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WHAT IS TAI CHI

Develop your ENERGY and have a deep understanding of how to use it for Martial and Healing Application.
Learn about how to develop your energies for healing the body in our Qigong Class and then be able to wield this profound energy in martial application in our Clear Tai Chi Level 1.

Tai Chi is not just a practice for health; it also has deep roots in martial applications. While it’s known for its slow, graceful movements, its techniques can be used effectively for self-defense. Here are some key aspects:

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  1. Principles of Movement: Tai Chi emphasizes relaxed, fluid motion, allowing practitioners to redirect an opponent's energy rather than using brute force.

  2. Balance and Centering: The focus on balance helps practitioners remain stable while moving, making it easier to respond to attacks or counter movements.

  3. Sensitivity and Awareness: Practicing Tai Chi enhances sensitivity to an opponent’s movements, which can help in anticipating and responding to their actions.

  4. Joint Locks and Throws: Many Tai Chi forms include techniques that can be adapted for joint locks and throws, allowing for effective defensive maneuvers.

  5. Breath Control: Deep breathing techniques improve focus and calmness, which are crucial in a martial context.

  6. Meditative Focus: The meditative aspects of Tai Chi help practitioners maintain clarity and composure during confrontations.

 

Overall, Tai Chi provides a unique approach to martial arts, blending physical skill with mental discipline.

CLEAR Tai Chi
Richard Clear Tai Chi

Unlock the Full Potential of Tai Chi
Tai Chi offers a deep path to well-being, but true mastery requires a strong foundation. At Energy Elevation, we focus on the essential elements that lead to real health benefits, not just memorizing elaborate choreographed forms.
 

Learn from the Core: Building Real Skills for Real Results
Many schools prioritize choreography for far too long without addressing core principles like body alignment, breath work, efficient movement, and understanding the internal "energy" (Qi) of Tai Chi. This delays your progress and hinders the full health benefits. We start by teaching a short form. This allows us to concentrate on these crucial foundational skills, ensuring you experience the positive effects of Tai Chi sooner.
 

The Missing Piece: Unveiling the Power of Martial Applications
Tai Chi's health benefits are deeply connected to its martial roots. Understanding the martial applications helps you refine your form, leading to better alignment and movement efficiency. We don't require sparring, but safe exposure to these applications provides a deeper understanding of the art and unlocks its full potential for your health. We teach Tai Chi fighting methods and real-world use of the martial applications for those who are interested.
 

Feeling is Believing: The Importance of Hands-On Learning
Certain subtleties of Tai Chi are difficult to grasp through words alone. That's why our instructors teach Clear Internal Push Hands, a gentle practice that allows you to "feel" alignments, energies, body states and more through direct contact. This method is safe for everyone, including our senior students, and significantly enhances your Tai Chi skills and abilities – both for healing and martial applications.
 

Traditional Roots Modern Approach: Clear Style Tai Chi
We are proud to represent Master Richard Clear and teach
Clear Style Tai Chi Chuan, a lineage that emphasizes both health and martial skill sets. Click Here for more about Clear Style Tai Chi Chuan.
 

Ready to Begin Your Journey?
We invite you to explore the world of Tai Chi with us. 

WHAT IS TAI CHI?

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Clear Tai Chi Wide Logo

WHY CHOOSE US?

Develop Real Skill and Real Power Using ENERGY

About Clear Tai Chi
The unique thing about Clear Tai Chi Chuan style is that we use Clear Internal Push Hands to get Internal Power Skills.

The Clear Tai Chi system emphasizes methods for physically testing and proving Internal Skills. We use Hands-on learning methods from the very beginning, assuming nothing and taking nothing for granted. We seek practical applications of Internal Power, and the training takes a practical and testable approach.

Clear Tai Chi is a complete system of Tai Chi Chuan. Founded by Master Richard Clear, the Clear Tai Chi Chuan style values Student Results over dogmatic Lineage preferences. The emphasis is on the clear understanding of the principles of Tai Chi Chuan that are common to all styles. Clear Tai Chi is open to training methods from all Tai Chi styles and systems.

Clear Tai Chi Chuan training methods focus on clear teaching and explanations that deliver results quickly and reliably. Richard Clear is a modern, Western-educated person. The Clear Tai Chi Chuan style is a complete system of traditional Tai Chi Chuan, taught in ways that are relatable to modern Western students.

Richard Clear is a 3rd generation lineage holder in Lee’s modified Yang Style Tai Chi, which still heavily informs the Clear Tai Chi Chuan style. The Clear Tai Chi system also uses high-level (indoor) training methods from Wu style for Internal Power and body skill. The Chi Kung in the Clear Tai Chi system comes largely from Wudang Mountain, while the Combat Tai Chi training has a practical fighting mindset that is much more like Chen style.

Although Clear Tai Chi has influences from Yang, Chen, and Wu styles, there are a few things that make Clear Tai Chi stand out. One such hallmark of Clear Tai Chi is the use of pre-1948 movements in the Forms. These are the original Tai Chi Chuan movements, without interference from political agendas. Although some of the movements in the Clear Tai Chi Forms can be called “Yang style,” many of the pre-1948 movements are noticeably different from modern Yang schools.

Clear Tai Chi puts an emphasis on the practical application of Internal Power over choreography. Clear Tai Chi uses ultra-short Forms to build and practice Internal qualities. Longer Forms are taught later in the system, adding more "moves" only when the student is prepared and the Internal qualities are correct.

Sigung Clear believes that the most important skill in Clear Tai Chi Chuan is Ting / Sensitivity. This is where we get our motto, “Feel the Energy!” The ability to feel subtle energies is critical to making them usable. Ting is essential for getting accurate feedback from your training, and it is a foundational skill in the Clear Tai Chi Chuan style.

One of the first Internal qualities in the Clear Tai Chi Chuan style is Root Energy. This is a powerful source of Internal Power that overcomes a lot of other Internal Skills. By focusing on Root Energy early in the training, Clear Tai Chi students develop a strong understanding of Power and how to express it.

Clear Tai Chi takes a “Power First” approach, then progressively makes that Power softer and much more effortless as the student progresses. This method of training builds Ting (sensitivity) and ability with Li (physicality), Chi (energy), Yi (mind intent) & Jin (refined Internal Power).
 

Ready to Begin Your Journey?
We invite you to explore the world of Tai Chi with us. 

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