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Eastern Way - Tai Chi Chuan
Tai
Chi Chuan, T'ai Chi
Ch'üan or Taijiquan (Traditional
Chinese:
太極拳; Simplified Chinese:
太极拳; pinyin:
Tàijíquán; literally "supreme ultimate
fist"), commonly known as Tai Chi, T'ai
Chi, or Taiji,
is an internal Chinese martial art.
There are different styles of T'ai Chi Ch'üan, although most
agree they are all based on the system originally taught by the Chen
family to the Yang family starting in 1820.
It is often promoted and practiced as a martial arts therapy
for the purposes of health and longevity,
(some recent medical studies
support its effectiveness). T'ai Chi Ch'üan is considered a
soft
style martial art, an art applied with as complete a relaxation or
"softness" in the musculature as possible, to distinguish its theory
and application from that of the hard martial art
styles which use a degree of tension in the muscles.
Tai Chi Yang Style Demonstration
This video of the Tai Chi Yang form emphasises the fluidity and grace of a tai chi form well practiced.
Variations of T'ai Chi Ch'üan's basic training forms are well known as the slow motion routines that groups of people practice every morning in parks across China and other parts of the world. Traditional T'ai Chi training is intended to teach awareness of one's own balance and what affects it, awareness of the same in others, an appreciation of the practical value in one's ability to moderate extremes of behavior and attitude at both mental and physical levels, and how this applies to effective self-defense principles. In the following pages you can find a brief history of Tai Chi Chuan, plus information on styles and the health benefits of practicing Tai Chi.
An
Overview
of Tai Chi Chuan
Styles
and
History
Training
and Techniques
Modern
Forms
Health
Benefits
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