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| The art of balance | ||
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What is tai chi?
Tai chi is a style of martial art
once
practiced by the Manchu Emperor's elite
palace
guards.
There are 4 traditional styles of tai chi: Chen,
Yang, Wu and Hao.
The art is quietly challenging;
requiring patience, hard work, commitment, mindfulness and
composure.
Students work towards the cultivation of a high degree of
physical skill and can reasonably expect to
practice the art for most of their lives.
Supreme ultimate fist
The martial art of
tai chi
uses the
yin/yang concept
in combat.
Taiji means supreme ultimate (the Balance). Quan means fist
(combat/martial art).
Yang style has something of the
feeling of 'killer energy' about it; it is more martial in appearance.
A
spectator can see the applications of the movements when they watch the
form.
(Master Xu Shu
Song)
Yang the invincible
The Yang style of tai chi was developed by
martial art
legend
Yang Lu-chan.
Yang Lu-chan's nickname was 'Yang-the-Invincible'.
Secrecy
The combat methods
and
principles
behind tai chihave been a well-kept
secret
in
China for hundreds of years.
Very few members of the
general public understand how to use tai chias a martial art.
Schools offering the complete tai chi martial
syllabus are rare in the
UK.
Does tai chi combat take place in slow motion?
To quote The Tai Chi Classics: "If the
opponent's movement is quick, then quickly respond; if his movement is slow,
then follow slowly."
Some of the training methods (i.e. form) are slow;
this is to develop strength, accuracy, balance and control.
New skills are often slowed down for safety until the student gains
familiarity.
As the student becomes adept, the martial art speeds up considerably.
Combat is usually fast.
Martial skill
In combat, tai chi uses evasion, stickiness and sensitivity rather than brute
force.
The muscles remain relaxed at all times and the body moves as one whole
unit (neigong).
There are many tai chi martial skills in the syllabus,
including:
Shuai jiao (take downs)
Chin na (seizing)
San sau (fixed sets)
San da (freeform combat)
Form application
Even though many of
these skills are common to different styles of
martial art, a student must perform them
in a tai chi way.
This means that the essence must be true.
The application of tai chi always follow the guidelines presented in
The Tai Chi Classics.
Healthy combat
Every martial artist in the world seeks to defeat their opponent in
combat.
But at what price?
Blocking, struggling, forcing, striking a balanced opponent... these are
also harmful to your own body.
In defeating your opponent you may also harm yourself.
Tai chi is different.
All movements are performed in a manner that ensures the greatest effect for
the least amount of effort.
The internal martial arts aim to incapacitate the opponent without
sustaining any injury to yourself.
Is tai chi easy to learn?
As a form of exercise tai chi is quite gentle.
It does not strain the body and no one should be sweating.
The challenge lies with coordination, balance, focus and memory.
Performing the art skilfully is not so easy.
A high degree of awareness, biomechanical skill and physical sensitivity
must be cultivated.
This requires time, patience and regular practice.
It is not about anger, it is about peace.
It is not about power, it is about grace.
It is not about knowing your enemy, it is all about knowing yourself.
(Bulletproof Monk)
Everyday benefits
Tai chi is not just about combat.
The art offers a wide range of benefits
that will affect your everyday life:
• Get fit
• Increased stamina and
endurance
• Stress-relief
• Gain functional combat skills that rely upon intelligence rather than
brutality
• The release of deeply-held
muscular tension
• Boost energy
• Improved balance
•
A way to use millennia old Chinese
wisdom in everyday
life
• Meditation
• An unusual form of strength
• Emotional composure in the face of confrontation and crisis
• Philosophical study involving some of the most
influential books ever written
• Cultivate confidence and resourcefulness
Page created 11 January 1993
Last updated
16 June 2023
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