ChilternTaiChi.co.uk

An Introduction To Tai Chi Chuan.

Tai Chi Chuan is one of China's oldest surviving martial arts dating back hundreds of years. It's origins lie in Taoism and is said to have been created by the legendary Chang San-feng on Wudang mountain in the Ming dynasty. During the Qing dynasty, Yang Lu-chan brought the art to Beijing where it gained the attention of the Royal court and became famous across the kingdom of China as a martial art that was unmatchable. However, Tai Chi Chuan is more than just a fighting system, as it's rich Taoist tradition has infused it with elements of meditation and physiological therapeutic exercise. Unfortunately, the therapeutic aspects of Tai Chi Chuan have been over-emphasised to the point where the martial elements are rarely known or taught nowadays. Through direct transmission from one of Yang Lu-chan's students, Wan Lan-ting, the art has survived and spread from Mainland China to Hong Kong and into Europe and beyond. There are five aspects to Tai Chi Chuan and although many styles teach them, most do not know and practise ALL five.

The Five Aspects Of Tai Chi Chuan.

Hand Form

The graceful, flowing movements of the handform are the most well known aspect of the art and is often what you see people practicing in parks all across China and much of Asia first thing in the morning. There is the traditional Long Form and more recently, modern Short Forms, both of which are designed to educate the body in correct posture, breathing, co-ordination and mental-focus. In the Wudang style, there is also what is known as the Square Form which is taught initially in order to help break the movements down. This can be compared to learning to write the alphabet in that first we learn the individual block letters before learning how to write joined-up. Once we have learnt the Square Form, we can progress to combine the postures together in flowing movements, referred to as the Round Form.

Pushing Hands

Pushing Hands is to train techniques to disrupt our opponents centre of gravity whilst maintaining our own. It also improves our sensitivity, co-ordination, footwork and reactions. Although Pushing Hands is not fighting in itself, it is the link to help understand the connection between the Hand Form and its self defence applications.

Self Defence

48 modified techniques from the hand form, practiced with a partner necessary to develop the ability to defend ourselves and counter-attack our opponent. We must make these techniques second nature, enabling us to react instinctively and decisively.

Weapons - Spear, Sabre and Sword

Spear, Sabre and Sword are usually taught after a certain degree of proficiency has been reached in the Hand Form, Pushing Hands and Self-defence.

Internal Strength

In ancient times, Internal Strength (Nei Kung) was the first thing which a student of Tai Chi Chuan would be taught. It provided a strong foundation on which to build the rest of the art. However, as Tai Chi became more widespread and teachers began to teach more students, Internal Strength was only taught to students of good character. It takes time to assess students so nowadays students will normally be taught the hand form and some pushing hands first. Internal Strength is the most important part of the art of Tai Chi Chuan, as well as being the most mysterious and least understood. It can best be described as exercise combined with meditation as well as containing martial functions and applications. The Internal Strength regulates breathing and improves blood circulation. Practice loosens and relaxes the joints, making our movements more fluid, which in turn leads to quicker reactions and greater speed in attack and defence. Our sense of balance will also improve with practice.

There is a series of twelve Yin exercises and a complementary series of twelve Yang exercises. The Yin exercises are designed to develop health and physique. It is for this reason that the Yin exercises are taught first. The Yang exercises are designed to increase our power and physical strength.