Internal Power: Tai Chi & Bagua Zhang
The Science of Effortless Power
While many see Tai Chi and Bagua as gentle moving meditations, we teach them as they were originally intended: sophisticated combat systems. In our school, internal martial arts are not just about relaxation; they are about developing power that allows a smaller person to overcome a larger, stronger opponent through superior mechanics and timing.
They don't call Tai Chi Chuan the "Supreme Ultimate Boxing" for nothing.
Tai Chi Chuan: The Iron Wrapped in Cotton
Tai Chi is the study of "yielding" and "neutralizing." Instead of meeting force with force, we use the opponent’s own weight and momentum against them.
Relaxation for Combat: We don't relax to be calm; we relax to remove the internal friction that slows down your movements. A relaxed muscle is a fast muscle.
The Power of the Whole: In Tai Chi, power is never generated by the arm alone. It is rooted in the feet, developed in the legs, directed by the waist, and expressed through the fingers.
Combat Application: We train Push Hands and Sticky Energy to sense an attacker's intent the moment they touch us. Our curriculum covers joint locks, devastating short-range strikes (Fa Jin), and takedowns that feel "weightless" to the practitioner but catastrophic to the opponent.
Bagua Zhang: The Art of Circular Evasion
If Tai Chi is the "Iron Wrapped in Cotton," Bagua is the "Whirlwind." Based on the philosophy of constant change, Bagua is famous for its circular footwork and its ability to "walk around" an opponent's defense.
Constant Motion: While other arts move in straight lines, Bagua practitioners move in circles. This allows you to constantly disappear from your opponent's line of sight, attacking their flanks and back.
Total Versatility: Bagua is designed for fighting multiple attackers. Its twisting and coiling movements build a body that is incredibly flexible and powerful from any angle.
The Palm vs. The Fist: Bagua focuses on open-palm strikes, which allow for faster transitions into the grabs, throws, and "dirty" gouging techniques that characterize the art's combat history.
Why "Internal" Doesn't Mean "Soft"
The Internal path is about Efficiency. We focus on:
Alignment: Using the skeleton rather than just muscle.
Sensitivity: Reading the opponent's "empty" and "full" spaces.
Explosiveness: Learning to discharge power in an instant from zero distance.
Whether you are seeking the profound health benefits of improved circulation and balance, or the high-level combat skills required to end a fight without relying on brute strength, our Internal Arts program offers a no-nonsense approach to these legendary systems.