Many in the Western world have long been interested in Far Eastern fighting disciplines like karate and meditative disciplines such as yoga. Tai chi is a discipline that brings both concepts together. What began as a martial art in ancient China has developed into a meditative form of exercise that is growing in popularity around the world. It can be practiced by anyone, anywhere at any time.
Origins
The Patience Tai Chi Association defines tai chi as a self-defense practice that employs slow movements to create a sense of relaxation. According to the website Taichido, tai chi chuan is translated as "supreme ultimate fist" --- chuan refers to a method of boxing. The discipline employs a form of combat in which a person uses his opponent's energy against him.
Benefits
The movements in the martial art discipline of tai chi chuan evolved to become the basis for the meditative art of tai chi. In the January-February 2010 edition of Harvard Magazine, Nell Porter Brown illustrated some of its benefits. Catherine Kerr, a Harvard Medical School instructor, described having more energy, being more relaxed and better focused. Studies done by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine have focused on tai chi's positive effects on the mind, cardiovascular system and immune system.
Slow Form
There are five main styles of tai chi that are practiced at different speeds. The most popular are the Yang and Wu styles, which are practiced using slow, deliberate movements that connect a series of poses or postures. The slowness of movement helps you to focus the mind and body and increase your chi, or internal energy. Employing slow movements makes it easier to learn and practice the different postures of tai chi as a martial art.
Postures
There are 13 postures that form the basis of tai chi. The first eight are called energies and use the upper body. The last five are referred to as steps; they involve stepping movements. The eight energies include such movements as ward off, roll back, push and elbow strike. The steps include such movements as advance and retreat.
Push Hands
Push hands, or tuishou, is a two-person tai chi exercise in which each person counters his opponent's movements with his own. Push hands further develops the qualities targeted in tai chi exercises, such as mind and body relaxation, as well as its physical movements. Push hands requires a good deal of cooperation between opponents as the skill level increases.
Member Comments