A brief on Tai Chi (Taiji) Quan

T'ai chi ch'uan (太极拳) literally translates as "supreme ultimate fist" or "great extremes boxing". Tai Chi is based on Taoism (道) 'The Way' philosophy, where the concept of the "supreme ultimate" represents the harmony of Yin (陰Negative) and Yang (陽Positive) into a single ultimate, represented by the Yin-Yang symbol. Taoist ethics emphasize the Three Jewels of the Tao; compassion, moderation, and humility. Taoist thought focuses on non-action, spontaneity, transformation and emptiness. An emphasis is placed on the link between people and nature, and that this link lessens the need for rules and order, leading one to a better understanding of the world and one's surroundings. Therefore, practising Tai Chi helps to adapt to changes in life and helps to balance the opposing forces that give existence to life. A balanced life is a healthy and ultimately a happy life.

 

Tai Chi Chuan is a nei-jia-quan (内家拳internal Chinese martial art). It is a soft style martial art using internal power, which distinguishes it from that of the hard martial art styles. Tai Chi can be practiced for various reasons: health, relaxation, exercise, social, meditation, competition or as a martial art. Therefore，there are many different styles and ways to practise and train. While each style shares the important foundation principles, there are differences in their approaches to training. Modern tai chi traces its development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu and Sun. The oldest modern documented tradition is that of the Chen family from the 1820s, but the origins of all Tai Chi can be traced back to the Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng at Wu Tang Mountain (武當山) in the 12th century.

 

Anyone of any age can practice Tai Chi. You only need to persevere with the practise according to the teachings and have an enquiring mind to receive the many benefits. Practising Tai chi chuan primarily involves three aspects:

 a. Health: training concentrates on relieving the effects of stress on the body and mind. Since the early 20th century many people worldwide practise purely for health benefits with little or no interest in the martial aspects. Many studies have found tai chi to be effective for various health conditions.

  b. Meditation: focus, concentration, clarity and calmness is cultivated by the slow, precise movements.

   c. Martial art: study of the appropriate response to outside forces, whether using hands or weapons. Of yielding and blending with outside force rather than attempting to meet it with opposing force, thereby avoiding injury.

 

Taiji training may in organized in 2 modules:

a. Solo form (套路taolu), a slow sequence of movements which emphasize a balanced posture and a natural range of motion (of being 'song' - soft/relaxed) and movement from the qua (waist). The spine is straight, chin tucked in as if head hanging from a thread, tailbone (尾閭wei li) tucked in, weight evenly distributed in foot/feet and body not leaning in any direction. Think of a vertical line passing through the top of the head (百匯bai hui point), through the centre of the body (perineum - hui yin point), to the middle of the supporting foot (湧泉yong quan) point. Initial practice consists in learning to relax the body and quieten the mind.;

GM Huang using song to throw Nov 1987 in Singapore

 

 b. Pushing hands (推手tui shou) practice with in pair. By maintaining the principles of tai chi you can train sensitivity or 'listening' to the other's body movements so as to affect their 'centre' or balance. You must yield at the opponent's slightest pressure and follow them at the slightest retreat, respond quickly to fast action and slowly to slow action. At every place the Yin and the Yang, or empty and full, must be distinguished. Advancing, the opponent feels the distance incredibly long, retreating he feels it exasperatingly short. The entire body is so light that the slightest touch will set it in motion.

 

You can learn the external movements from a video or book but it is very important to find a good teacher to show you the way to make your tai chi internal. Someone looks like practicing Tai Chi form in the park but really not be doing Tai Chi, whereas someone walking pass you could be doing Tai Chi indeed!

 

The above texts were reproduced from the article published by Huang Taichai Association (http://www.huangtaichiassociation.com)