About Tai Chi - A basic understanding
Tai Chi pronounced taiji consists of a set of soft slow movements, known as a form. It is also an ancient art and practiced at the Centre for its holistic movements, health and relaxation; TaiChi is accessible to all ages and physical abilities and requires no special equipment, ideally all you need is loose clothing, soft footwear or bare feet if you wish.
Most people are familiar with the TaiChi Form movement, whenever you see travelogues of China, they include images of people practicing slow, graceful movements usually early in the morning. As with Qigong these slow, external movements help to stimulate the internal organs, by promoting the flow of internal energy called Qi (Chi).
The style taught at the Centre is the ‘original’ holistic Yang style as passed on by Grand Master Yang Cheng-Fu, (1883–1936) He was known as the ‘Invincible' and practiced for its ‘holistic' movements more so than its original martial art aspect.
The correct title is Tai Chi Chuan, an original internal martial
art that has been around for about 1000 years and was introduced
to the West in the 1920’s from China, dates of origination’s
are not clear as revolution and rulers destroyed most documentation.
Handed down from generation to generation, not usually being
taught outside the individual family circle. There are
direct family lineage charts available, but they tend to be
somewhat complicated and confusing and can be very controversial.
Several original family names do still exist, lending
their names to there specific styles, the
most popular being:
The Yang family - the Yang style is the most popular
tai chi style in the West of which several adaptations
are now in existence. The Chen family is said to be the
originator of Tai Chi as we know it today. And the remainder
can be termed as offshoots from the yang style.
These are the Wu, Lee & Sun families.
There are more styles that can be termed as powerful and explosive
- martial yet still holistic, they include the Yang LuChan old style and Bagwazhang both very ‘farjing’.
These are usually reserved for the more advanced student along
with the classical weapon forms.
The original old Yang Style by the originator
Yang Lu-Chan (1799-1872) is also taught at the TCQHC.
Hao Chuan; It is widely believed that Chang San-feng was
the founder of H’ao-Chuan, meaning ‘Loose
Boxing’ that over time became Taiji-Chuan.
Broadly speaking the Yang LuChan style preceded the Yang Cheng-fu
style which is widely practiced today along with many variants
and watered down versions.
The original form consisted of 108 movements divided into
three sections for easier learning. At the TCQHC we have expanded
the original moves without adding or subtracting postures to
164 to enable detailed teaching and learning.
Hao Chuan is a most advanced level of taiji which is almost
extinct today, consisting of very fine detailed 'internal'
form movements interspersed with fa-jing explosive moves, and
considered the most powerful of all taiji frames for higher
development and self-healing. Hao Chuan develops the spirit,
which in turn leads the mind, and finally, the body will naturally
follow. The TCQHC embraces the Yang LuChan form
at the H'ao Chuan advance level.
The Philosophy .......
Both TaiChi and Qigong practice the same philosophy and principles
of yin and yang.
The definition of the words Tai Chi also applies to the Yin & Yang symbol.
Tai = Supreme
Chi = Ultimate
This definition also applies to the 'Tao' as in Taoism, pronounced 'Dowism'
The detailed step by step DVDs covering Tai Chi and Qigong are available from our Online Shop. These DVDs are highly recommended for the newcomer and the experienced practitioner alike. Click here
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