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THE TEACHING
The Golden Flower teaching is A LIVING TEACHING, ie it evolves and adapts to the times
and purposes of the school. San Gee Tam is continually refining and developing the material
as the school grows and his insight into what serves people most effectively
improves. One thing is for sure, you will never run out of material to learn!
We provide a broad range of arts, structured within a flexible curriculum. We believe that this approach is most beneficial, as the school's teachings can be used to pursue personal goals as appropriate to each individual's circumstances. Thus, we can help people to integrate essential principles into their lives, enabling a more healthy, harmonious and prosperous lifestyle.
For those of you who are particularly focussed on Tai Chi (rather than general health), we have a training path which includes testing and certification. You can progress in the traditional manner: it must be this way if you are to reach the true depths of Tai Chi. Others of you may prefer to focus on particular areas, such as Chi Healing, and our organisation will support you in this too.
We allow our instructors personal expression within the core goals of the school. Thus, they are free to adapt the teaching within their country as they see is appropriate for their culture, age group of students, and personal direction as a teacher. In this way, we believe that we better serve our communities worldwide.
TAI CHI STYLES
The Golden Flower system was developed by San Gee Tam to contain
the most valuable essence of the other forms in an easy to access package
which is more appropriate as a starting point for westerners today.
In the more advanced levels (as taught to instructors), some of the
deeper, internal technologies from the Small Circle system are integrated
so that the practictioner can develop 'real' (ie internal) Tai Chi.
This is the main teaching of our school.
The Traditional Long Form is the form as taught by Master Dong Zeng Chen, and as
such is an acknowledged Yang family style. The emphasis is more traditional, and
is also more martially focussed than the Golden Flower form.
The Small Circle, Internal Power form is the highest level of Tai Chi we know, and
is the form, principles, and training techniques as taught to San Gee Tam privately
over many years by Master Chu, King Hung, an adopted son of the Yang family.
TAI CHI TRAINING
All Tai Chi training includes, but is not limited to the following:
WARM UP EXERCISES -
We have a broad range of warm up exercises, ranging from more externally
vigorous exercises to help general loosening up, to highly cultivated, subtle
energy directing exercises which help to reach deeply inside. These can appear
to be like aerobics or like meditation, but are all in fact very distinctly
designed as energy development exercises, working on many levels. As you
study and practice, you will gradually learn and open up to the finer
aspects of each exercise.
STANDING FOUNDATION -
Standing is an age old practice and the secret root of all martial power. The
practice is to stand in certain postures which are designed to harmonise and cultivate
the body's natural energy flow, naturally, and progressively. The benefits are
all those of more commonly known meditations, and more. If you pursue only one practice, then
this should be it.
TAI CHI FORMS -
A 'form' is a sequence of movements designed to enable the practice of the Tai Chi
principles. This is what most people think of as Tai Chi, although it is really
much more than simple form practice. Different forms train and develop different aspects
of your body and energy, and are therefore appropriate for different levels
of ability and development. Tai Chi training cannot be hurried!
Although you may learn a form quite quickly (say in one year), it will take you many
years to truly develop the internal, unseen practice contained within any form. The
Small Circle, Internal Power form contains the most refined technology
and will take anywhere from 10 to 20 years to learn the foundation! Unless you know it, you cannot
imagine the level of precise internal detail contained within this form, much of which
has been a closely guarded family secret until recent generations.
PUSHING HANDS -
Pushing hands is a partner exercise where you learn to listen to and respond to another
person's energy. This ability can be used for fighting or healing, as the emphasis
is on maintaining your foundation and integrity rather than 'being able to push'.
It is therefore sometimes referred to as 'joining hands'.
PA KUA SUPER FITNESS
In this system, there are a large set of conditioning exercises, ranging from
simple flexibility exercises to very energetic Chi Kung forms. Also, we teach
a couple of forms of Pa Kua: one beginner's form, and another form which
incorporates some of the Small Circle Tai Chi technology. Pa Kua is quite different in appearance
to Tai Chi as it moves in a circle and is practiced much faster and more energetically than Tai Chi.
San Gee Tam is also currently teaching Hsing-I in his Super Fitness classes, which
is the third, classic, internal martial art. In appearance it is much like karate,
but uses internal rather than external power.
CHI HEALING
As a core of the teaching, we have three distinct Tai Chi systems:
the Golden Flower System;
the Traditional Long Form System;
and the Small Circle, Internal Power System.
All are descended from the Yang family's Tai Chi.
Each is an integrated system of training and development techniques,
including a specific variety of exercises which must be practiced together
and over time to fully realise the benefits.
No matter which style you learn, there are many levels of training within each
style to learn and master. You will find that your learning can be continued for
many, many years, and you will continually move deeper into the reality, and finally the
embodiment of the principles.
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Alongside the Tai Chi teaching, we like to encourage and support people's
basic health and fitness. This includes aerobic conditioning, and strength and
endurance training. San Gee Tam has developed the practice of Pa Kua, one of the ancient,
internal martial arts, into a 'Super Fitness' system.
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A recent addition to the Golden Flower teaching is the study of Chi Healing. San Gee Tam is
developing a course of study for people interested in developing a deeper reality
of what 'Chi' is and how to manage and develop it.
His approach is unique in that he prefers to address the more basic, practical issue
of how to manage your life so that you can BE a healing presence, rather than simply
learn to fix a few symptoms. In this way, we hope to be able to give people
their own life back, rather than support people to be dependant on others to heal them.
This is true healing: for one person, and for the society as a whole.
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