About Master Deng
Master Deng Er Li was born in Shanghai, China. He has been practicing Tai Chi for over fifty years and has been teaching in Ireland since 1982. He learned Tai Chi from his father and his older brothers. In addition to growing up immersed in the practice of Tai Chi, Master Deng Er Li also attended Shanghai university where he studied traditional Chinese acupuncture which augments the healing aspects of Tai Chi.
Master Deng demonstrating traditional Yang-style Chi Chuan at the National Stadium, Dublin in 1985
As well as teaching Tai Chi Chuan, Master Deng is a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. He uses Acupuncture, Acupressure and Tui Na (traditional Chinese massage) therapy to treat a range of illnesses including sports injuries and joint ailments such as arthritis and rheumatism. Many spinal and joint injuries can be successfully treated using one, or a combination, of the above techniques.
Foundations of Good Tai Chi
Master Deng believes that Tai Chi Chuan require time to practice and train. In Chinese, the phrase 'kung fu' means 'time and effort', and is used to refer to the good practice of martial arts as well as other arts which require discipline, such as calligraphy.
Leg strength is necessary to provide a good foundation for solid stance and movement. The power of Tai Chi is deep, it is not all "outside power" like in hard martial art forms. Internal power requires meditation, which allows you to forget the body and free the mind. This makes Tai Chi practice relaxing and enjoyable.
Good Tai Chi must have balance; to defeat your opponent, you must keep your own balance while causing your opponents to break their balance. As well as the Tai Chi postures, you should also maintain balance in your life.
Tai Chi and Life
Master Deng employs Tai Chi as a philosophy for life. While people often appreciate the defense aspect of Tai Chi Chuan, because it is powerful and graceful, there is even more power in the healing side.
A central benefit of Tai Chi is that it promotes longevity. This does not just mean living to a great age, but involves living a worthwhile life and being healthy, happy and satisfied. Tai Chi defense is intended to protect yourself against harm, and Tai Chi healing is for curing yourself of any illness or injury. Master Deng refers to these as 'Yin hands' for healing and 'Yang hands' for defense. Tai Chi embodies the balance of the two sides - Yin and Yang - which is one of the central concepts of Taoist philosophy.
Wuji
'Single Whip'
Wuji, another Taoist concept, symbolises emptiness or "no end", whereas taiji means "great end". When practiced with an awareness of wuji, Tai Chi Chuan has no direction, since wuji is all directions. For example, 'Single Whip', one of the movements of Tai Chi Chuan can be used in applications on all sides, in all directions, not just right to left as it is practiced in the form. Tai Chi practice should not be limited to straight lines or one direction, but should be open to all directions and moving in circles.
If you learn the discipline of Tai Chi, your experience can give you freedom, and you will be able to change the form to suit your circumstance.. People shouldn't only copy Tai Chi, they should create! When you know the foundations, you can be more balanced and relaxed in the variants you practice.