Tai Chi: A Brief Outline
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese philosophy of polarities and how they work within the world around us. Tai Chi Chuan (aka Taijiquan) is the physical movement practice that incorporates that philosophy into its motions and is practiced by millions of people all over the world.
Taijiquan originated as a martial art of the Chen family in China during the 1600s and it is primarily taught via forms/routines and movement sequences. There are two types of Taijiquan forms: traditional and modern. These forms are similar to dance sequences and are usually memorized. The traditional forms were developed by different families and each families’ forms differ in styling and skillset. The different Taijiquan styles were named after the families’ surnames: i.e. Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu/hao, etc. On average, traditional forms are comprised of 60 to 100 plus movements.
The most commonly known style is Yang style. Yang style is characterized by its slow yet deliberate manner with emphasis on fluidity, continuity, and coordination. It should be noted that Yang style can be considered a derivative of the original Chen family style of Taijiquan. It was from Chen Changxing (a Chen family member) that Yang Luchan (the founder of Yang style) learned Taijiquan. Yang Luchan was considered an outsider to the family but was given permission to teach Taijiquan to the public under the agreement that he would modify the style. He did so by removing the characteristic explosive movements, jumps, and silk reeling (spiraling, coiling skills) that Chen style is known for.
In China, the government promoted and created health programs centered on a modernized and simplified Yang-style form of 24 movements. In North America, the first widely known Taijiquan teacher was Cheng Man-ching who taught his own simplified Yang 37 form.
Today, Taijiquan is promoted mainly as a health exercise. The practice of Taijiquan is beneficial due to its many health benefits. These benefits include but are not limited to: relaxation, reduction in blood pressure, relief from arthritis pain, stress reduction, and increased leg strength, resulting in very better balance. Taijiquan is a great low impact exercise for people of all ages and sizes. Although most people practice Taijiquan for its numerous health benefits, there are still many dedicated practitioners who retain the original martial aspect of the art.
Once the basics of Taijiquan are learned, it can be likened to a meditation in movement (i.e. moving meditation). Many of the benefits people have in meditation practice can be achieved once one has achieved a flow state in one’s own movements. Some of these benefits include: increased focus, a sense of being centered, and a balanced mind body and emotions, etc.