TAI CHI THEORY (updated Oct 2007)
Tai Chi comes from Dao, which means in Chinese the "Way". "Tai Chi" is the name of the philosophy of the interaction between Yin and Yang. "Tai Chi Chuan" (Taijiquan) is the name of the exercise system that we practise. "Chuan" means fist, and so implys that this is a Martial Art. Many people regard Tai Chi as slow relaxed movement for health and wellbeing, but it is a combination of:-
Martial Art Movement
Chinese Culture
Jing Luo System, The chi flow through the meridians
Meditation
Because the movemments are performed in a slow relaxed manner, they are suitable for everyone. Same speed, same movements but everyone should look slightly different. If everyone is exactly the same it is not good, you are not developing your own Tai Chi. Beginners cannot open their joints so need a higher stance than more experienced students.
Although Tai Chi originated in China, it is now an International Sport, practised all over the World.
ORIGINS
The earliest mentions of Tai Chi are around 5000 years ago when the "Book of Changes" (I Ching or Yi Jing) was written. This described the interaction of yin and yang and its relation to all things.
Tai Chi Chuan was created around 400 years ago in Henan Province by Chen Wang Ting, Ninth generation of the Chen Family, from Chen Jiagou. (Chen Village) He was a general at the end of the Ming and start of the Ching Dynasty. He was famous throughout Shandong for his fighting ablity. This he conbined with Chinese Medicine knowledge, and an understanding of Yin/Yang Philosophy.
CHANG SANG FENG
The Yang Family have publicised a story that Chang San Feng a Daoist from Wudang Mountain created Tai Chi. Yang Lu Chan had studied Chen Style Old Frame (Lao jia) in Chen Jiagou and on his return to Beijing, he began to teach this to the Royal Household. It was inappropriate to teach something from such a humble background to Royal Dignitaries, so the Yang family looked for a Daoist of high repute to credit as the originator.
Whilst Chang San Feng did exist, he had no Martial Arts skills and he lived over 200 years before Tai Chi was created. This story was published by the Yang family in the 1930's and got out to the West before China closed its doors. After that there was no one to dispute the tale until recent times.
WHAT IS TAI CHI?
Tai Chi uses relaxation and softness to develop power. Before Tai Chi all Martial Arts relied on strength and the strongest person winning. Tai Chi has endured because it has the additional benefit of maintaining the health. When the body is relaxed the Jing Luo (meridians) can open to allow the Qi to flow. From Qi flowing smoothly you can develop fast movements - from fast movements comes Gong Fu! |
For correct Tai Chi you need to "relax and turn the body". When we are young our bodies are very soft but as we age we become more stiff. When the body is soft we can make circular movements because the Qi is spiraling around the body.
Tai Chi needs "Turn Body" because this turning changes from Yang to Yin. Turning the body creates circles. If the body does not turn correctly the movements become a line instead of a circle.
The circle movement "massages" the internal organs, making the body healthy. Continued practice builds up the Qi.
Only a Master is able to make all of the movement circles. Beginners make a circle and then a line. From big circles we can then create smaller circles until they are so small they become almost internal. This is why everyone looks different. We are all at different levels of ability. Whilst the hands and feet may be the same, it is how we make the circles which seperates the level of the students.
"HUI DUI HAO MIAO JUE"
Learning Tai Chi follows this road:-
1) HUI - means "be able to"
At this level the student can perform the whole Form
2) DUI-Means the movements are all performed correctly
3) HAO - means "good"
At this level the movements are smooth, relaxed and flowing. The internal energy is developed and inside and outside movements are clear and coordinated. It looks very beautiful. This is the middle level.
4) MIAO - The highest level that most peaople can achieve.
At this level the "fa jing" energy is very powerful,the "gong fu" energy is developed. There is a high level of knowledge as well as skill. This is the level that most advanced Chinese Masters are at.
5) JUE - is the Highest level to be achieved.
Many Grandmasters cannot claim to be this level! At this point the level is so high you can make new movements and develop a new knowledge about Tai Chi Chuan.
The majority of students are in levels one and two. Not many people can achieve the third level and then even fewer can reach the forth one.
BREATHING
Always breathe naturally. Do not force the breath to fit the postures. You can practise Tai Chi movements at different speeds , therefore the breathing cannot always fit with the movements. If you practice very slowly you will need more breaths for a movement than if your movements are very quick.
Breathing is from the movements not movements from the breathing.
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