KGS Hamburg meets... Jan Silberstorff

Jan, you were already interested in Eastern martial arts as a child. What fascinated you so much about it?

I learnt taekwondo at the age of six during a children's trip at six in the morning. The trainer had such a certain deep spiritual expression and could move really well. That really fascinated me. So the taekwondo, not the early morning time ...

When did you first come into contact with Taijiquan? Was there a role model for you?

I was actually looking for something else and ended up in the "wrong hands", which turned out to be exactly the right ones. At the time, it was mainly about self-defence and my first role model was the videos of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang. However, I assumed that I would never get to see him myself.

At the age of 26, you became the first Western master student of the traditional holder of classical Taijiquan, Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, and thus also the first foreign lineage holder in the 20th generation. You lived in China for several years and speak fluent Chinese. What does such training mean for a young person who comes from a Western culture?

The real meaning has only really become clear to me in recent years. Back then, as a young person, I didn't have the time to think about such things. I only ever looked to the future, to what I wanted to become ... Today, however, I realise more and more how extensive and profound it was all going to be in the end. However - and this was very important to me as a young person - this training put me on a better path in life. The recognition as a line holder and the intensity of the training also taught me not only depth, but also responsibility and the obligation to pass on.

Was there an experience during this time that particularly touched or influenced you?

Well, there was my first meeting with Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, my acceptance as a direct student of his, the tournament victories, my first book ..., but actually there were three experiences that were of the greatest importance to me: While I was still living and training in Xian, a foreigner travelling through, whom I met in the park in the morning, said: "Jan, what a great life you have!" I realised then how right he was, and since that day I have lived with full gratitude for everything that has happened to me in this life. Then I became the first Westerner to be invited by the Singapore government to their biennial martial arts masterclass. This demonstration was televised in Asia and the next day the whole city knew me. But the special thing was a Turkish family man who wanted my autograph at the airport. As a non-Chinese, I was embarrassed to do something like that. But he objected and said he wanted it for his young son. He said he dreamed of becoming a great kungfu master one day, but as a Westerner he believed he would never be able to do so. And I would embody exactly that for him - that it is also possible for us in the West to master this art. My autograph would be the decisive motivation for his son. That made me very concerned and sensitive to what it means and what responsibility lies in being a role model. The third thing is that I was able to turn this suffering back into joy for my parents, whom I caused a lot of pain in my youth, through my success.

What significance does Taijiquan have in your life?

It is the Taiji, the principle behind everything, the being itself, so to speak, which has a fundamental meaning in my life. Everything is orientated towards it. Taiji is life itself, it is everything. The entire cosmos, everything in me - in short and literally: God and the world! Taijiquan is just the medium for experiencing Taiji.

It is said that the regular practice of Taijiquan is beneficial for physical and mental health and contributes to relaxation. What exactly does practising Taijiquan change and how does it affect our mental system?

It is a holistic, physically demanding relaxation. Your own energies are released and flow freely through your body again. The spirit, which always works outwards through the senses, comes back home, into its own four walls, into its own body. The whole self, every pore and every cell is permeated by its own spirit energy. The boundaries between the self and the everything dissolve. An experience of unity arises. Inner peace arises. Wisdom arises. Insight arises. Everything begins to change in a loving way ... on the outside, the body becomes robust and strong, but at the same time supple and gentle.

You have developed a special form of sitting meditation. Can you tell us a little about it?

The sitting meditation is a synthesis of techniques that I learnt at the place of origin of Taijiquan, Chenjiagou, with my experience of these techniques from over 20 years. Everything has come together to form a three-stage meditation of Taijiquan. These three stages include a concrete training of the dantian, our energetic centre, a complete energisation of the body, the opening of its energy centres, the learning of deep concentration, mental control of the entire body deep into the subtle areas as well as the attainment of spiritual deepening stages up to authentic emptiness, from which unity with the Dao is experienced.

In which moments do you feel inner stillness and peace?

Actually always ... almost always, but to answer the question in a more tangible way: I spend more than half the year in silent retreat. Five months of it on an island in Brazil. During this time, I don't speak and devote the whole day to my taiji or meditation practice. For the rest of the year, outside of my teaching activities, which I limit to 80 to 90 days a year, I also spend at least the mornings in silence. Outside of this practice, I try with great joy not only to maintain this peace, but also to share it with everyone I meet. This is like the solo forms and partner exercises in Taijiquan. What you learn on your own, you share with others. And here you also pick up new ideas, which you then integrate into your practice. It is a perpetual exchange - with yourself, with nature, with all beings and fundamentally with God or the Dao.

Jan, you are currently in China, but live most of the time in Brazil. Where do you feel at home?

Interestingly, in Brazil.

What do you do when you are not teaching or practising Taijiquan yourself?

I write books and spend a lot of time with my lovely wife.

You have founded several Taiji associations and aid projects around the world. Which projects does the World Chen Xiaowang Taijiquan Association Germany support?

The German association is the mother ship, so to speak. It is my home and my starting point for all activities. I also carry out all new projects here first. WCTAG now offers courses and seminars all over the country with a large number of well-trained teachers. The majority of my worldwide teaching still takes place in Germany. Our aid organisation WCTAG hilft e. V. now looks after over 400 children in need in Brazil, Sri Lanka and Germany. It is a German creation and also has its largest sponsor here, although it is of course also supported by the other organisations in the other countries.

What three things should you not miss on your island?

Health, peace and my two dogs.

What can I do if my mind is always chattering away while I'm meditating?

Do not listen.

If we were to introduce meditation and mindfulness as a school subject, what would our society look like in 50 years' time?

If there is also meaningful homework and we manage to make this a worldwide phenomenon, the society of this earth could experience that God loves us all equally on all our different paths. Because all these paths come from the one source. We all come from the same source and everyone who has permeated to this source will no longer want to or be able to exercise violence against their neighbour, however different he may be.

Thank you very much for your answers.

KGS Hamburg 09/16