What is Tai Chi Chuan?
It is an exercise discipline known throughout the Orient for many centuries. The movements are based mostly on circular motion and flow at a smooth even tempo, making for perfect balance as the weight of the body is shifted from one side to the other. If practiced carefully it will bring about a high level of body control. This in turn results in greatly increased powers of mental concentration. To practice the art, you need nothing more than the floor space of an average room. Tai Chi Chuan teaches how to conserve and increase your energy flow. For this reason, it is suitable for people of all ages. When practiced properly, one is less tired at the end of a session than at the beginning. It is indeed a wonderful tonic for the mind and body.
Tai Chi Chuan for Health
This is not a system for building up muscles. By perfecting the movements, one learns both coordination and relaxation of the entire body. The resulting control leads to a very high degree of physical proficiency. The general level of performance of everything you do is improved. With better breathing and better circulation comes better health.
Tai Chi Chuan for Serenity
Mind and body are indivisible. Control of both is essential so that they may act in harmony. Tai Chi Chuan has been called “meditation in movement”. When the movements have been well learned, there is a noticeable increase in one’s powers of concentration. This training teaches one to have an open mind. Since a relaxed state is absolutely necessary before you can learn the movements properly, all stress and tension must be left behind.
Tai Chi Chuan for Self-Defenses
Lao Tzu, a 4th Century B.C Chinese philosopher, put the whole thing in a nutshell: “Nothing under heaven is softer or more yielding than water; but when it attacks things that are hard and resistant and the soft conquers the hard is a fact known by all men, yet utilized by none.”
Tai Chi Chuan develops the ability to know when the opponent is going to attack. Speed, sensitivity, and flexibility are built up, rather than brute force. If you learn to see danger before it reaches you, it can be neutralized. As the old Tai Chi saying goes. “four ounces can move a thousand pounds”.