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SYLLABUS

Dong Ying Jie (Tung Ying Chieh), the founder of Dong Taiji learned the Hao Form from his first Master, Li Xian Yuan. From his second Master, Yang Cheng Fu, he learned the Slow Form, Sword, Sabre and Long Pole forms. He later developed his own training elements, the Fajin Form and in the 1940's the Family Form, result of the teaching from both his Masters and independently from experience and techniques he gathered from other martial art practitioners met in his travels through China. Dong Hu Ling (the son of Dong Ying Jie) created the advanced Sabre and Stick forms. Both Dong Ying Jie and Dong Hu Ling were true martial artists, known for their expertise in Push Hands. They were also highly knowledgeable in ancient Taiji literature and they played an important role in the opening of Taiji to the world. Nowadays, all these forms are kept alive by Tung Kai Ying and Dong Zeng Chen (brothers of 3rd generation) and Dong Da De (of 4th generation) also known as Alex, my teacher.

The great variety of forms and exercises taught by the Dong Family integrate all the tools necessary to learn, develop and refine all the principals of Taiji. Although the length of the syllabus may seem daunting, it is good to know that the practice of the Slow Form is by itself sufficient to experience, benefit and enjoy all the elements of Taiji. Of the following forms, I currently study 6 and teach 3.

The Long form (Slow Form) is the first form taught. Its slow continuous fluid movements are an excellent platform to discover awareness of the whole body, a sense of root and energy. It is also an introduction to meditation in movement, keeping the body and mind relaxed, the spirit calm and present.

The Fast Form (Family Form) is made of a succession of jumps, hops, stomps and slow and fast movements. This diversity will help develop speed with calmness and agility of the body and mind. Some movements are continuous in others there are pauses to investigate balance and precision.

The Fajin Form is practiced fast, issuing explosive energy in each move (fajin). It develops martial spirit and its high intensity builds stamina. This form is advanced, without a clear understanding of the fajin process its practice will exhaust instead of condition the body and it will foster stiffness.

The Hao Form (Kai He) main emphasis is on the expanding and contracting of the body, hence its name Kai He that means open and close. Movements are performed with a steady force, even the steps are heavier as if planting the foot. Its use will build strong internal energy and a clear sense of sinking.

The Sabre Form is short and its heavier wider movements will help generate more power. The fuller range of movements will help develop fluidity. Whilst the open hand expresses energy to balance the sabre, the spirit follows the movement of the weapon. Practice of this form will develop liveliness of spirit.

The Advanced Sabre Form amplifies the practice with a sabre. When he created this form, Grand Master Tung Hu Ling incorporated high jumps and quick turns. These acrobatics make it more difficult to learn but make its practice exhilarating, heightening the benefits of weapon use.

The Traditional Sword Form has delicate movements because unlike the heavy sabre, the sword relies on its sharpness and precision. The light weight of the sword makes this form swift to practice. Spirit follows the weapon extending awareness beyond the body.

The Stick Form sequence is based on the Advanced Sabre Form. With the use of the sticks, the movements integrate the energy of the sabre with the precision of the sword making it a wholesome form to practice. The routine can be performed with one or two sticks.

Push Hands is a practice between two people, absorbing and deflecting the partner's attacking energy whilst trying to get the partner off balance without the use of muscle force. Softness is essential to obtain the necessary sensitivity to read the partner's intentions whilst disguising your own.

There are different Push Hand exercises such as Single and Double Push Hands, Stepping Push Hands, more advanced techniques like Da Lu and exercises to test specific martial art applications.

Partners Training will improve the ability to use Taiji in self-defense situations by developing sensitivity and appropriate reactions. If Solo Forms develop the knowledge of self, Partners Training enhances the knowledge of others, expanding your awareness even further beyond your body.

Qigong is an essential part of Taiji practice. In the Dong Schools different exercises and routines are used for different purposes:

• Dong Style warm-up Qigong is a sequence of simple movements used to relax the mind, warm up and stretch the body.

• Hard Qigong is based on the Hao Form. 9 isometric postures give a platform to develop strong internal energy, power and root.

• Taiji Qigong (Tiger Mountain) is a sequence of major movements of the Slow Form practiced sitting or standing with a wide stance. Its practice emphasizes the use of the waist and gives the opportunity to increase the sense of opening and closing.

• Peng-Lu-Ji-An and Tsai-Lieh-Jou-Kao are 2 short routines using 8 energies to work on different aspects and principals of Taiji. They are 8 of the 13 energies always encountered in all Taiji or Push Hands practice. Ward off, rollback, press and push. Pull down, split, elbow strike and shoulder stroke. The last five are: Chin (advance), Tui (reteat), Ku (look left), Pan (look right) and Ting (equilibrium).

• Wuji is described as “that which precedes Yin and Yang”. Wuji is stillness. The omnipresent stillness in the heart of all life. It is observed standing quietly, aligning the body so muscle activity is reduced to a minimum whilst relaxing the mind so awareness can expand. Once experienced, you realise it was always present.