A Brief History of Tai Chi Chuan
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More than 300 different known martial arts styles are practiced in China.
There are two Chinese Martial Art systems, the internal "soft" and the external "hard" systems. The internal system includes Tai Chi, Sheng-I and Pa-Qua styles. They emphasize stability and have limited jumps and kicks. The external system includes Shao Lin, Long Fist, Southern Fist, and other styles. They emphasize linear movements, breathing combined with sound, strength, speed and hard power impact contact, jumps, and kicks.
There are many different styles of Tai Chi Chuan. The five which are most commonly practice today are the Chen, Yang, Wu , Sun, and Wo styles. All Tai Chi styles, however, are derived from the original Chen style.
Initially, Tai Chi was practiced as a martial art form, emphasizing strength, balance, flexibility, and speed. Through time it has evolved into a balance, slow, and graceful form of exercise which can be practiced by people of all ages.
It is misunderstood by many as just a form of "soft" exericse. However, those who practise Tai Chi Chuan would recognise that as a martial art, it takes a short time to learn and a lifetime to perfect. Few people have mastered Tai Chi Chuan; fewer are willing to pass on their knowledge of it.
Tai Chi Chuan is usually described as a 'Soft' or 'Internal' martial art as opposed to the practice of the 'Hard' or 'External' martial arts exemplified by some of those taught in the "Shaolin" school. It is a potent martial art with most of its more martial aspects disguised by its slow and apparently gentle movements. Its practice consists of a series of continuous, smooth and graceful movements, together with the maintenance of a straight and upright body posture, form the basis of the Art of Tai Chi Chuan.
The distinct characteristics of Tai Chi Chuan are :
1. Gentleness
Tai Chi Chuan's postures are steady and steadfast; its movements are easy and gentle.
2. Continuity
The movements are continuous like the flow of a river. This is different from other exercises, which has a lot of "breaks" in between movements.
3. Circularity
Through circular movements, every part of the body is uniformly exercised, promoting the elasticity of the muscles and bones. This is especially significant for practitioners as they mature in age.
A Tai Chi Chuan exponent is really quite strong and very supple. Strength is concentrated in the legs and enables one to relax so as to leave your torso yielding and apparently 'soft'. Any force directed to the body would then be dissipated as there would be no solid surface to absorb its energy. The aggressor will find that he is unable to focus his attack and to vent his power on his Tai Chi Chuan opponent, who escapes unhurt. Leg strength also enables the Tai Chi Chuan exponent to react like a coiled spring - recoiling away from a strong force and then springing back when the force is removed. The stronger the attacking force, the tighter the spring and the stronger the counter-attack. The increased leg strength not only gives the Tai Chi Chuan exponent explosive strength to push opponents over 20 m away but also binding speed which enables him to move faster than his opponents. Think of a ball floating on water, the harder you press it down or force it, the stronger it will spring or bounce.
To develop such strength and suppleness, the Tai Chi Chuan exponent goes through the meticulous, consistent repetition of a predetermined set of movements. The body must be relaxed to promote the transfer of body weight to the legs. A strong posture permits the "qi" (energy) and helps focus body weight onto a small area.
It is best to study Tai Chi from a teacher who is willing to teach its fundamentals. Do not hesitate to query why a move should be made in a particular way, or why a hand or leg should be placed in just this position and not in another. We need to understand its meaning so that we can remember better how the move should be performed and appreciate the spirit and philosophy behind this ancient art form.