T’ai chi for health and relaxation
Feng Shou self-defence
The style we learn is called Feng Shou or Hand of the Wind Kung Fu. It is a soft or internal style: there is no blocking or hard physical contact. Instead you learn to neutralise the attacking force by turning it back upon itself. This means training the sensitivity so that you can learn to read someone's intentions.
This kind of exercise depends upon relaxation rather than tension or physical muscular development. Lightness, flexibility and technique are emphasised and everyone is encouraged to train with a spirit of friendly co-operation rather than competitiveness. It involves learning to deal with punches, kicks or grapplers using a wide range of responses, but it is based purely on practical self defence skills which are unsuitable for use in competitions or as a sport.
It is extremely effective and yet it does not involve any violence or aggression. Anyone who has marvelled at the spectacle of a little old man defeating people half his age and twice his size can appreciate that there is much more to self defence than just brute strength or muscle power. In fact the mark of a true Taoist is to have the maximum effect with the least amount of effort.
