Founder of Tristar Taiji: Master Rong Li

1. Founder of Tristar Taiji: Master Rong Li

8. Tristar Taiji and Health Story of Tristar Taiji Tristar Taiji originated 4,800 years ago from the culture of the ancient “Ba-Shuk” nation of the Tristar Village in Sichuan, China. The “Ba-Shuk” natives recognized the importance of the harmony of the “Heaven, Earth and Man”. The styles of Tristar Taiji are composed in accordance with the basic rules of the Taiji martial arts and with the combination of the oriental healing arts of meridian pressings and the inspiration by the stances of the valuable statues excavated by the archeologists from the Tristar Village ruins. Tristar Taiji can be divided into 2 parts – “Gong” and “Quan”.

9. Cultural Significance of Tristar Village These excavated statues found in the Tristar Village did show something peculiar and mystical about their religion. The Ba-Shuk natives believed that by worshipping their gods of heaven and earth, they would achieve good health and peace. During the rites of worship, they would perform different stances of standing, squatting and by repeating these movements with concentration, they would experience an energy that was generated and kept circulating throughout their bodies. They could feel this flow of energy interact with Heaven and Earth, and through this interaction, they achieved the healthy feelings of balance and tranquility in their body and soul. The Tristar villagers were full of wisdom. They had learned about the circular concept of Yin-Yang (complementary opposites) and the pattern of the Five Elements of life. Taiji is a spherical exercise. From the stances of these excavated statues, we can see how they held out their arms in a circular style. The way they stood and squatted showed that they had mastered the correct postures of Qi exercises and became united with Heaven and Earth to materialize the “all in one” and “one in all” concept. This kind of exercises became the early stages of practicing Qi Gong (vital energy). The Tristar natives gathered together for worship and believed the force of energy produced would integrate with the whole universe and be united as one. To be in the state of “all in one” is regarded as the supreme state of perfection in modern Qi Gong and Taiji.

10. The Principles of Maintaining Good Health Although Tristar Taiji originated from the historical culture of the Tristar Village, it has the same theory as Taiji, Yin-Yang and the Five Elements which all follow the same rule of nature’s path - the universe parallels humans in possessing the power to refine the myriad creatures and humans parallel the universe in having the same refining power. They are interacting with each other under the same cosmic principles. Taiji means “Supreme Ultimate” representing the primes of the universe. Every living creature is born and will eventually die, formulating a beginning and an end. Day comes and night goes and vice versa. This is all in a cycle. The nature of Heaven and Earth is like a full circle of return, repeat, renew, and restore. Where there is leaving; there is returning. Taiji is Yin-yang. Practicing Qi Gong and Taiji Quan will help to balance and refine the flow of the Yin and Yang energy in the body.

11. The Principles of Maintaining Good Health (Continued) Yang symbolizes motion, while Yin symbolizes stillness. When Yang acts to its limit, there will be stillness and it becomes Yin and when stillness reaches its limit, it will generate motion (Yang), complementing each other. Tristar Taiji is using “ascending and descending”, “entering and leaving” movements to transform and create the vital life energy throughout the body to achieve health and balance.

12. The Rationale of Tristar Taiji The ancient philosophy of nature and traditional Chinese medicine are both based on the rationales of “Taoism, I (I-Ching), and Chinese medicinal practice”, proving the exercise of Qi as a vital energy in our body to maintain life. The Tao (Path) teaching emphasizes: nothingness, quietness, and unity (one). It teaches us that “the path gives birth to unity; unity gives birth to duality; duality gives birth to trinity; and trinity gives birth to all creatures.” This is the root of all creations and the principle of unifying the two opposing forces. “I” has Taiji which gives birth to two modes. These two modes are the ultimatums of yin and yang, though opposites but when interplayed with each other, it will develop and transform Qi to vitality and have the same theory as in Taiji. Chinese medicine believes in “Jin, Qi, Shen” as the Trinity. When practicing Qi Gong, the concentration of our mind will bring the flow of energy, through the meridians, and reach to every vital part of our body to enhance its function and improve the well-being of our body.

13. The theories of Tristar Taiji exercise Tristar Taiji is divided into 2 parts – the Tristar Qi Gong and Tristar Taiji Quan. Both are for the training and upgrading of our bodies and suitable for people with different health conditions and requirements. The theories of Tristar Taiji include up-down, left-right direction co-ordinations, balance awareness, opposing yet harmonious oneness, roundness, hollow and solid transfers, the inside and outside unity, alignment of the head, abdomen and feet, the co-ordination of shoulders, joints, wrists, knee and heels, interlock system of the head, neck, shoulder, chest, waist, abdomen, pelvis, knees and heels. The rhythm in the movements of the upper, middle, and lower parts of the body will act as a controlling center intereacting with our body’s different organs to maintain total healthiness and well-being.

14. How to utilize Tristar Taiji for the purpose of health, prevention of diseases, and to help delay the deterioration of body mechanisms and promote anti-aging of body cells Tristar Taiji consists of Tristar Gong and Tristar Taiji Quan. Though these two types of exercises are different, both are aimed at the maintenance of health. These exercises can be made suitable to meet the various needs of each individual and if it is practiced properly with concentration, one will achieve maximum results.

15. Tristar Gong is the fundamental of Tristar Taiji, aiming to balance andharmonize the functions of the body. The peculiar postures and stances of Tristar Gong with the proper breathing methods will generate a vital force stimulating and renewing the body cells. This action will help to upgrade the immune system and maximize the self-regulation of the body cells to prevent diseases. The following 2 stances of Tristar Gong will explain how they work Wu-Ji Stance: This seems very simple and can be done easily. Stand and then slightly squat down as if you were sitting down. The whole body should be in a loose position; no force is necessary. If you are in this stance and the posture is correct, after 1-2 minutes, you will feel hot and start to perspire. It is because the glands in your body are being stimulated which results in perspiration. This Wu-Ji stance, though looks still and quiet outside with upper body relaxed and feet firm, the inside of the whole body is exercising under a force and has a tendency to expel, causing a positive interaction within different parts of the body inside. Won-Yuen (roundness) Form Practice: This is an up-down, open-close exercise. To inhale slowly will lead the energy up and inflate the force to different joints. To exhale and squat down slowly will take the energy force down to deflate. The inhalation and exhalation cause the opening and closing of the major functional parts of your body with better circulation. The up-down movements expand your chest and make your breath longer and deeper. In doing so, you will breathe in more oxygen, change it into vital energy and pass through your body to repair, renew and restore all the body organs for better functioning. Through patient and continuous practices, you will feel your whole body change and improve positively so that it will be in good balance

16. Tristar Taiji Quan (Elementary): This is a healthy exercise. All the movements are smooth and elegant with rhythm and make you feel calm and peaceful. The Tristar Taiji hand signal is special – hold the thumb and the index finger in a circle and press the thumb firmly against the index finger. There is an important meridian in the thumb and in the index finger. The movements are like drawing circles, keeping the roundness and balance. They are good for your lungs and digestive system. They keep your muscles strong and firm and also improve your immune system. The meridians will let the blood and energy flow well in your body and you will enjoy good health and longevity

17. Exercise and Health Exercise and health often goes hand in hand but there are certain differences that should be noted. (i) Exercise is a series of physical movements of certain intensity designed to make the body fit and strong. Health, on the other hand, is the general condition of your body in terms of soundness, vitality and proper functioning. The right amount of exercise can always bring health benefits. Nearly everyone can benefit from some level of exercise – young and old alike. But exercise should be age appropriate. Low-impact workouts are generally recommended for those who have reached a certain age. (ii) Strike a balance between health and exercise. Different age groups have different needs. Young people with their high energy level and physical fitness can often do more vigorous exercise. But if you are in the middle or senior age group, you may have to reconsider all the different factors and choose some other forms of exercise. Taiji and Qi Gong are both excellent and you can adjust the intensity to suit yourself. Even if you are young and you want to do Taiji or Qi Gong, you can definitely benefit from it too. It will prevent you from premature aging and keep your body strong and fit.

18. “天地人和” “精，氣，神” 三為一體