What is Tai Chi Chuan?
The Chinese martial system Tai Chi Chuan has become more popular than ever as it is being practiced, cultivated and revered here in the west. It can perhaps best be thought of as a form of moving yoga and meditation combined, yet is a very advanced martial art system, foremost. Though, for many Tai Chi Chuan practitioners, the focus in practicing this slow moving martial art lies primarily in the immense health benefits. For others, the self-defense aspects of Tai Chi Chuan are of considerable interest and expert master instructors [Sifu] are highly sought after.
The Chinese martial system Tai Chi Chuan has become more popular than ever as it is being practiced, cultivated and revered here in the west. It can perhaps best be thought of as a form of moving yoga and meditation combined, yet is a very advanced martial art system, foremost. Though, for many Tai Chi Chuan practitioners, the focus in practicing this slow moving martial art lies primarily in the immense health benefits. For others, the self-defense aspects of Tai Chi Chuan are of considerable interest and expert master instructors [Sifu] are highly sought after.
The Chinese characters for Tai Chi Chuan can be translated into English as: The Grand Ultimate Force. The first part, ‘Grand Ultimate’ is often associated with the Chinese concept of Yin-Yang which is seen as a dynamic duality (male/female, active/passive, dark/light, forceful/yielding…) in all things and is the basis for the creation and philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan. The last term ‘Force’ (more literally, ‘fist’) can be referred to here as the means of achieving and implementing the Yin-Yang concepts into a mental and physical discipline.
Schools Of Tai Chi Chuan
There are a number of different sub-system schools of Tai Chi Chuan based on family surnames with varied interpretations on its practice and martial execution. Some of the most famous schools would be the Yang, Chen and Wu systems. There are definite recognizable variables found within each of these different Tai Chi Chuan systems. One common theme among all of them is the cultivation and retention of Chi or life force [it’s in the name!]
Forms, frames or sometimes called ‘sets’ are found within all of the different Tai Chi Chuan schools. A form is a systematic routine of sequential moves linked together and practiced over and over until they become second nature. These forms can vary in length and concept. Weapons, such as a sword or fan, may be incorporated into the form teaching the specific use of that weapon. This type of controlled shadow boxing is performed to internally develop and comprehend specific martial ideas. For instance, the move Repulse Monkey develops moving backwards while intercepting a blow and simultaneously striking back. Most of the time the forms are done solo, but there are two, and even three person forms.
Many of these movements are originally derived from an older system of Chinese Martial Arts that followed the natural movements of animals and birds. As with the above example of Repulse Monkey, each individual movement has a specific name. The forms are usually named by the family name and number of moves such as: The Yang Style 24 Form. Tai Chi Chuan moves are usually practiced slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even and highly emphasized weight-shifted foot-work transitions between them. Proper breathing technique follows the Yin-Yang methodology while learning to cultivate and direct Chi. The intake or cultivation is term Silk Reeling while the development of exploding energy is called Fa Jing.
Health Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan
For many Tai Chi Chuan practitioners, the focus on practicing is strictly for the health benefits. Many practitioners arrive at Tai Chi Chuan because their personal health has diminished to some degree. For others, they are seeking out the self-defense aspects of Tai Chi Chuan with considerable interest. With Chinese Philosophy and Medicine there exists the concept of ‘Chi’, a vital force that animates your body.Â
The primary aim of Tai Chi Chuan is to foster the circulation of this ‘Chi’ within your body.
The belief being that by doing so your health and vitality are illuminated and elevated to a very high degree. Chi internally circulates in patterns that are closely related to your acu-point meridians, nervous and vascular system. This makes it very compatible with the treatment of Chinese Herbal Formulas, Acupuncture and other internal, healing systems.
Another aim of Tai Chi Chuan is to foster a calm and tranquil mind, while focusing on the precise execution of these internal exercises. Learning to do them correctly provides a practical avenue for learning about such things as balance, alignment, fine-scale motor control, rhythm of movement, the genesis of movement from the body’s vital center and so on. Many Tai Chi Chuan practitioners notice benefits in terms of correcting poor postural alignment or incorrect movement patterns that can contribute to chronic stress, tension, and injury.
The Martial Aspect
Because the Tai Chi Chuan movements have their origins in the martial arts, practicing them does have martial applications. While training during an exclusive two-person exercise within the Tai Chi Chuan system called Push-Hands, four vital principles are developed. They are connected to different types of energies or Jings. They are termed Ting Jing or listening energy, Dong Jing or understanding energy, Hua Jing or neutralizing energy and Fa Jing or exploding energy. This type of training teaches the practitioners high levels of sensitivity, responsiveness and how to react to their partner’s Chi or vital energy. Push Hands or Tui Shou allows the Tai Chi Chuan practitioner an opportunity to employ the martial aspects of Tai Chi Chuan in a relaxed and self-defense/combat form. Practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan, will in time, become very adept with the martial aspect. The emphasis in the martial aspect of Tai Chi Chuan is on being able to channel potentially destructive energy (in the form of a kick or a punch) away from you in a manner that will dissipate the energy or send it in a direction away from personal danger. There are both strikes and numerous throws/trips in Tai Chi Chuan. Utilizing every aspect of your body to cultivate Chi and explode energy [Fa Jing] with a strike to an opponent is a major part of the development of both the forms and Push Hands. This includes the use of your elbow, head, forearm, shoulder, hip and even your chest.