The key to the development of
NEIJIN Internal Strength
The key to the development of
NEIJIN Internal Strength
C.P. Ong is a 20th-generation Chen Family Taijiquan lineage disciple of both Chen Xiaowang and Chen Zhenglei.
He has also studied extensively with Zhu Tiancai.
Current position: Executive Vice-President, USA Wushu-Kungfu Association (USAWKF)
He first began his Taiji studies in 1972 learning the Guang Ping Yang Style from Master Y.C. Chiang in Berkeley, CA. He is also a student of vipassana (insight) meditation and has attended several intensive meditation retreats in Buddhist monasteries in Yangon, Myanmar. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from U.C. Berkeley in 1973.
Author: Taijiquan—Cultivating Inner Strength
Recent Honors:
Eminent Masters' Seminar Presenter, Jun 2019. The 8th World Kungfu Championships, Emeishan, China (Honored again).
Eminent Masters' Seminar Presenter, Nov 2017. The 7th World Kungfu Championships, Emeishan, Sichuan, China.
Keynote Speaker, 2017 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Scientist of the Year 2016 (Awarded at the 17th World Congress on Qigong, Tai Chi, and TCM)
Cover Feature, Spring 2016 Issue, Tai Chi Magazine
Taijiquan Research Publications:
LATEST (2022) Wang Zongyue's Taijiquan Discourse: The Biomechanics of Dongjin. Journal of Taiji Science. Vol 1 Iss 1, Jun 2022. https://wtjsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Article4.pdf
(2022) A Scientific Perspective of the Three Harmony Principle of Taijiquan. Journal of Integrative Medicine. Vol 11/Issue 1/Jun 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jim.v11i1.4654
https://journals.bilpubgroup.com/index.php/jim/article/view/4654/pdf
(2021) Healthcare and Sports from the Perspective of Qi, Fascia, and Taijiquan. Journal of Integrative Medicine. Vol 10/Issue 2/Dec 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jim.v10i2.3365 https://ojs.bilpublishing.com/index.php/jim/article/view/3365/pdf
(2021) Science in Qi. Journal of Integrative Medicine, Vol 10, Issue 1, Jun 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jim.v10i1.3220
https://ojs.bilpublishing.com/index.php/jim/article/view/3220/pdf
(2021) Science in Chinese Medicine. Life Research 2021, doi:10.12032/life2021-0121-601 https://www.tmrjournals.com/public/articlePDF/20210126/e9dc71e0aad83f672a917e38b40be9ed.pdf
(2019) Taijiquan's Enigma. Life Research, 2019, 2(1): 31-44. DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-007 https://www.tmrjournals.com/public/articlePDF/20201130/a4663a32d0ae743936de9954e1818ab3.pdf
(2019) Is Taijiquan a martial art or a dance? Life Research, 2019, 2(1): 48-51. DOI: 10.12032/life2019-0125-006 https://www.tmrjournals.com/public/articlePDF/20201130/4203c45478308f929b5e6512bb778a8f.pdf
(2018) Spinal Engine & Waist Power from Taijiquan Viewpoint, Journal Of Integrative Medicine and Therapy.
http://www.avensonline.org/wp-content/uploads/JIMT-2378-1343-04-0014.pdf
(2017) A Scientific Perspective of Neijin (Internal Strength, Int J Complement Alt Med 5(3): 00155. DOI: 10.15406/ijcam.2017.05.00155 http://medcraveonline.com/IJCAM/IJCAM-05-00155.pdf
(2016) The Central Status of the Dantian, Cover Feature, Tai Chi Magazine, Spring 2016
(2016) Generating Body Strength Through Taijiquan Motion, Int J Complement Alt Med 3(3): 00076. DOI: 10.15406/ ijcam.2016.03.00076 http://medcraveonline.com/IJCAM/IJCAM-03-00076.pdf
ResearchGate:
All research papers by C.P. Ong are accessible at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cp-Ong-2/publications
C.P. Ong was honored again as one of the Eminent Masters to conduct a workshop/lecture.
Honored to join Grandmaster Zhu in the Panel of Presenters
Official Item release: IWUF President Yu awarding honorary certificates to a group of top wushu experts teaching sought-after seminars as part of the 8thWKFC Seminar Program at the Championships. These included Zhao Youbin, Gao Jiamin, Wen Zuohui, Kwong Kuen Mak, Chong Pin Ong, Chun Wah Lai, and Chian Tou Kau.
He conducted two training sessions:
1. Taijiquan - Cultivating the Core Strength Through Silk-reeling Practice
2. Taijiquan - A Scientific Perspective of Neijin (Internal Strength)
Topic of presentation: Generating Inner Strength (Neijin 内劲)
Excerpt: The discussion of generating strength in both both the discipline of science and the yin-yang theory of Taijiquan, gives us some common ground to look at qi and neijin. Neijin is mysterious because the ethos of Taijiquan resides in the internal, not characterized by the vigor of physical activities that we can identify with. Nevertheless, neijin is manifested in the body. We can thus interpose the musculo-skeletal framework on the yin-yang theory to study the biomechanics of neijin. Shining the light of physiology and physics on neijin, we can look at the role of qi in generating strength, and study qi as a somatosensory tool to work on muscle activations at the joints. Biomechanics can complement the traditional approach, adding precision to training methods of Taijiquan. The investigation also points to other issues that arise, such as the responses of neurobiology, which confront all the arts of body motion, including Taijiquan.
Dr. Ong's “writing and integration of Taichi theory with modern Western knowledge of bio-mechanics and neuro physiology mark a major breakthrough in our understanding." Neil Julie, MD.
C.P. Ong was featured in the cover of Tai Chi, The International Magazine of Tai Chi Chuan, Spring 2016 Vol 40 No. 1
An excerpt of this article was presented at the Taiji Symposium in honor of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang's 70th birthday celebration on Oct 2, 2015, Chenjiagou, China.
To read the Article, download the pdf file below.
The Tai Chi Magazine Article (pdf)
DownloadQi The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health & Fitness
Qi is an energy concept born of an age-old non-science era under the auspices of the Taiji Theory of Yi-Yang, but not of an alternate universe. The challenge has been to explicate Qi without being entangled in the esoterica of its ancient wrappings.
Tai Chi Chuan & Oriental Arts
This question has always lingered as the slow-motion practice cannot be more remote from the speed and power of a knockout punch, but there was never an open discussion as it was deemed irreverent to bring it up. In April 2017, the issue was thrust onto the forefront of Chinese social media when a Mixed Marial Arts (MMA) fighter crushed a self-styled Taijiquan grandmaster in 10 seconds and harangued that Taijiquan combat was mostly fake. In effect, the sacrosanct concept of Neijin (Internal Strength) at the heart of Taijiquan's kungfu prowess, was being derided as bogus. That touched a raw nerve in the Chinese national psyche as Taijiquan is a cultural heritage. The Chinese martial arts community was thrown into a convulsion, with the uproar raging online for months.
This book diverges from traditional exposition on Taijiquan (Tai Ch Chuan)--it engages rather than shuns the role of muscles in elucidating the cryptic practice dictum of "using yi (mind) and not li (muscle force)." It presents the core principle of Taiji balance, the metaphysics of balance, the way the body comprehends it, developmentally, through practice in the musculo-skeletal framework. In the process, the fog of mystique lifts, and the many abstruse concepts of Taijiquan become clear.
Taijiquan training is physical at the initial phase, but the slow-motion exercise nurtures a meditative discipline of the mind. As it progresses, the soft methodology garows into one of building qi-energy, and then the practice becomes more internalized. The process fortifies the body with qi and cultivates a holistic balance of the organ systems. The training of Taiji balance builds a highly refined strength called neijin (inner strength). The book explains how, by incorporating the training of "silk-reeling energy," the practitioner develops the coiling power (chanrao jin) that underlies the magic of Taijiquan kungfu.
Reviews by prominent authors:
Stanley Henley 8/16/14
"C.P. Ong’s Taijiquan Cultivating Inner Strength is the most intelligent coverage of Taijiquan’s historical development and practice in the English language to date. The author clearly emphasizes Chen style Taijiquan which appears to have evolved from forms in Ming general Qi Jiguang’s (1528-1587) New Book of Effective Discipline and this can be seen in Che style Xingyiquan as well. His inclusion of the Chinese characters for key concepts is also invaluable."
Douglas Wile 3/15/14
I have begun to sample some sections. Encyclopedic in scope and truly a magnum opus! Not something one reads in single sitting but certainly worthy to treasure for a lifetime. Congratulations on a magnificent contribution.
Available at Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Taijiquan-Cultivating-Strength-C-P-Ong/dp/061587407X
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