The Fúchén (拂尘 as spelt in Wudang Wushu or 佛尘 as spelt for Taiji), also known as the Horsetail Whisk, Fly Whisk or Dust Brush, is one of Chinese Martial Arts’ most unorthodox and paradoxical weapons. It has been steeped in mystery for centuries but ironically, has gained great popularity with Western practitioners in the 21st Century. What is a Fúchén? The Fúchén (Fu-chen, Fu Chen, Fochen) is essentially a whisk or brush made by binding the hair from a ...  read more

Pattern language was defined by the widely influential architect and design theorist, Emeritus Professor Christopher Alexander, and first brought to light in his book “A Pattern Language”, and subsequently in his famous work “The Nature of Order”. To give you a feel for Alexander’s thought processes one of his statements was “No one can be close to others, without also having frequent opportunities to be alone”. Essentially, Pattern Language is the way of describing good design or patterns of useful ...  read more

The Annual JinLi Tai Chi Retreat 2018 was held at our “home away from home” Taradale House, in the beautiful Coliban Valley. As usual, the focus was on outstanding training, food, friendship and fun. Everyone made the most of the intensive Taiji fundamentals tuition, studying Chinese literature, looking at all the Taiji styles and learning some basic Taiji/Qigong Mandarin. “Words really can’t describe what it means to be a part of this amazing experience”, so said one of the participants. ...  read more

The New Year begins on February 16 this year and is the Year of the Earth Dog. The Earth element always brings with it a sense of stability and groundedness, which is a relief after the last two Fire years. The Fire years can be a time of great opportunity but decisions need to be made quickly. This year is a time where you can settle down, consolidate and concentrate on what you managed to grab on to in the ...  read more

Want to feel like a beginner again? Go and train in China.   Remember that night back when you started your Taiji journey? For most of us it happens somewhere around the fourth lesson. You finish a class feeling like it’s all too much, you’re legs are aching, and a little voice in the back of your head is saying “maybe this isn’t for you”, but you push on because you are going to crack this thing, no matter how ...  read more

There is a Chinese proverb “A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers” and this was exemplified by the amazing generosity of the JinLi family at this year’s 19th WTQA Wushu Taiji and Qigong Competition at Monash University, Clayton Campus. “I was so incredibly proud of our JinLiers at the competition this year. They gave selflessly and with such grace to all those who needed their help”, said Master Brayshaw of the JinLi students, instructors and trainees. ...  read more

Concluding part of a lecture at the Wuhan International Taijiquan and Taijijian Display and Exchange Meeting, Wuhan, China, April 1984 by Distinguished Taijiquan expert Li Tianji Taiji Sword is one of the forms of Wushu loved best by the public, and was created and developed on the basis of Taijiquan. Its movements are gentle and harmonious, and its sword strokes clear, and it differs from other sword styles in its sequence and structure and in the degree of strenuousness.   ...  read more

Saturday morning in Taradale, a vibrant rural hamlet half way between Melbourne and Bendigo, a pit stop during the 1800's gold rush and our country home for the annual JinLi Retreat. Autumn sunlight gleams through red and gold leaves, 30 sulphur-crested cockatoos circle above us squawking before coming in to land on their home Red Gum. Our JinLi retreat class starts by taking a mindful walk to tune in and connect to nature. Gabby is drawn to a rose bush ...  read more

Dong Yue (East Mountain) Taiji is a style that many people consider to be the Taiji of the 21st Century as it unites diverse martial systems into a cohesive whole. Created by Professors Men Hui Feng and Kan Gui Xiang to commemorate the New Millennium, Dong Yue focuses on the concepts of Heaven, Earth and Man, combining the very best of the internal martial arts Taiji, Xingyi, Bagua, Baji, Chuo Jiao and Fanzi to create a harmonious and rich expression ...  read more

JinLi was honoured to receive an invitation from Indonesia asking us to share our knowledge and love of Tai Chi with the people in Java. So in January, Master Tara Brayshaw and Sifu Lyn travelled to Surabaya and Jakarta to teach Tai Chi and Qigong to a variety of people in those cities. Their teaching was extremely well received and led to many of the participants wanting to take up Tai Chi on a regular basis. Tara also had the ...  read more