeration to say that most readers could easily incorporate the material into their lives and gain considerably in terms of health and well-being.Original review:4.5 Stars. Lots of very good info. Yes, the illustrations are amateurish at best as noted by many. Instructions could be in greater depth. But what's in the book is uncommonly good stuff. Would like to train under Diepersloot some day. Get the book. It's definitely a worthwhile read & will deepen any practice you have if you add his material.

I agree with other positive reviews. There is a mystery to this standing meditation and slow moving practice that the author sheds light on. As a novice, it helps me with mental reminders when my group performs in silence. A note on the illustrations that many reviewers don't like -- these are not the freeze frame high detail shots that other martial arts books are full of -- these are artistic interpretations of the author's experiences as he practices. I may be in the minority, but I appreciate the attempt to portray something that words can't convey in pictures. When detail is needed there are clear illustrations in the form of line drawings, but when 'feelings' are needed the photo illustrations capture some of the 'wordlessness'of Tai Chi.

One of the best books I have discovered of recent. I have been studying QiGong for awhile and looking to a Taiji class. This volume contains incredibly useful information that I have not had explained in my QiGong classes. I can't recommend this highly enough

A very different but fundamental approach on meditation and movement thru stillness and the correct way to align your spine using the "tuck and suck" approach

one of the best on the subject

A great guide and understanding of Qigong. Well worth having a copy.

Thank You.Love Joy Michael:)

Muito bom livro, sério e honesto em relação á informação transmitida.