The benefits of Tai Chi

The study of Tai Chi involves three primary subjects:
Health - an unhealthy or otherwise unbalanced person will find it difficult to meditate to a state of calmness or to use Tai Chi as a martial art. Tai Chi's health training therefore concentrates on relieving the physical effects of stress on the body and mind.

Meditation - the focus meditation and subsequent calmness cultivated by the meditative aspect of T'ai Chi is seen as necessary to maintain optimum health (in the sense of effectively maintaining stress relief or homeostasis and in order to use it as a soft style martial art).

Martial art - the ability to competently use T'ai Chi as a martial art is said to be proof that the health and meditation aspects are working according to the dictates the theory of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.

Worldwide Tai Chi is today primarily practised for health reasons. Tai Chi´s external movements stretch and strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments. The typical spiral and twining movements of the ChenTaijiquan stimulate blood circulation, massage the inner organs and improve the body's qi (energy) circulation by dredging the acupuncture channels. Tai Chi exercises help to improve co-ordination, posture, balance and promote general fitness and weight loss. Tai Chi stimulates the body and calms the mind, resulting in a balanced but alert outlook and an overall improved sense of well being and the ability to relax and release stress and tension. Its slow movements allow even the stiffest and most tense person to relax and strengthen their body without risk of strain or injury. Already after a few classes the practitioner may feel better, both physically and mentally. Tai Chi improves the ability to ground oneself and connect to the world and it trains self-awareness. Because of the Taoist roots in Tai Chi it leads to a greater understanding of all aspects of life, physical, mental and spiritual. Only for people with injuries or bad health conditions, in particular with advanced systemic problems like rheumatism, advanced stress related problems and structural problems like back pains and knee injuries, we recommend specific Qigong exercises, rather than Tai Chi. top

Tai Chi for young and old

In today's quick and stress-filled environments, Tai Chi offers an extraordinary way to quiet the mind and relax the body for all ages and levels of physical fitness. Most of the Tai Chi styles are performed slowly and gently, with deep natural breathing for health benefits. The Yang style Tai Chi allows a unique combination of mental and physical activity and harmonises the mind, body and spirit. We recommend therefore the Yang Style for older people or for mediation and relaxation purposes.

The Chen style Taijiquan in particular incorporates in its forms (movements) fast and explosive fajing (emitting energy) elements as self defence applications practice. The variety of movements and rhythms in Chen Taijiquan makes this style an excellent choice for people who are bored by the repetitive nature of many other exercise systems and are looking for a powerful and effective internal martial art. top

Chen Style Taijiquan

Chen Style Taijiquan is a very powerful effective internal martial art due to the use of spiral movements and the principle of the soft overcoming the hard. The great emphasis of the soft overcoming the hard is placed upon borrowing the opponents' incoming force and using it to disturb his/her inner stability. Tai Chi belongs to the schools of the “internal” or "soft" martial arts. The training is focused in cultivating a relaxed, flexible and sensitive body with a calm and focused intent, but also in building up inner physical and energetical strength. Tai Chi allows absorbing and neutralizing incoming force with natural and spiral movements, joining with the opponent by sticking to his center, and issuing force at the appropriate time and angle with the power of the entire body. This includes the ability to "stick, adhere, continue and follow" as a vital application, mostly grappling oriented. The techniques also include pushing, pulling, wrapping, bumping, sweeping, locking, knocking down and throwing and several striking and kicking techniques. Bare Hand forms' training is designed to develop the ability to control oneself; Partner Training (push hands) trains the practitioner to apply the techniques to someone else in the most efficient manner. top

Tai Chi and self-defence

Currently most of the Tai Chi schools worldwide focus on the health benefits. They are not incorporating the fighting aspects anymore. The traditional Tai chi, and specially Chen Style, belong to the most powerful and effective self-defence systems. The outstanding advantage of Taijiquan is the usage of natural and spiral movement, strength and reactions and a highly effective combat strategy, “moving a thousand pounds with a force of four ounces”. This allows the “weaker” to control a much stronger and heavier opponent. However, it is fair to say that effective self-defence abilities requires a solid Tai Chi foundation. top