THE FULL-TAÏCHI
 


Let me introduce the system I have been working on since 1995, and which resulted in the elaboration of complete Tai-Chi Chuan. I will call it “Full Tai-Chi System” in English and thereafter refer to it as FTS. 
How did FTS appear ?
The elaboration of FTS lies in the continuity and springs from the meeting of several martial, therapeutic and energy-related methods and teachings. It synthesizes what I have learnt, discovered or rediscovered out of intuition as well as thanks to my ceaseless and passionate research. 
Origin and basis :
As early as 1985 and during the 10 following years, I taught myself miscellaneous things: the use of nunchaku and of the short stick, pranayama yoga, relaxation and shamanism with a drum. These practises were enriched with readings and experiments I made before 1990: energy-related techniques enabling to increase the speed and power of martial movements between others. From 1989, I followed courses of Shorinji Kempo then learnt Qi Gong, meditation, the popular Tai-Chi of Yang Zhenduo and then the Tai-Chi of the Yang Shaohou and Yang Luchan families. In the meantime, I also had courses in Judo, Jet Kune Do, Shootwrestling, Jun-fan and enrolled in training courses in Pa Kua Chang, Hsing-I Chuan, I Chuan, Da Cheng Chuan, shiatsu and in spontaneity exercises. I started to teach in 1992 and one of my pupils and friend taught me how to feel the Primary Respiratory Mechanisms of Osteopathy, which I introduced in my Tai-Chi Chuan movements.
Genesis of the FTS :
Since I started practising martial arts, I always let my spontaneity talk. I would make series of “inspired” movements. The phenomenon grew and I ended up thinking I could write them down, memorize them and create a codified form. 
I read that the scientific research about the rocking movement of the head concluded that it improved the blossoming of exceptional cerebral capacities. One can see that in particular among some autistic people. I had the intuition that these movements could be put in correlation with the successive movements of reptilian-fish, of mammals then of humans…Hence the idea of integrating them in my practice of martial arts, of yoga and of Qi Gong. I associated the undulated movements of the spine for the benefit of the nervous and energy centres (tan tien, chakra). I incorporated rhythmical spine undulations in my spinning movements therefore creating a new martial art in 1996: the Art of the 3 Circles. So, the Art or Boxing of the 3 Circles consists in practising rocking movements in the 3 main planes (frontal, sagittal and transversal) through 144 martial movements I spontaneously created one after the other. They were followed by 3 short sequences of movements corresponding to the 3 planes… This art being based on the undulation of the spine in different directions, it became clear that I had to integrate them when teaching Tai-Chi, which I started doing in 1998. They can be added to any sport discipline: tui shou, self-defence, yoga, gymnastics, stretching, bodybuilding, dance and so on. 
I discovered a few years later that the sagittal wave was secretly taught by the Yang family (for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEHyPiXFrQg). 
Later, the writings of some doctors showed me that the exercises of the spine in the 3 planes already existed thousands of years ago in Egypt. 
 
 
 
Maturation :  
 
A short time after I sought initiation from Master Su Dongchen. This meeting made me discover a certain vision of the techniques of the undulation of the spine in space. Indeed, the basic system taught by Su Dongchen consists in analysing biomechanics.  
The movements spread out in 5 directions corresponding to the elements in Chinese medicine or traditional internal martial arts: vertically (pi chuan), transversally (tswan chuan), sagittally (peng chuan), centrifugally (pao chuan) and centripetally (heng chuan). 
 
How lucky I was! This teaching helped me broaden my reflection. Yet, I never stop at what I am transmitted and always question the veracity and the possible developments. The first analysis I made brought me to match the 5 energies to the evolution of the nervous system. 
 
How and why that particular relation between the 5 elements, bio-mechanics and the spatial planes ? 
 
Since designing the Art of the 3 Circles, I had linked in a 3-column table the correspondence between the 3 spatial dimensions, anatomy, bio-mechanics, psychology, energetics and the evolution of the nervous system. As I was thinking about the latter in relation with Darwin’s theory, I realized that the movements of the heads of the living beings were different if they belonged to such or such reign and that it could explain the progress of the brain. By observing plants, reptiles, mammals and humans, I noticed the existence of 5 dynamics. 
I left aside the centripetal and centrifugal movements of Su Dongchen’s system since they both corresponded to the same plane. However, I added the opening and closing movement that are symmetrical in the transversal (horizontal) plane as well as the vertebral axis without motion. I counted 5 columns in my correlation table. Therefore, I was linking 5 steps in the evolution of human beings with 5 techniques into space and the 5 elements of Chinese medicine. 
I also connected the evolution of the brain of the human child and the movements he/she comes to make in the months following his/her birth: there were also five steps… 
 
 
 
I saw there a sign that the evolution of the child may reproduce the evolution of living beings on earth and consequently that human beings were the result of that very evolution. I also guessed that if the child did not undergo the 5 biomechanical steps, its brain would not fully develop…which psychomotor development confirms. Each step contributes to the development of one part of its brain. 
I became aware that the full mastering of space was most probably the common thread of the evolution of the living that goes from lack of consciousness to self-awareness. 
 
You also have to understand that these movements express a harmonious complementarity called yin-yang or Tai-Chi: up-down yin-yang, yin-yang when bending on the side, yin-yang when bending forward and backward, yin-yang when opening on the side (which is a combination of the sagittal and transversal planes), yin-yang when turning on the transversal plane. 
Thus polarized, the movements generate, on top of the simulation of the brain, an increase of the electro-magnetic flux and general balance. I then proceeded to add yin-yang to each element: yin-yang for the earth, yin-yang for water, fire, metal and wood. For example, it means that a movement in the frontal plane (which is already a polarity) can be produced with large waves (yang) or reduced thanks to small ones (yin). You can also add the neutral or intermediary ways… I also integrated to this polarity, linked to the range of the movement (small, average, broad), the attitude generated by the intention to express in ourselves the yin or the yang of the corresponding energy. For instance, the fact of feeling relaxed and heavy corresponds to yin- earth; feeling strong, large and heavy corresponds to yang-earth. This lead me to catch a glimpse of human potential: having visited all the spatial planes connected to their bodies, human beings could only achieve one more thing: invest infinite space. I thought of intersidereal travels but mainly of the mystical experiments pointing at the possibility to discover oneself as a pure spirit free into space and in communion with the universe. 
 
Consequently I had to add a sixth step to my system. Technically, to get near the infinite space, one only needed to make the movement that symbolizes it in the 3 dimensions (digit 8 horizontally). I must specify that the evolution of beings into space is constituted by the successive addition of the different planes, which eventually results in the movement in the shape of a bent 8 or lemniscate. As for teaching Tai-Chi, there were five planes to experiment separately plus their synthesis. I also tied it to the six parts of the body: i.e. the head (yang), the neck (yin), the torso (yang), the waist (yin), the pelvis (yang) and the legs (yin)… 
At the same time, I completed my system by changing the origin of the movement for each plane, while linking it to the seven chakras in yoga or to the Chinese tan tien, the equivalent of the nerve centres. For instance I generated movements from the solar plexus or from the neck. That innovation enables to unblock or to stimulate each part of the body better while enabling to make any form or set of movements.  
The Viviani curve 
Thanks to these improvements, I could categorize the different Tai-Chi Chuan styles and other martial arts as well as any physical discipline. For example, the Chen style Tai-Chi corresponds to yang- earth mixed with yang- water; the Cheng Manching style corresponds to yin-earth; the drunk man boxing in kungfu is the equivalent of yin-water, Wing chun to yin-fire, Pa Kua Chang to yin-wood or yang-wood according to the level of the practitioner (beginner or advanced levels) As I went on with my studies, I decided to add upper levels. Levels 6, 7, 8 and 9 form the lemniscate in 4 different ways into space and generate different energy results. 
As my knowledge expanded, my practice got better and better every day. The “Full Tai-Chi System” was born. 
I also integrated other practices such as Cardiac Coherence and Trauma-Releasing exercises. 
 
More recently, the relation between the whole system and the daily cycle of the chi-energy in acupuncture meridians enabled me, for instance, to understand how the Tai-Chi sequence of movements of the Yang Luchan style could generate more vitality. 
Indeed, I rediscovered how the primary movements in the different planes were connected to a reproduction of the cycle of the chi circulation. I saw how this cycle operated in the successive groups of the Yang style Tai-Chi techniques as well as inside each of them. This cycle, called engendering process, can be found from the opening movement of the Tai-Chi form to the single whip. The correspondence with the meridians is as follows: Triple Burner and Pericardium, Lung and Large Intestine, Stomach and Spleen-Pancreas, Heart and Small Intestine, Kidney and Bladder, Liver and Gall-Bladder. This can also be found in some Qi- Gong like the “Eight Pieces of Brocard”… 
 
To conclude, I realize even better today that I have rediscovered what practitioners of the past knew and applied, leaving apart some original elements like the connection of different domains and the movements generated by each part of the body. 
 
Today I consider the evolution of vertebrates in the different spatial planes as a theory. Only the evolution of the psychomotor development of children in the different planes has been confirmed. Besides, I have modified my point of view about the order of these planes as well as their connection with the different parts of the body. I will explain that in details in a future article. 
 
You must also remember the FTS reveals that as many yin-yang polarities as possible must complement one another. It may be adapted to many domains since it represents a global vision of life. The more you respect its principles, the more you will progress towards well-being and self-knowledge.