TaiChi and Your Practice: Why You Should Learn Tai Chi

Why You Should Learn Tai Chi
Tai Chi combines movement, meditation and breathing, to enhance the flow of vital energy in the body, to increase both physical and mental well-being.

Tai Chi is one of the most broadly applicable systems of self-care in the world and is suitable for both young and old alike.

In China, it is estimated that 300 million people alone practice Tai Chi.

Tai Chi however is not just practised in China, in the 20th century it spread throughout the world and as we enter the 21st century, it is more popular than ever.

Tai Chi - The Form
There are several styles of movement and approaches to Tai Chi, some of them historic and some developed in recent years.

Each has its own individual charteristics and carries the name of the clan or family who developed it i.e. Yang, Chen, Wu, Sun etc.

All the principles of Tai Chi are put into practice in a non stop sequence of moves called the form.

Each Tai Chi style has its own distinctive way of presenting the form in terms of: The postures included, the order in which they appear, the way they are performed and finally, how long the form actually takes to complete.

Although the different styles of Tai Chi present the form in different ways, the purpose and the philosophy behind them is the same.

Tai Chi & Health
When Tai Chi is practised, the movement creates streams of energy to flow through the body.

In the philosophy of Tai Chi, it is said Chi (life energy) follows the mind, each posture and movement creates a different energy flow that, has a benifital overall affect on overall well-being.

Tai Chi stimulates circulation, aligns the skeleton and joints correctly, stimulates the organs of the body and helps digestion.

It increases muscle tone, strength, improves balance and co ordination and improves breathing.

Tai Chi does not just provide physical benefits; by raising energy levels, it also affects the mind and the spirit.

Tai Chi focuses thought, so that mind and body energy works together as one. When practising Tai Chi, people find that they are not just physically fitter but, happier, more alert, have greater mental focus and are more creative.

It is this harnessing of mental and physical energy that makes Tai Chi not just a form of exercise; it makes it a life enhancing experience.

Learning Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an exercise for people of all ages and all levels of fitness.

The movements of Tai Chi are non-strenuous, relaxed, slow moving, soft, and flowing.

It has often been described as moving meditation, as it relieves stress and improves concentration.

It is the gentleness and slowness of Tai Chi that makes it so applicable to everyone as a form of exercise.

When you watch Tai Chi being performed, it looks effortless but this comes from a considerable amount of practice.

When taking up Tai Chi it is best to pick an experienced teacher, who can guide motivate and encourage you. Simply, go with someone you are comfortable with.

The style of Tai Chi you pick Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun or any other form, is down to personal preference; the benefits described however apply to all styles.

About the Author

Re Vitalise offer a warm welcome to both novice and experienced Tai Chi pupils. In addition to offering regular tuition there are several weekend breaks available.

To learn more about our services go to:
www.re-vitalise.co.uk

Written by: Stephen Todd

TaiChi and Your Practice: Fighting Strategy in Tai Chi

Tai Chi Fighting Strategy

There is a lot of mysticism surrounding Tai Chi Chuan, and as a result of this, confusion about the nature of its practice. In order to clear this up, it is necessary to get to the heart and purpose for which Tai Chi was developed, and the best way to do this is to look at its fighting strategy. If we look carefully, we will discern two essential principles at work in Tai Chi strategy. First of all, Tai Chi is based upon allowing the opponent to attack first. This means that one would seek to take the initiative from a position of waiting - you receive the attack of the opponent. This doesn’t mean being defensive. The attitude here is offensively remaining responsive to the opponents attack. One awaits the opponents move, then suddenly takes the initiative. This is the first principle. To take the initiative means to ‘get the better’ of your opponent or to gain the advantage, and the way that Tai Chi goes about doing this defines its second principle.

To understand this we must go look to the history of Tai Chi Chuan, going back to its roots in the Taoist concept of yin and yang. The general idea in this is that all of nature is based upon constantly change forces between opposites. Thus in nature we see birth and death, good and evil, light and darkness, and each of these in reaching its extreme, gives way to the other. Tai Chi takes this philosophical concept from Taoism and makes it the basis of its system. In terms of fighting strategy, this means that in receiving the opponent’s attack, one attempts to lure his energy into emptiness, that is, to redirect it into a space where the energy now stands free and on its own. The result is that the energy of the attacker – his movement, force, balance, strength – no longer belong to your opponent, and you yourself have the opportunity of taking control of it. This is what it means here to take the advantage – to seize the energy of your opponent and use it against him. If we put together these two principles then we discover that the essence of Tai Chi, and the basis of its fighting strategy is to take the initiative from a position of waiting, using the opponent’s energy against him.

In actual combat, of course, one need not always wait for the opponent. You can strike or trip or kick if he is two indecisive or isn’t paying attention. Tai Chi as a martial art, however, is most effective when the above strategy is applied. It was designed to be used against brute strength and opponents with obvious physical advantages, for indeed there is always someone bigger, stronger, and quicker than yourself. If one would seek to attain a high level of ability in Tai Chi, taking its fighting strategy as a guide, allow it to enlighten every aspect of your practice, to put reason into every movement, technique, and application. In this way you will attain clarity in your practice.