Internal Chinese Martial Arts
Taijiquan is an internal martial art from China or “Kung Fu.” Internal means inside the body and kung fu means “a great degree of skill developed through long hard work.” The goal of Tai Chi is to become very highly skilled at feeling and effecting the internal workings of the body and mind. As well as the ability to do this in others.
(A brief note on spelling. Tai Chi can be spelled several different ways including: Tai Chi, Taiji, Tai Chi Chuan, Taijiquan)
Health & Combat
Tai Chi Chuan is mainly practiced for its impressive health benefits today but it originally became well known as a deadly combat art. It is incredibly brutal and devastating in combat but the the impressive thing about Tai Chi is that it allows someone who is in their 80’s & 90’s to defeat stronger and faster opponents who are in their 20’s and have been training in external kung fu their whole lives. This is accomplished through an emphasis on many things including:
- Power development without the use of muscular force.
- An in depth working knowledge of how the body and mind work including anatomy, physiology, psychology and energetics as well as mind and body states.
- Timing, Positioning and movement skills that are very well developed.
- Practice methods that allow someone of advanced years to train regularly without injury and without exhausting themselves.
Because of this emphasis on being able to practice and use Tai Chi even in advanced years, both long term and short term health benefits are an important part of the system. Fortunately the internal principles and practices that provide the amazing combat effectiveness of Tai Chi are the exact same ones that give the incredible health benefits. This allows practitioners to get both health and combat benefits while only studying one thing.
There are many different practices within tai chi like wu chi, bone marrow washing and various jings and other methods that are known to provide specific health benefits. Tai Chi is known to have an amazing effect on many illnesses including migraine headaches, arthritis, depression, multiple sclerosis and even cancer.
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