The Five Steps of Taiji

The Easter Camp is approaching! The dates are April 3–6, 2026, and the location is, as usual, the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja. Please register by March 18, 2026.

What are the Five Steps of Taiji?

Master Lü’s Taiji Easter Camp is open to all practitioners regardless of level, style, or tradition. The camp curriculum follows the “Five Steps of Taiji” developed by Master Lü Baochun, where training progresses step by step from external practice toward internal practice.

There are two groups at the camp: Basics and Advanced.
The Basics group is intended for everyone from beginners to more experienced practitioners. Instruction in the Basics group is given in Finnish and English by Joona.
The Advanced group is intended for practitioners who have a strong foundation in the external principles of Taiji and their applications, and who are ready for internal practice taught by master Lü. Instruction in the Advanced group is in English.

The camp fee includes 25 hours of training, accommodation, meals, a Sunday sauna evening, and a Baji T‑shirt. Accommodation is in 1–2 person rooms (single/double). Two room categories are available (institute/hotel).

Prices
Basics – double institute 514€ / double hotel 535€ / single institute 589€ / single hotel 610€ / no accommodation 398€
Advanced – double institute 584€ / double hotel 605€ / single institute 659€ / single hotel 680€ / no accommodation 468€

Accommodation is in 1–2 person rooms (single/double), and you may choose either institute‑level or hotel‑level rooms.
It is also possible to attend the camp without accommodation (reduced meals – Fri: dinner; Sat & Sun: breakfast, lunch, dinner; Mon: no meals).
The camp is held at the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja, www.kisakallio.fi
Carpooling is arranged from Helsinki, the harbor, and the airport.

Payment details
Recipient: Baji ry
IBAN: FI96 4108 0013 1692 17
BIC: ITELFIHH
Message: Easter Camp, basics/advanced, hotel/institute, double/single/no accommodation
Due date: March 18, 2026

The camp begins on Friday, April 3, 2026 at 12:00.
Room arrangement requests should be submitted by March 18, 2026.
Additional information and carpool coordination: heikki.poussa [ a ] gmail.com.

Master Lü Baochun is a living legend of traditional Chinese martial arts. He has practiced martial arts his entire life and Taiji for over 40 years. His deep knowledge of Taiji’s internal power, meditative aspects, and martial applications—combined with his fluent English and approachable presence—ensures steady progress for all participants. Master Lü emphasizes the importance of students’ questions and provides personal guidance to every practitioner.
Joona Sillanpää has trained Taiji under Master Lü for over 20 years and teaches Taiji courses for Baji ry. Joona practices qigong and both Yang and Chen styles of Taiji. He has developed strong expertise in both the external and internal principles of Taiji.
Each morning begins with a 1‑hour qigong session for the whole group. Participants are encouraged to freely ask personal questions about training and philosophy during classes. Weather permitting, we will also train outdoors. On Sunday, we will enjoy a shared sauna evening and social gathering at the lakeside sauna..

Schedule

Friday, April 3, 2026
12:00 Arrival
12:00–13:30 Lunch
13:30–17:00 Training
17:00–19:00 Dinner
19:00–21:00 Training
21:00–21:30 Evening snack

Saturday, April 4, 2026
08:00–09:00 Qigong
09:00–10:30 Breakfast
10:30–13:00 Training
13:00–15:00 Lunch
15:00–17:30 Training
17:30–19:00 Dinner
19:00–21:00 Training
21:00–22:00 Evening snack

Sunday, April 5, 2026
08:00–09:00 Qigong
09:00–10:30 Breakfast
10:30–13:00 Training
13:00–14:30 Lunch
14:30–17:00 Training
17:00–18:30 Dinner
18:30–20:00 Training
20:00– Evening snack & sauna (sauna 20:00–22:00) & afterparty

Monday, April 6, 2026
08:00–09:00 Qigong (independent practice)
09:00–10:00 Breakfast
Check‑out must be completed before training

11:00–14:00 Training
14:00–15:00 Lunch
15:00– End of Easter Camp

Wishing everyone a rewarding Easter!
See you at the camp!

——————————
With warm spring-time greetings,
The Board of Baji ry

The Five Steps of Taiji are a continuum. Master Lü’s Five Steps of Taiji advances from mastering external practices gradually into the internal practices of Taiji. You cannot continue to step 2 without mastering step 1 to a certain level. Each step will continue developing through years of practice and throughout your life. It is not a mistake to go a step down and return to basics: we all have to do that at some point during our Taiji-journey. Often the process is described as walking upwards in a circular staircase – sometimes you return back to where you started, all the while advancing. Nobody has absolute or perfect posture nor movement, but with correct training and guidance, we are all getting closer to it.

1. POSTURE. This is the key to step inside of Taiji. You can never emphasize the importance of posture too much: this is the foundation that everything is built on. With correct posture you will find the necessary external structure and right alignment to reach balance and connection in your body. All joints are in a natural position, relaxed and open.

2. MOVEMENT. When you have reached correct posture and structure you can start to move, keeping this structure and connection at all times in training. With correct movement you will connect your postures in the form, harmonize the movement and keep external connection in the body throughout the form.

3. ENERGY, QI, BREATHING. It is time to recognize the subtle effect of breathing in movement; to find the natural rhythm of breath. You are not changing the breath, but just following it, naturally joining it. Breathing will start the movement and end it. When you have relaxed enough, Qi will appear and start moving in the body with breathing. The movement of energy will move your body. You have stepped to the internal side of Taiji. Your internal movement will be expressed as external movement.

4. MIND, YI. The first three steps have tamed your monkey mind and in your practice you are experiencing a deepening feeling of solitude and inner peace. It’s time to “grasp” the Qi and start to control it with your mind. Your mind will lead the energy and the movement of energy will be expressed as external movement.

5. SHEN, SPIRIT. This is a level that not many have achieved. It cannot be described in words and therefore cannot be studied in theory. When the first four steps are ready, Shen will emerge.

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