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Tai Chi

Lokhupbafa

Lokhupbafa (Lok Hup Ba Fa or Liu He Ba Fa in Mandarin) translates literally as “Six Harmonies, Eight Methods”. Sometimes it is called “Water Boxing” because it is soft like water and has the power of the water. Some moves depict power and strength, like Angry Horse Turns Head. Others are soothing and soft, like Running Waters Never Cease and Crouching Tiger Listens to Wind.

The Lokhupbafa paradox is that while according to legend, it predates each of the internal arts of Taijiquan, XingYiquan and Baguaquan, it contains elements of all three.

While Lokhupbafa is difficult to learn and even more difficult to perfect, patience and diligent practice are well rewarded.

The only real way to understand Lokhupbafa is to experience it first hand. In the beginning, the student learns the form and related exercises designed to enhance the practice. Then through experience and practice the depths of this profound system will be realized. As Paul Dillon wrote in his book Luihebafa Five Character Secrets: "As the student explores and experiences the methods of Lokhupbafa, he understands that Lokhupbafa has taken him through the threshold and that there will always be one more step to take."

HISTORY OF LOKHUPBAFA

The Legendary History

The origins of Lokhupbafa can be traced to the Taoist sage Chen Xi-Yi (c.871-989). Chen Xi-Yi born into fairly wealthy family and was found to be a child prodigy. He was well-educated but didn’t want to be in the civil service. Chen traveled throughout China looking for opportunities to study and confer with masters of the time. According to legend five immortals guided him during his hermitage in the Wutang Mountains of central China. He then retreated to Mount Hua and perfected a method to dream consciously, often entering a sleep state for up to three months. From these forays into the dream world he discovered much and manifested it in practical methods for self-cultivation. From this repository of knowledge he created Lokhupbafa and Qigong methods that are still used today. Many emperors sought his advice, and he is revered as “The Sleeping Immortal” for his many creations. He died at the age of 118 years in his cave on Mount Hua.

His manuscripts and drawings lay hidden in his cave for about three hundred years. One day, a worshiper named Li Dongfeng found the cave by accident. In it he found many manuscripts including one describing Lokhupbafa. He stayed and studied Lokhupbafa and Qigong with the help of various Taoist hermits of the area, then went back home to teach Lokhupbafa. Because of the complexity of the moves, he only taught those students who showed potential. For centuries, Lokhupbafa was passed on from master to student with only the best few being provided the opportunity to learn. It is sometimes referred to as the last "closed-door school" of the Internal Martial Arts. This explains why it is not as well known as Taijiquan, XingYiquan and Baguaquan. In fact Lokhupbafa was almost regarded as a myth by many.

Modern History

Grandmaster Wu Yi-Jin (1887-1961) first taught Lokhupbafa openly in Shanghai at the Jing Wu Martial Art Association. As Wu's fame as a martial artist grew so did the reputation of Lokhupbafa. He had many students who were drawn to the art as it appeared to be a synthesis of the three well known internal arts - Taijiquan, XingYiquan and Baguaquan. Two of Wu’s main students were Liang Zhipeng (1900-1974) and Chen Yiren (1909-1982). They moved to Hong Kong at the end of the 1940’s. Liang Zhipeng taught Lokhupbafa, Taijiquan and other martial arts in Hong Kong.

Our teacher, Moy Lin-shin (1931-1998) studied Lokhupbafa and Taijiquan under Liang Zhipeng then emigrated to Canada in 1970. He brought with him his unique understanding of Tai Chi and other Taoist Arts and began teaching in Toronto and Montreal. He modified Tai Chi to restore the elements of internal training he learned from his final teacher. The result was a system of health restoration and maintenance that is now well known in health care communities around the world.

In the 1980’s he similarly modified Lokhupbafa emphasizing its health benefits and changed his approach to teaching it. Whereas in the 1970's he insisted that the student be at the level of Lokhupbafa - i.e. advanced, beginning in the mid 1980's, he taught Lokhupbafa at the level of the student. He often said Lokhupbafa was the Cadillac of the internal systems. Until now, Lokhupbafa has only been taught to students who have learned one or more of the internal arts.

Now the Canadian Tai Chi Academy offers this version of Lokhupbafa to health and fitness enthusiasts. It challenges students with a variety of intricate movements. It quickly helps students open up body channels allowing all the circulating fluids to flow freely. In this way, we believe, it lets the body and internal organs repair and renew themselves. Our teacher observed that students practicing Lokhupbafa experienced improved health much faster than practicing Tai Chi.

LOKHUPBAFA INSTRUCTORS

Ben Chung and Doug Nettleton, founding directors of the Gei Pang Lok Hup Academy were disciples of Master Moy Lin-Shin from the early 1980’s until he passed away in 1998. Each has over twenty years of experience in Lokhupbafa training.

The goal of Tai Chi is to return the body to a state of youthful functionality and develop a clear and uncluttered mind. 

Jess Goodman, M.D.

As an exercise, Tai Chi offers a huge variety of health benefits. It is practiced in a weight-bearing position, which is important for bone strength, and because it is actually an aerobic workout, it acts to improve the whole cardiovascular system.

An added dimension to this set of gentle movements is the stretching and balancing of the body’s weight on different joints.

Tai Chi gradually produces increased flexibility, strength and stability. It needs no special equipment and can be done anywhere.

Judy Ben-Israel, Chiropractor

Tai Chi, also written Taiji, Taijiquan or T’ai Chi Ch’uan, is a slow and gentle weight-bearing exercise taught as a sequence of moves or postures. There are many styles and variations of Tai Chi taught throughout the world, and our particular variation is based on the Traditional Yang style 108-move set, modified by our late Sifu, Master Moy Lin-Shin. Master Moy adapted the set by adding more turning and stretching to open up the student’s joints and massage the internal organs. Master Moy also borrowed from Taoist internal arts, Lokhupbafa, XingYi and BaGua to modify the Tai Chi set.

Though Tai Chi has its roots in martial arts, we emphasize the health benefits of the art. Practiced diligently, and in a relaxed manner, Tai Chi can increase the student’s circulation and flexibility, leading to improved health and a feeling of greater vitality.

TAI CHI: AN EXERCISE FOR HEALTH

Tai Chi provides a moderate aerobic workout for the entire body. It is simple and great for all ages with many benefits.

Given our modern lifestyle, most of us have developed habits that have led to discomfort or ill health, and as a result, we can all benefit from Tai Chi. In particular, seniors have enjoyed the highest level of benefit from practicing Tai Chi, but students of all ages and abilities can benefit.

Tai Chi is a moving meditation, a series of circular movements with gentle, rhythmic stretching, turning and extending of the body and limbs. The moves are balanced stretches with no sudden or high-impact transfer of weight. Although these Tai Chi movements stimulate the spine to move more freely, the effect is to strengthen and exercise every part of the body.

The Canadian Tai Chi Academy teaches 108-move Tai Chi.

Our instructors pay particular attention to full extension in all of the movements, a style developed by Moy Lin-Shin (1931-1998) and brought to Canada. When Master Moy came to Canada in the 1970's, he modified the traditional Yang Style 108-move Tai Chi set (see below) to maximize the health benefits for faster health improvement, because he realized that in a modern society, an exercise that was good for health was more important than a martial art for fighting.

The founding directors of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy were trained by Master Moy personally for over 20 years.

With diligent, relaxed practice, the moves in this form of Tai Chi open up all the joints of the body for the circulation of the blood, lymphatic fluid and energy (Qi) to pass through easily. With good circulation, the body will heal and rejuvenate itself naturally. The focus is on the flow and utilization of energy rather than fixed martial applications.

However, there is always an underlying martial art quality when Tai Chi is practiced diligently for a long period. This quality can be felt in a stronger, more unified body structure.

Benefits to both body and mind have been shown in numerous studies. Tai Chi had been found to help reverse the physical effects of stress on the body and restore harmony both physically and mentally.

Physical Benefits:
    Increased flexibility
    Improved balance
    Improved immune function
    Enhanced motor coordination
    Reduction in pain and tension
    Improved cardiovascular function
    Better sleep patterns
    Increased energy 

Mental Benefits:
    Reduced stress and anxiety
    Increased relaxation
    Better concentration and focus
    Improved memory
    Enhanced sense of well-being