Tai Chi is a Chinese internal martial art. Its slow-motion movement promotes health. Tae Kwon Do is a Korean external martial art. Its lightning fast kicks are central to its athletic sparring matches. Aikido is a Japanese grappling art with graceful but deadly efficient joint locks and throws. The three appear quite different. Yet the commonality between these three vastly different arts is the commonality that exists between all Asian martial arts.
Fighting Arts
The Asian martial arts are, at their core, about fighting. The fight is easy to see in a Tae Kwon Do sparring match. Kicks and punches thud into the body armor Tae Kwon Do fighters wear. On the other hand, Aikido, which means "the way of harmonious spirit," seeks a way of self defense that doesn't by nature harm the attacker. Aikido, however, assumes an attack and a defense -- in short, a fight; and its players can take care of themselves just fine if someone brings a fight to them. Even the gentle Tai Chi Chuan trains its players in the art of the fight. Experienced Tai Chi players throw punches that can pick up attackers and pitch them several feet back. Tai Chi has produced some powerful boxers throughout its history.
Harmony
Aikido, Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi are, however, about far more than just the fight. The goal of each is harmony with the surrounding world. Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, was deeply influenced by the Shinto religion and its call for harmony with nature and compassion even for those who seek to cause harm. Tae Kwon Do has at its heart the desire to build a more peaceful, harmonious world by building the character of each of its players. Tai Chi is a moving expression of the Tao. Taoists seek to find the natural flow of the world and to cooperate with it for the benefit of all.
Relaxation
All three arts also have relaxation at their core. Tai Chi is perhaps best known for its fluid relaxed movements. Players flow through the Tai Chi form like water. But Aikido, too, stresses relaxation. For Aikido techniques to work, Aikido players must quickly and smoothly enter inside the range of a punch. Aikido players' relaxation of mind and body give no clue to their opponent about what moves the player will make next. Even Tae Kwon Do players strive for relaxation. Relaxation means fast kicks. It also allows the players can use the large muscles of the legs throughout the fight without becoming so physically exhausted they can no longer get enough oxygen.
Qi
All three arts also speak of the intangible forces within the body. The Chinese call it "qi," the Koreans "gi" and the Japanese "ki." It is often called "energy" in English. All three arts seek to harness this intangible property of the body to use for martial purposes. Ki makes an Aikido player's grasp fluid but firm. Gi explodes from a Tae Kwon Do player's kicks. And leading qi throughout the body as needed is at the heart of all that Tai Chi players do. Energy is central to all the arts.
References
- "Encyclopedia of Aikido"; Stanley Pranin; 2006
- International TaeKwon-Do Association; Philosophy of Taekwondo; James S. Benko; 2004
- "Tai Chi Ch'uan for Health and Self-Defense: Philosophy and Practice"; T.T. Liang; 1977
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