Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi PractitionerTai Chi Chuan, T’ai Chi Ch’üan or Taijiquan (Traditional Chinese: 太極拳; Simplified Chinese: 太极拳; pinyin: Tàijíquán; literally “supreme ultimate fist”), commonly known as Tai Chi, T’ai Chi, or Taiji, is an internal Chinese martial art. There are different styles of T’ai Chi Ch’üan, although most agree they are all based on the system originally taught by the Chen family to the Yang family starting in 1820. It is often promoted and practised as a martial arts therapy for the purposes of health and longevity, (some recent medical studies support its effectiveness). T’ai Chi Ch’üan is considered a soft style martial art, an art applied with as complete a relaxation or “softness” in the musculature as possible, to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles which use a degree of tension in the muscles.

Tai Chi Yang Style Demonstration

This video of the Tai Chi Yang form emphasises the fluidity and grace of a tai chi form well practised.

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Variations of T’ai Chi Ch’üan’s basic training forms are well known as the slow motion routines that groups of people practice every morning in parks across China and other parts of the world. Traditional T’ai Chi training is intended to teach awareness of one’s own balance and what affects it, awareness of the same in others, an appreciation of the practical value in one’s ability to moderate extremes of behavior and attitude at both mental and physical levels, and how this applies to effective self-defense principles. In the following pages you can find a brief history of Tai Chi Chuan, plus information on styles and the health benefits of practicing Tai Chi.

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Tai Chi Chuan Styles and History
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Monday, December 1, 2008
By MotleyHealth

2 Responses to “Tai Chi Chuan”

  1. Tayde Fong

    i saw this martial art move at a video game its called “dead or alive and tekken” (character xioyu and lei fang )when the character demonstrates a move it can easily be learned. i tried the moves (cept the backflips and the weird kick spins) thanks to tai chi i lost 85 pounds wit anitioxidants and cardio work outs…(took me 2 years but it was worth it)

    #86
  2. MotleyHealth

    Now watch all the old Bruce Lee films and drink green tea, and you will be master!

    #87

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