FAQ

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a martial art internal?

Although there are many different points of view on what makes an Art internal, in I Liq Chuan we would say that we base our Art on the "Greater Flow" and the internal feel rather than the external "technique", and so the motion is merely a reflection of what's going on inside. One saying in I Liq Chuan is to "feel yourself being touched, not someone touching you". In other words, the five senses (six including mental state) lie within yourself, and so your attention should be within yourself (internal) as opposed to on your opponent (external).

What is the Greater Flow?

In Indian Yoga traditions it was called the "Macrocosmic Energy Cycle", some authors refer to it as the "Grand Circulation", I simply call it the "Greater Flow" because I feel it rolls off the tonuge easier. The Greter Flow is extremely important in the internal arts, as it is the cycle of Yin and Yang (and qi flow) in the body, and this is what we seek to "harmonize" ourselves with. Want to know more? Please call and schedule an appointment for your first free lesson today!

What benefits can I expect from practicing internal martial arts?

This is a good question, but a loaded one. Certainly we can expect to improve our health, make new friends, learn to defend our bodies, etc.
However, everyone comes to the Arts for their own reasons, and those reasons will at least in part, help determine what benefits they receive.

How long does it take to learn I Liq Chuan?

I Liq Chuan is like anything else, the more you put into it, the more you will get out. The amount of time you spend training each month, each week, each day will determine how fast your skill progresses. However I encourage everyone to view their training as a process rather than an end result.

Will this Art hurt my joints? My friend-colleague-brother hurt his knees practicing martial arts

I Liq Chuan is a physical pursuit, which always carries the risk of injury. However, your practice can be molded to suit your needs. If you have an injury or chronic condition you can "train around it". I highly recommend that you consult your doctor before engaging in I Liq Chuan or any other exercise program.

What's up with the way you spell I Liq Chuan?

Chinese is very difficult to Romanize, and so there are many different methods of Romanization, such as Wades-Giles and Yale. I Liq Chuan is the spelling my Sifu (Master Sam F.S. Chin) has decided upon. In general I prefer the current "official" system of Romanization which is Pinyin. Most major print publications around the world, most newer books on the Arts as well as the Chinese Government currently use this system, and execpt when referring to the name of our Art, this is the system I use throughout.

Will I have to break things or get hit to learn I Liq Chuan?

Maybe. If you want to learn I Liq Chuan just for fun, or health then certainly not. If you intend to step into the ring, or use your Art for effective self defense, then a certain amount of conditioning is a necessity

Can children learn I Liq Chuan?

It all depends on their attention span. In general, you need to have a certain amount of concentration to learn this art, and even many adults can quickly become bored or frustrated.

Can you use this Art to fight?

Although one can train this Art purely for fun / health / relaxation / exercise etc., I Liq Chuan is frst and foremost a fighting art.

Do you spar?

Yes, if you want to. The highest level of training in I Liq Chuan is San Shou or San Da, which means "free fighting". If you are interested in this level of training, a certain amount of protective equipment will be used. Due to reasons of hygiene, everyone will have to supply their own gear.

Are there belts? If not, how will I know if I'm progressing?

Again, I highly encourage everyone to think of their training as a process and not a destination or end result. I Liq Chuan International has instituted a practice which uses a sash with stripes to indicated rank. This system is optional and is not required.

Click Here to see an overview of our ranking system.

Why should I practice I Liq Chuan instead of other martial arts?

Because you want to. A lot of your desicion will be be based on your own needs and wants, as well as how you feel about me as the instructor. There's only one way to find out, call for your appointment and let's get started today!

I've heard I Liq Chuan being called "Chin Style Tai Chi", What's up with that?

I Liq Chuan is the Chin Family Art, which is based on Zen and Tai Chi principles. There are three main points to Tai Chi principles; The Dao or the nature, Yi, or change, and Yin & Yang.

What makes I-Liq Chuan different from other Tai Chi styles?

I Liq Chuan is not Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan). It is an internal style of Chinese Martial Arts, based on Tai Chi and Zen principles (please see above).

Do I have to wear a uniform while practicing?

At this time the official uniform of I Liq Chuan is simply a White T-Shirt with the I Liq Chuan emblem on it, with black bottoms. T-Shirts may be purchased from your instructor.

Can I wear shoes when practicing?

As long as they are not restrictive or don't interfere with your movement, shoes are fine. I prefer bare feet, or some thinly soled shoe like some styles of "Pumas" which are available through most FootLocker's..

I don't like violence. Is I-Liq Chuan violent?

Come and see how we train, then decide if I Liq Chuan is right for you. There are levels to I Liq Chuan training, some are more intense than others, and you can stop at any level you wish. However, I Liq Chuan IS a fighting art, so if your absolutely non-violent than I Liq Chuan is probably not for you.

I'm interested in Tai Chi for health, will I-Liq Chaun keep me healthy?

To find out what kind of health benefits I Liq Chuan can offer please click here!

I'm interested in the energy aspects of Taiji, does I-Liq Chuan deal with "energy" or "Qi"?

Yes, however, there are three levels to our training. Structure, Relaxation and then Energy. There are two sayings which are relevant here. The first is "Train Quan (martial) and not Gong (energy) and all Emptiness" meaning is you just train how to fight and do no energy work, when you get old you will have nothing. The other is "Flower Fists and Silk Legs" which means that if you have only trained for "energy" then your art may be beautiful but not useful. If you train in I Liq Chuan, be prepared to train with the structure first.

What is Qi?

Qi (chi or chee) is basically energy. Although we do discuss qi from time to time in class, it's best not to focus too much on qi, as it's very easy to get lost in nonsensical ideas and fantasy which will detract from your training. Qi is like clouds in the sky, easy to talk about, hard to grab a hold of.

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