I love Tai chi and the other spiritual arts of China. My Master is Mrs Bo Ou Mander of the Chinese Wushu Association Beijing. Under Bo I have learned the mystical disciplines of China including, Tai Chi and Qi Gong and Taoist Meditation but most of all Bo has taught me the art of living in harmony with the world.
The Story of Tai Chi
Tai Chi Quan is one of the legendary arts of ancient China. There are many myths about its origins; the most popular and well known being that it was created 800 years ago by Daoist master Zhang Sanfeng who lived in the Wudang Mountains. The story goes that he had dreams in which the secrets of Tai Chi were taught to him and that, using these dreams as inspiration, he softened Kung Fu into a more spiritually focused martial art.
However, the earliest historical records we have of Tai Chi are only 300 years old and suggest that Tai Chi was first developed in Chen village in the Wenxian County in the Henan Province, as we know it was practiced by an army garrison commander and great warrior called Chen Wing Ting. Many martial arts had developed throughout China due to many years of foreign invasions and peasant uprisings. But while previous arts had consisted of powerful quick movements, Tai Chi emphasized using the opponents force against them and 'overcoming the vigorous with the soft', using 'one pound of weight to redirect 1000 pounds' and most of all 'adapting oneself to the opponent'. The Tai Chi movements from this period have both soft and gentle movements and energetic forceful strikes. As time went on Tai Chi continued to evolve away from its martial roots and the movements became far gentler and health focused.
Many styles of Tai Chi evolved throughout China and five main styles remain to this day: Chen (the original martial style); Yang (a softer more circular form); Wu (known for its smaller stances and smaller movement); and second styles, another also named Wu (known for its quick short range movements); and Sun (known for its fast pace and advanced footwork).
What are the Health Benefits of Tai Chi?
Tai Chi Quian is a traditional Chinese system of health preservation and illness prevention. Tai Chi could be seen as the healthiest art in existence as it includes the health benefits of calm and gentle exercise, the physiological and stress relieving benefits of meditation, and the curative power of acupuncture. For this reason, in China Tai Chi is prescribed as a treatment for illnesses as diverse as high blood pressure, neurasthenia, pulmonary tuberculosis, nervous breakdown, impotence, anxiety disorder depression, arthritis and even diabetes. The real power of Tai Chi, however, lies in its power to prevent illness.
Studies into the effects of Tai Chi have shown that although the exercises are gentle and require relaxation, they also involve focus and visualization. They bring about great benefits to the functioning of the central nervous system while at the same time stimulating the cerebral cortex, causing stimulation in certain areas and offering protection in others. This allows the cerebral cortex a rest from any pathological excitement caused by mental diseases.
The meditative nature of the exercises brings around a relaxation response in the whole body and this has been proven to lower blood pressure and completely counteract the negative effects of stress. It has also been shown that those who practice Tai Chi are more calm and balanced during everyday life.
Disease prevention studies have discovered that those who practice Tai Chi have far stronger muscles and bones, have more efficient cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic systems, and lower blood pressure cholesterol than non practitioners. There is also some evidence that Tai Chi enhances the regulatory functions of the central nervous system and thus the coordination of the internal organs.
But there may be another hidden benefit to Tai Chi practice not yet known to science. Traditional Chinese medicine asserts that the body has natural patterns of an energy called Qi - also spelt 'chi' or in romanized Japanese, 'Ki'. The concept of Qi is fundamental to traditional Chinese culture. It is a form of spiritual energy that is part of every living thing that exists. It is the life force or ether of the west. The energy regulates the body and keeps it healthy through a system of channels called 'meridians'. Tai Chi was designed to ensure the correct and healthy flow of Qi through the body thereby revitalizing the bodily tissues and organs.
Following are the styles I teach my students -
The 24 Move Form
This is the most popular form of Tai Chi based on the Yang style, designed by one of Bo's teachers, Lu Tain Ji . It is gentle and relaxing to perform.
The 48 Move Mixed Form
This form was also designed by Lu Tain Ji. It is constructed from the five styles of Tai Chi, these being Chen, Wu, Yang, Sun and Son. It is more dynamic than the 24 move form and involves changing style often. It is very good for combat.
The 32 Move Sword Form
This is a great form for exercise. The sword acts like a weight and the form itself involves a lot of standing on one leg, skips and jumps.
Would you like to learn my own simplified form of Tai Chi?
