The Lee style of tai chi (李氏太極拳) is closely related to a range of disciplines of Taoist Arts taught within the Lee style including Qigong, Daoyin, Ch'ang Ming, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taoist alchemy, Feng Shou kung fu, and weapons practice. According to practitioners, it was first brought to the West in the 1930s by Chan Kam Lee and was subsequently popularized by Chee Soo who was the President of the International Taoist Society from 1958 until his death in 1994.[1] The Lee style of tai chi comprises two forms known as 'the dance' (跳舞; tiàowǔ) and 'the form'. Other exercises include Yifu Shou or 'sticky hands', Whirling Hands, Whirling Arms, and various qi and Li development exercises.[2] Lee style t'ai chi is related to Martial Arts training, and there are five distinct areas of development that comprise the whole Art:[3]
- Physical
- Mental
- Breathing
- Sheng Qi (生气; Internal energy)
- Ching Sheng Li (精生力; External energy).
- ^ Taoist Ways of Healing by Chee Soo pages 139-140 (published by HarperCollins 1986)
- ^ The Chinese Art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Chee Soo, Seahorse Books 2003
- ^ The Chinese Art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Chee Soo, Seahorse Books 2003 chapter 2 - The principles of the Supreme Ultimate