Tai Chi Chuan

Taijiquan

T'ai Chi Ch'üan

The Tai Chi Chuan symbol means "Supreme Ultimate Fist". Tai Chi translates as "10.000 things" or "everything in the universe". Chuan means, "fisted hand".

 

Tai Chi Chuan is a gentle exercise for the whole body suitable for the young and old alike.

 

Some say Chang San-feng created T'ai Chi Ch'üan at the end of the Sung dynasty (960-1126 AD).

 

Taijiquan came from Wushu, a fighting self-defence art. Wushu, now a performing art, is about personal discipline and closely related to internal energy and Chinese medicine. It has been taught and preserved in China for more than 2000 years.

Anyone can practise. Young or old, large or small, light or heavy. With proper guidance it's good for people with bad backs, recovery from injuries, cerebra-vascular diseases, bad blood/energy circulation and more. In fact it remedies any kind of physical or mental disturbance if one takes it up seriously and disciplines oneself to perform the movements and meditations briefly every day.

The accent of the training is placed on inner control, conscious body movement and discipline. One becomes more aware of body and mind, self-confidence and self-esteem follow. Correct practise directly enables one to prevent illness before it is manifested.

The movements performed in this continuous "dance" are all derived from martial arts forms. After repeated study it can become a form of self-defence. Although these moves are not performed in combat there is the possibility to test ones sense of balance and 'rooting" abilities through Push Hands. This is a game of equilibrium with two players. They stand opposite one and other, each touching the other's arms and hands. By feeling and sensing each other's (non-) equilibrium, they try softly pushing their adversary out of balance. One does not use force.

To study T'ai Chi Ch'üan one must "invest in loss". This will eventually produce the opposite. Like the teeth, which are hard, and the tongue, which is soft. Eventually the teeth crumble from hardness while the tongue survives through softness. We overcome an attack by not using force to resist and allow the other to use force. We attract this force and deflect it.

When practising Tai Chi Chuan, relax and be light. The Chinese say it's important to play and enjoy life as well as being earnest and not to take oneself too seriously.