Tai Chi Chuan
By: Mahesh S. Kamat
The Chinese art of Tai Chi Chuan is considered a style of Chi Kung (Qigong) as well as an internal style of martial arts. It is composed of a series of body movements and martial arts techniques (different from karate) done in a slow, soft and graceful way in combination with certain breathing patterns.
There are different styles of Tai Chi. Like the Yang style, The Chen Style and Wu Style.
Your instructor will be able to tell you about the style and its origins. Most authentic instructors do explain the differences and emphasize on the specific principles of their styles.
Most styles has certain special common techniques like “brush knee step”, the “single whip step”, “part horse mane” step. Your instructor will explain to you how it should look and how different it would appear in each style. The subtle principles of the leverage and the circle theory will be explained to the advanced student bringing him closer to understand the depth of the art.
Tai Chi Chuan is a very sophisticated art and doing a slow motion dance or karate movement slowly is not Tai Chi Chuan. It takes years of practice to achieve the softness, grace and total body coordination that is visible in an expert.
It is a very special art with certain very specific principles like the concept of “Sung”, the application of “Yi”, advanced application of “Jin” and body mechanics which only a qualified instructor can explain and demonstrate.
The intricate, artistic beautiful techniques and movements of Tai Chi are so designed that one is forced to concentrate and pay attention to every minute part of the movements, and in the process one’s ability to concentrate is developed . Tai Chi is also called “moving meditation”. One has to be so engrossed in minute details of sequence practice that one may literally “switch off” one’s awareness of all the sounds and distractions around. If for a fraction of a second, one gets distracted then it can show in one’s performance of the sequences. In this way it forces one to concentrate.
Repetition of basic patterns and practice of Tai Chi techniques and sequences which compose a training session in Tai Chi Chuan; does require a certain amount of self discipline. The essence here is of patient awareness and informed concentration. The student has to become one with the movement. He or she has to allow self consciousness and ego to drop away and concentrate on the “nowness” of the present instant.
Advantages of learning Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung:
1. Improved health, better sleep, better co-ordination and sense of balance.
2. No risk of injuries; as with jogging or other forms of vigorous forms of exercises.
3. The special breathing exercises help the internal systems, benefiting the heart and other organs.
4. Definite help for people with blood pressure problems, because of the calming effect at each session; making you more at peace with yourself.
5. A good gentle form of exercise ideal for people with arthritis, since it does not place any stress on the joints.
6. Extremely suitable for elderly people.
7. Because of the emphasis on correct postures, it is a great help to people with a bad posture or those with back aches caused by a bad posture
8. Self Defence techniques.
