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East - West Taoist Association
The Lee style, sometimes also called Li style, which flourished in England under Grand Master Chee Soo is taught within the East - West Taoist Association. The Lee Style includes a T'ai Chi form, Tai Chi sometimes pronounced ti chi or ti che is often described as meditation with movement. Included in the Lee style are Chinese Yoga, the breathing techniques of Dao Yin, Chi Kung and Li kung exercises. Also include in the Lee Family Arts are I Fu Shou (sticky hands), Lun Shou (whirling hands), Lun Pei (whirling arms), Mo Kun (advanced energy development).
T'ai Chi Ch'uan which means 'The Supreme Ultimate' is a
long sequence of beautiful flowing movements promote good health and inner peace. All these
activities are designed to increase self-awareness and develop one's faculties
to the full.
Physically
Mentally
by gaining physical control and stability over the body the Lee style T'ai Chi practitioners mental capabilities are increased and self-discipline is strengthened. Students of the Lee style learn to take responsibility for their actions, strengthening their ability to make rational decisions in the process. This allows the mind to becomes more responsive to prevailing conditions.Emotionally
the concentration required from the practise of Lee style T'ai Chi, along with the beneficial effect of both Chinese Yoga and the breathing exercises of Dao Yin, calms and clears the mind of everyday worries. That is why Lee style T'ai Chi is often described as a moving form of meditation. The Lee Family Arts also promote correct deep breathing which calms and soothes the nerves nourishing the body with oxygen.Spiritually
this fourth section does not refer to the religious side of our lives, rather it is the spiritual growth within ourselves. Continuous practise of Lee style T'ai Chi, K'ai Men (Chinese Yoga) and the breathing techniques of Dao Yin will make it easier for you to follow these golden rules:-
Think good - think no evil.
Do good - do nothing wrong.
Learn to give, and give, and give, in whatever way you can.
Cleanse yourself of your emotions, jealousy, hate, lust, greed etc.
The common sense of these rules is easy to
understand, however, putting them into practise in our daily life is somewhat
harder.
Try to move with the flow of life and not fight it. By learning to go with the
flow, we can make our existence here on earth smoother, more tranquil. We can
enjoy such happiness, seeing for ourselves that miracles do not happen only in
the bible, but prevail everywhere, everyday of our lives.
T'ai Chi Stick - A form of 270 movements
T'ai Chi Sword - A form of 216 movements.
T'ai Chi Dance - A form of 185 movements.
Lun Shou- Whirling Hands.
Lun Pei - Whirling Arms.
Mo Kun - The Taoist Wand.
About the LEE FAMILY ARTS
The Lee family arts were originally created by Ho-Hsieh Lee around 1000 BC, so this Lee style is nearly three thousand years old. The original form consisted of only eight movements, and whilst these same movements still exist within the form, it now comprises 140 movements structured into 42 sets.
Ho-Hsieh Lee lived with his family just outside Beijing (Peking). Later in his middle fifties he moved the family to Wei Hei Wei, a fishing village about 200 miles east of Beijing, and the family remained in that district until 1934. The family practised together with parents teaching their children. The last three children, one daughter and two sons, had the responsibility of continuing the Lee family arts. In fact the eldest of the three, Chan Kam Lee was the only one to do so.
Chan Lee, an unmarried businessman dealing in precious and semiprecious stones, finally opened a small office in the Holborn district of London, which in those days was the world centre of this trade. In 1933 he started a small class in Red Lion Square to keep himself fit and taught a few close friends. A chance meeting in Hyde Park brought a fourteen-year- old boy, himself Chinese, into contact with Chan Lee. The two became friends and Chan Lee invited this boy to join his little group in Holborn. That boy was Chee Soo.
These were based on foundations laid down by Chan Kam Lee. Chan Lee died in a severe storm off the coast of China near Canton in the winter of 1953/54. Chee Soo, Chan Lee's student since 1934 was asked to take over the leadership of the Lee Family Arts. In memory of Chan Lee, Chee Soo turned down any title within the Associations at that time.
Chee Soo
In 1958, with so many groups and clubs being formed, Chee Soo decided to accept the post of President of the Association. Since then the Association has grown from strength to strength in the British Isles and abroad. Chee Soo devoted his life to the practice and teaching of the Lee Family Arts, and anyone who has ever been to one of his classes will have seen for themselves the enthusiasm and love he had for these Chinese arts.
Howard Gibbon
Letter from Chee Soo Testimonial from Sir Steve Russell
Howard began his training in the Lee Family Arts under Chee Soo in 1973 and continued training under his supervision until his death in August 1994. The Lee Family Arts have been preserved through many centuries, and we will all do our best to see that it flourishes and grows for many more. For the wisdom that the Lee Family Arts can impart are perhaps more essential today than they have ever been.
Address:- East - West Taoist Association
15 Guards Court, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YO12 6QR, England
email: howard@ewta.co.uk - Telephone: (+44) 01723 354072
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