Can u tell me about tai chi!?What Is... Tai Chi?
Tai Chi is an internal chinese martial art. This means, that it is
mainly concerned, up front and from the beginning, with the
generation of internal strength and energy or Chi. Tai Chi
creates it's power by moving the body as one, and absorbing
and deflecting, rather than confronting any direct powerful onslaught.
Tai Chi Chuan means the Grand Ultimate Fist, a title bestowed upon
it because the fighting ability of it's most famous exponent, Yang Lushan.
There are three main styles of Tai Chi Chuan. Chen style, of the Chen
family or clan, who are centered around the Chen family village. The Chen
family taught one of their servants, Yang Lushan who created Yang Style.
One of the students of Yang family was a Manchu bodyguard called Wu
Quan You, who created the Wu family style. These are the main styles
of Tai Chi. There are smaller styles, like the directly Chen derived style
of Wu (Hao family) lineage, and Sun Lu Tang's internal combination.
Chen style is very interesting, as it has both a slow moving form, and
is very open about it's fast moving form or Pao Chui. Yang and Wu
style also have their fast moving forms.
Yang Style Tai Chi had four most import practitioners;
- Yang Lushan, who founded the art. He had two sons, Yang Ban Hou
and Yang Jian Hou.
- Yang Ban Hou was a very rough practitioner of Tai Chi
as a fighting art. Because his students often ended up injured,
very few endured his harsh training. Brother Yang Jian Hou had
several sons, but the most famous were...
- Yang Shao Hou. Shao Hou was very much like his uncle Ban Hou,
and like him, very few students could stand the training slash beatings
they were dealt as a matter of routine. As a result, very few remember
this old codger, and his surviving students can be counted on the digits
of a three fingered hand.
- Yang Cheng Fu, the hefty brother of Yang Shao Hou, who created a kinder,
gentler Tai Chi by leaving out all of the fast movements and leaps,
and concentrated on teaching the grateful masses the slow, long form,
and push hands.
Wu style was created by Wu, Jian Quan, who learned his art
from Yang Ban Hou and Yang Lushan. His form is a "small frame"
Tai Chi that is very easy on the joints, and also has some measure
of combat effectiveness because the natural, narrower stances do
not over commit you in a fight. There is also a southern Wu style from
Shanghai/Hong Kong with high stances that looks like Chen style or
Wu (Hao) style. (See The Wu Style Of Tai Chi Chuan by Tinn Chan
Lee, from Unique Publications.)
There are other, less popular styles, like the Wu (Hao) style that is
directly descended from Chen style, and the personal style of the
famous internal martial artist Sun Lu Tang, Sun Style, which is a
combination of Wu (Hao), Hsing Yi and Pakua (Bagwa).
When I started off by saying that Tai Chi is an internal martial art,
it should be clear that there is quite some overlap between internal
and external styles. Tai Chi is often grouped with Pakua and Hsing
Yi (and the combination of these styles called Liu Ho Ba Fa), because
at the turn of the last century, many masters of these disciplines used
to train together, exchanged techniques and training methods. As a
result, they can be quite similar.
However, many "external" styles can be quite internal at advanced
levels, where they emphasize the building of chi, and the energy root,
and fight by attacking the energy points at the meridians. Wing Chun
is like that, as is Praying Mantis. Then, many of the hardest, external
styles have internal forms that are seen as the ideal. Hung Gar has
it's Iron Wire Set (Tit Sin Kuen), and many other Southern Chinese
styles have forms similar to Sanchin of Okinawan Karate.
The big difference between internal and external styles, is that internal
styles move from the root or feet, where external styles move and pivot
from the Dan Tien or waist. That's just my personal observation, but I
think it is valid.
Another explanation of internal versus external, is that in China, internal
arts are indigenous Taoist arts (from inside the country), whereas
external styles are buddhist and Shaolin based (buddhism came from
India, therefore, outside the country). This works out neatly, as Tai Chi,
Pakua and Hsing Yi are Taoist. They are of course, not the only Taoist
styles.
Another way to categorize Tai Chi styles is in to the height of the
stances. Large frame (low), Medium Frame, and Small Frame (high)
are ways to describe both the Chen styles, as well as the Yang/Wu styles.
In the end, they all aim for the same goal, namely becoming softer,
more energy oriented in both attack (pressure points) and defense
(rooting power, sensitivity).
Modern Tai Chi is quite a mixed bag, as it was taken up by the new
age movement in the seventies. Many people who wouldn't know
flowing energy from a stick in the ground have neglected the warrior
aspect that landed the art with the name "Grand Ultimate Fist".
There are however, still hard-core practitioners who take the combat
side of Tai Chi very seriously, such as various Chen practitioners,
Erle Montaigue's version of Yang style, and some of the Wu stylists.
What is Tai Chi Chuan?
Tai Chi is a Chinese art for health, meditation, and self defense which dates back thousands of years. The movements are graceful, the tempo is slow and the benefits are great. It is the only form of movement exercise in which a person should not use outward strength or force in their movements. Improvement depends on inner awareness not outer strength or force in their movements. Tai Chi develops both the mind and body. It embodies a philosophy that not only promotes health, but also can be applied to every aspect of daily life.
An important principle of Tai Chi is central equilibrium or dynamic stability. By not using any more energy than is absolutely necessary, a state of relaxation is achieved and proper posture maintained. People who practice this learn to exert a minimum amount of effort to perform a task that my have caused a greater energy expenditure at a previous time. Tai Chi may teach an individual how to conserve energy, dynamic relaxation, along with possible physiological benefits of lower blood pressure and stress reduction.
Tai Chi enhances ones good health through slow rhythmic, circular movements. It concentrates the mind and calms the emotions; it regulates blood circulation; it mobilizes all joints, ligaments, and muscles, and makes one alert and energetic.
In short, the constant practice of Tai Chi increases the repertory capacity, stimulates and stabilizes the nervous system and improves the function of all the organs in the body.
Tai Chi stresses dynamic relaxation and good posture, increasing benefits and reducing stress by adding mental exercise to the inherent physical movement. Often referred to as 鈥渕oving meditation鈥? Tai Chi achieves relaxation through systematic motion.
It should be stated that many martial artists study Tai Chi to enhance their particular style. Many practitioners have found the dynamic relaxation and kinetic awareness that Tai Chi teaches very beneficial. Even masters of other martial arts such as Master Nakayama and Master Kanazawa, both students of modern Japanese Shotokan Karate, Master Gichin Funakoshi have found Tai Chi beneficial especially when the practitioner reaches middle age.
As you study with me, I hope to develop your Tamashii, which means spirit so that you can be the best in all walks of life.
Tai Chi has its origins in Taoism and Martial Arts. Tai Chi Chuan means "Supreme Ultimate Boxing." The "Supreme Ultimate" here refers to the Tao, or more specifically, the framework within which the dualities of Yin and Yang manifest themselves in the field of time. The allusion to the Tai Chi in this context suggests that the art contains within itself (in its movements, shapes and patterns of breathing) all that is necessary for these dynamic forces to interact and be reconciled. The character Chuan refers to a school or method of boxing or combat. Therefore, it can be said that Tai Chi Chuan, as it was originally conceived, contains a sophisticated method of fighting based on the reconciliation of dynamically interacting forces. Structurally speaking then, the Tai Chi Chuan practitioner seeks to neutralize his opponent's use of force before applying a countering force of his own. In this give and take, this interplay of energies, Tai Chi finds its highest expression.
At the time of its development, Tai Chi was a very potent art, jealously guarded by a few families and used for self defense. The proper shapes for the transmission of energy, the methods of single-weightedness, techniques of relaxation and breath control all were developed with the express purpose of prevailing in combat in an efficient, scientific manner. It is important for the Tai Chi student to be able to appreciate and understand this martial context even if one is not interested in this aspect of Tai Chi. After all, all of the major Tai Chi styles (Chen, Yang, Wu and Sun) placed a great deal of emphasis on grasping the meaning of the movements through applications training and this is fully 1/3 of its purpose, the other purposes of Tai Chi being physical health, and meditative (or emotional, mental and spiritual) well-being. Push Hands also needs to be mentioned here, as an important part of modern Tai Chi, as an exercise and sport regimen, developing important skills sets necessary to building the martial aspects.
So then: what is the place of Tai Chi in modern society? How are we to appreciate this precious cultural transmission? The secret lies in enlarging our understanding of how ta chi practicing snowboard champion i could fix that flat on your car! limreynan's got it ya right Limreynan got the full coverage 4 u One of the three orthodox "internal" styles of Chinese martial art (the other two being Xingyiquan and Baguazhang). The term "Taiji" refers to the ancient Chinese cosmological concept of the interplay between two opposite yet complementary forces (Yin and Yang) as being the foundation of creation. "Quan" literaly means "fist" and denotes an unarmed method of combat. Taijiquan as a martial art is based on the principle of the soft overcoming the hard.
Complete Taijiquan arts include basic exercises, stance keeping (Zhanzhuang), repetitive single movement training, linked form training, power training (exercises which train the ability to issue energy in a ballistic pulse), weapons training (which includes straight sword, broadsword, staff and spear), and various two-person exercises and drills (including "push-hands" sensitivity drills). A hallmark of most styles of Taijiquan is that the movements in the forms are done quite slowly, with one posture flowing into the next without interruption. Some forms (the old Chen forms for example) alternate between slow motion and explosive movements. Other styles divide the training into forms which are done slowly at an even tempo and separate forms which are performed at a more vigorous pace. The goal of moving slowly is to insure correct attention is paid to proper body mechanics and the maintenance of the prerequisite relaxation.
Training exercises can be divided into two broad categories: solo exercises, and drills which require a partner. A beginner will usually begin training with very basic exercises designed to teach proper structural alignment and correct methods of moving the body, shifting the weight, stepping, etc. All of the Taijiquan arts have at their very foundation the necessity of complete physical relaxation and the idea that the intent leads and controls the motion of the body. The student will also be taught various stance keeping postures which serve as basic exercises in alignment and relaxation as well as a kind of mind calming standing meditation. A basic tenet of all "internal" martial arts is that correct motion is born of absolute stillness. Once the basics are understood, the student will progress to learning the formal patterns of movement ("forms") which contain the specific movement patterns and techniques inherent in the style.
Traditionally, single patterns of movement were learned and repeated over and over until mastered, only then was the next pattern taught. Once the student had mastered an entire sequence of movements individually, the movements were taught in a linked sequence (a "form"). The goal of training is to cultivate a kind of "whole body" power. This refers to the ability to generate power with the entire body, making full use of one's whole body mass in every movement. Power is always generated from "the bottom up," meaning the powerful muscles of the legs and hips serve as the seat of power. Using the strength of the relatively weaker arms and upper body is not emphasized. The entire body is held in a state of dynamic relaxation which allows the power of the whole body to flow out of the hands and into the opponent without obstruction.
The Taijiquan arts have a variety of two person drills and exercises designed to cultivate a high degree of sensitivity in the practitioner. Using brute force or opposing anothers power with power directly is strictly discouraged. The goal of two person training is to develop sensitivty to the point that one may avoid the opponent's power and apply one's own whole body power wher the opponent is most vulnerable. One must cultivate the ability to "stick" to the opponent, smothering the others' power and destroying their balance. Finally, the formal combat techniques must be trained until they become a reflexive reaction.
Modified forms of Taijiquan for health have become popular worldwide in recent times because the benefits of training have been found to be very conducive to calming the mind, relaxing the body, relieving stress, and improving one's health in general.
Chen Wangding's original form of Chen style Taijiquan is often refered to as the "Old Frame" (Laojia) and its second form as "Cannon Fist" (Paochui). In the latter part of the 18th century, a fifth generation decendant of Chen Wangding, Chen Youben simplified the original forms into sets which have come to be known as the "New Style" (Xinjia). Chen Youben's nephew, Chen Jingbing, created a variation of the New Style which is known as the "Small Frame" (Xiaojia) or "Zhaobao" form. All of these styles have survived to the present.
The Yang style of Taijiquan is a variation of the original Chen style. The forms which were passed down from the Yang style founder, Yang Luzhan have undergone many modifications since his time. Yang Luzhan's sons were very proficient martial artists and each, in turn, modified their father's art. The most commonly seen variation of the form found today comes from the version taught by Yang Luzhan's grandson, Yang Zhengfu. It was Yang Zhengfu who first popularized his family's Art and taught it openly. Yang Zhengfu's form is characterizes by open and extended postures. Most of the modern variations of the Yang style, as well as the standardized Mainland Chinese versions of Taijiquan are based on his variation of the Yang form.
Yang Luzhan's student, Wu Yuxiang combined Yang's form with the Zhaobao form which he learned from Chen Jingping to create the Wu style. This style features higher stances and compact, circular movements. His nephew's student, Hao Weizhen was a famous practitioner of the style, so the style is sometimes refered to as the Hao Style. Hao Weizhen taught his style to Sun Ludang, who combined his knowledge of Xingyiquan and Baguazhang to create his own
Yang Luzhan had another student named Zhuan You (or Juan You), who in turn taught the style to his son Wu Jianchuan (or Jianquan). This modification of the Yang style is usually refered to as the Wu Jianchuan (or Jianquan) style. This form's movements are smaller and the stance is higher than the popular Yang style.
In summary, the major styles of traditional Taijiquan are the:
Chen
Yang
Wu
Wu Jianchuan (or Jianquan)
and Sun
All other "styles" are variations of the above. |
