While doing research for another blog, I came across Lee Style Tai Chi. Even though I have been practicing and teaching Tai Chi for well over 20 years, I had not heard of it. I decided to take a closer look. As with most martial arts, the history of Lee Tai Chi contains both fact and fiction. One, also has to sift through a lot of contradictory information.
Lee Style Tai Chi is closely related to Taoist Arts and includes Qigong, Daoyin, Ch'ang Ming, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taoist alchemy, Chinese Macrobiotics, Feng Shou Kung Fu, and weapons. Interestingly, the Lee Style Tai Chi Chuan is also known as Square Yard Tai Chi Chuan because it can be performed in a small area. The main emphasis of Lee Tai Chi is said to be health and relaxation. Like most Tai Chi styles or families of Tai Chi, Lee Tai Chi is considered a physical exercise with a meditative component. It is also an “art” of self-defense. And, as you would expect, students learn to control and develop a strong body, mind, and spirit (emotions).Lee style Tai Chi is considered suitable for everyone!
History
Lee Style Tai Chi is believed to have been created by Ho-Hsieh Lee from Beijing around 1000 BC. His family settled on the East coast of China and practiced Taoist arts, which were passed from one generation to the next and kept within the family. However, in the 1930’s Chan Kam Lee, a Taoist practitioner, fled the war in China and brought the Lee Style Tai Chi to the West. When Chan Kam Lee, who had no children, emigrated to London, he adopted Chee Soo (a young orphan). He taught Chee Soo the Taoist Arts, Tai Chi, and Ancient Chinese Medicine healing methods.
Chee Soo believed that Lee Style Tai Chi was the oldest form of Tai Chi in existence and is the “only true Taoist art”. After the death of Chan Kam Lee, Chee Soo was instrumental in increasing the popularity of Lee Style Tai Chi. What is unusual about Lee Tai Chi is that it was developed and gained popularity in Britain first. Chee Soo was the President of the International Taoist Society from 1958 until 1994. He taught the Lee style in Britain and then all over the world. When Tai Chi was banned in China during the cultural revolution, Lee style became the most popular style throughout Europe and the Commonwealth countries.
According to Chee Soo’s books, he established his first class in Manor Road School, West Ham in 1950. However, his daughter Lavinia states that it was 1947. She also reports that there was an agreement between Chee Soo and Chan Lee that Chee Soo would not teach the Chinese arts until Chan Lee died (1953-54) . Chee Soo became a successful instructor in Aikido in the 1950s and in 1958, switched to teaching the Lee Family Taoist Arts. From then on, he only taught what he learned from Chan Lee. According to Chee Soo, all the arts he taught were “Taoist”, handed down through the Lee family who were Taoists and that the origin is the source of their ancient lineage.
Chee Soo devoted over 60 years of his life promoting Tai Chi and Taoist philosophy. In fact for years, he was the “only Taoist Grand Master in the West” recognized by Beijing Masters. Chee Soo died in 1994 and several groups continued to teach the Lee Style Tai Chi in Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries.
The Lee Style Tai Chi
The original form consisted of only eight movements. Today’s form was built around those eight movements and has 140 single movements in 42 sets. It is a Yin / Yang system, meaning that everything is in complete harmony and balance with each other. Lee Style Tai Chi comprises two forms: 'the dance' (跳舞; tiàowǔ) and, 'the form'.
Since the death of Chee Soo, several schools teach Lee Style Tai Chi in the British Isles. Each school emphasizes different aspects of the Lee Style. It’s emblem, the Seahorse, represents Yin within Yang because it is “the only creature where the male incubates and gives birth to the offspring.”
There are five distinct areas of development in Lee Tai Chi: Physical, Mental, Breathing, Sheng Chi (Internal energy) and Ching Sheng Li (External energy). A student must go through nine distinct stages. Each level must be completed before the next can be accessed. Classes include warm up and deep breathing exercises for internal energy. Movements from the “Tai Chi Dance” are learned to stimulate one’s energy. Students learn how to apply Taoist principles and energy in everyday situations.
One of these exercises student learn is Sticky Hands to teach students how to interact in a non-aggressive manner when under pressure. Students also learn how to store energy in the Dantian so that, with time, their energy can flow through the entire body to repair/regenerate damaged tissues, slow down ageing, and help in the recovery of disease.
The Tai Chi Form is a long sequence of slow, rhythmic, flowing movements coordinated with deep breathing and concentration. The form brings about good health, longevity, and assists in developing strong Qi (internal) energy. Qi flow is stimulated throughout the meridians without the use of any physical tension, even though movements work on the whole body, from muscles to the organs. This enables the practitioner to develop not only a strong body, but a strong and agile mind. The goal being inner peace and tranquility.
Obviously, this is not a quick Tai Chi form to learn, nor should it be. Like learning anything worthwhile, it requires work and commitment. And, as one would expect, the rewards are many!
If you would like more information about the Lee style and it’s origins and development, Chee Soo has written books that can be found at the Seahorse Books site. An excellent biography of Chee Soo’s life and teaching career is now available on the Chee Soo Wikipedia page.
Videos
There are many videos available on the internet. I have chosen a few for your viewing pleasure, if you so desire!
Lee Tai Chi short form https://www.google.com/search?q=lee+tai+chi
Lee Tai Chi footwork to improve balance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91huVbNs53U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY5XAaUs7KA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV98Juj3hww8qgMKoPbtOkPj1OFqCQxKF
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