There stood a great and noble mountain. Trickling down the side of the mountain sparkled a slender stream. The stream reached the valley below and slowly meandered its way into another valley. After a while another stream from a different valley joined the first stream; they absorbed each other and became a single bigger stream. This bigger stream decided to head towards the distant sea, it would be a long journey but one worth taking - to become one with the great sea was the bigger stream's only intention. As the long journey unfolded more singular streams joined with the bigger stream (water attracting water, like attracting like). So many streams joined together that they became a River, and eventually they became a Great River rushing powerfully towards the Sea.

The 'great and noble mountain' is China. China is a huge country that, like all huge countries, was formed by many smaller provinces joining together under one banner. China's history is a long and complicated one whose origins are lost in the mists of time - as are the early histories of all countries. Nobody knows for certain the truth about the origins of many things because old and ancient things were unrecorded.

The first 'slender stream' that trickled down the mountain is Chen Style Taijiquan. It is the first stream simply because it has the earliest known recorded evidence of Taijiquan. The 'second stream' is Yang style Taijiquan (Its founder Yang Luchan, learnt Taijiquan from the Chen family). All the other streams that joined the Chen/Yang 'bigger stream' are the Styles that came from Yang Style Taijiquan - Wu, another Wu, Sun and Lee etc. All these streams value the power of water and its adaptability to all environments and all these streams form one Great River rolling powerfully towards the Great Sea.

To argue and debate about which 'Style' of Taijquan is the best style is not only a waste of time but it is also ignorant. The objective of all styles of Taijiquan is 'kung fu', which means 'individual self-mastership' and becoming 'one' with all things - 'the Great Sea'.

As Chen Xin writes in his 'Canon of Chen Style Taijiquan', page 208,

"Once you mature in your martial skills and transcend visual forms, you start to be like the Dragon Spirit, ceaselessly transforming in pursuit of your own way of development, free from other patterns, styles, schools and predecessors, to create a way that is the true product of your own spirituality. The essence of Taiji emerges inexplicably, traceless, without beginning or end, just vividly moving, but remaining paradoxically still. Although Taiji boxing is called the small way, this 'small' must be treated as a great thing. Words are inadequate to describe these great changes."

It is in the understanding that all streams (Styles) are a part of the same Great River (Taijiquan) that 'Taiji Together' was created - that together we can absorb all things of the 'Great Sea'.

A good Taiji Player should be without an ego or bias and be forever wanting to learn more from other Taiji Players, regardless of experience or style we all have different perspectives and valuable insights - the alternative is sadness; to hold your piece of water to yourself and stagnate.

(Yuri Leitch, March 2008)