Tai Chi Search Center Way is very much a learning vehicle: learning to “yield” without avoiding, (accept) learning to listen without interrupting, learning to invest in loss. After a time, taiji players develop a sensitivity to qi, unlike their “push and shove hands” colleagues. With this sensitivity, an awareness of center, self and others, begins to take shape. As this “ultimate reality” grows, it becomes easier and easier to detect the other’s center, and “cover” it. In learning to cover, one learns the meaning of redirection; every effort goes back onto the perpetrator…”Listen, Stick, Adhere, Don’t Resist, No Technique”.
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Search Center Practice
What is the Point? T’ai Chi as self-defense is not the same as martial art. T’ai Chi is supposed to be gentle on both the defender and the attacker. Many people are turned off by the “gentle” art when it turns into “push and shove” hands. Tai Chi Search Center requires honest “listening” and response: most people in playing taiji push hands hang on long after balance is lost and resort to every ounce of brute strength and dirty trick(“technique”) they can muster.

Listening teaches just how precarious balance is, and when the tipping point is reached: Don’t Resist! T’ai Chi for health and self-defense should not cause pain!

How is it Learned?


T’ai Chi Search Centre Way the “game”, or practice, was developed by Master Henry Wang, and at the co-operative level, the results of practice can produce convincing “play”: partners manifest obvious reactions to being “covered”, both partners become more and more energized, and (Henry would not like hearing this) taiji push hands becomes more accurate and easy, more fun.

There really is no “First”… tai chi search center (the “game”) is played in practicing your form solo, and in partner assisted form practice. The main idea is that in order to be able to search your partner’s center, you must be stable: well rooted and relaxed, whether holding a posture in a static pose, or in transition from posture to posture. Only then will the search center player be capable of yielding (no-not avoiding, but accepting the force of the opponent) and redirecting even the least bit of energy coming towards the player.

There are seven principles to be adapted into one’s form, some so subltey different that it sounds as if its all one idea…it is!

Tai Chi Search Center Way Principles

Balance. Center. Relax. Concentrate. Coordination. Circle (globe). Proportion. Honesty.

I’ve added an eighth for my practice and for teaching the game: Honesty. You can’t fake your way through the exercises to the game. If you don’t understand and don’t ask: the answer you get will be the result of the effort; in other words Karma! If you are not certain of the “feel” of it and don’t seek clarification and “concretization”, you will take a long time to get it. The solution: be honest, ask if you don’t understand, accept that you do not yet know, and don’t tear up the carpet with your toenails claiming to be in balance! (The real solution is to go back to the principles). Watch Starfarm Tai Chi Search Center Video