WUDANG BASIC SKILLS AND INTERNAL TRAINING

The Wudang basic skill set draws from across the board of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Bagua and Xingyi, and includes the foundation exercises which are common to all these arts. Regular favourites include Standing Stake Nei Gong which teaches the body to ‘coagulate’ together and move as a harmonised, powerful unit, ‘mud-walking’ which improves balance and teaches precise footwork, and ‘fishes in eight’ which teaches power transmission and movement from the centre.

The heavy emphasis on basic skills training is part of the Wudang Pai teaching style used in Lucia’s classes. The idea with basic skills training is to embed certain movement principles in the body as deeply as possible so they become automatic, then complex movements become easy. This approach means the mind is free to absorb more advanced material, like leading qi with intention, uncovering the power pathways (jindao), and growing the Martial Powers.

Basic skills training is the doorway to real internal skill. It is shared across Tai Chi, Wudang Kung Fu and Qi Gong, making it an ideal foundation for students who wish to explore the full range of Wudang internal arts. Anyone looking to learn the exercises mentioned above at home can use Shifu Lucia’s pre-recorded online series.