Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The Duality of Tai Chi Chuan

By Benjamin Louis Stephens


There are two central reasons for practicing Tai Chi Chuan: for it's health benefits and as a martial art. The art obtained its name when Ong Tong He, a scholar in the Imperial Court, witnessed an exhibition by Yang Lu Chan ("Unbeatable Yang"). Ong wrote: "Hands holding Taiji shakes the whole world, a chest containing ultimate skill defeats a gathering of heroes."

Chinese martial arts are commonly segregated into two categories, hard styles and soft styles, but Tai Chi Chuan utilizes both. Most people who already practice a form of Tai Chi Chuan classify it as slow moves with internal power. However there are a few traditional schools that teach a faster paced Tai Chi Chuan. Tai chi Chuan teaching comprises five fundamentals, nei gung, tui shou (response drills), sanshou (self defense techniques), Weapons, and solo hand routines. These 5 elements are recognized as forms. The Supreme Ultimate Fist

The positive aspects of practicing Tai Chi Chuan are beneficial for everyday well being. It is supported that centering the mind strictly on the movements of the form helps to bring about a state of mental calm and clarity. Besides general health benefits and stress management linked to tai chi training, aspects of traditional Chinese medicine are taught to advanced tai chi students in some traditional schools. As a result it is healthful and effective for everyone who uses it.

The things one might learn learning Tai Chi Chuan are being healthy, using meditation, and self defense. An unhealthy or otherwise uneasy student may find it tricky to meditate to a state of calmness or to use tai chi as a martial art. Tai chi's health training, therefore, focuses on reducing the physical results of stress on the body and mind.

For individuals dedicated to tai chi's martial use, good physical fitness is an essential step when it comes to effective self-defense. Meditation is the focus and calmness developed by the meditative side of tai chi. It is seen as necessary in maintaining optimum health (in the sense of reducing stress and sustaining homeostasis) and in application of the form as a soft style martial art. Martial art is the ability to use tai chi as a type of self-defense in combat and tests a student's knowledge of the art. Tai chi chuan is the study of suitable change in response to outside forces, the study of yielding and sticking to an incoming attack rather than endeavoring to meet it with opposing force. The application of tai chi as a martial art is quite challenging and entails considerable training.

Tai Chi Chuan is easily applied by anyone, whatever physical ability or health, It is calming as well as empowering.




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