TAI CHI

Tai chi is an art that is easily misinterpreted. Yes, tai chi is something that provides great health benefits as do other forms of martial arts. Even more so for elder and injured people due to Tai chi's slow moving exercise that involve proper breathing.

On the other hand, tai chi means "grand ultimate energy".

Tai chi used to be one of the most deadly martial arts practiced at one time.  They would work on form and proper movement and energy flow for years. Don’t understand energy flow? Through proper breathing, the internal organs are provided with the proper amount of oxygen providing an “internal elixir.”

Through this tai chi, chi kung, or qi gong provides an internal energy that is far superior to external energy. This sets in determination and will power. For example; a bodybuilder who just goes through the motions might as well not have picked up the weights to begin with.

Now when proper breathing and good slow movements are utilized in bodybuilding you feed that oxygen to the inner body and it assists in pumping that blood to the worked area creating a burn that will sculpt the body.

Now to understand the health benefits behind tai chi try this little exercise. Just breath like you normally would for the next minute……now breath using one of the following methods for the next minute.

Natural breathing- inhale through the nose and pushing the stomach out and pulling the chest in. Exhale through the mouth while pushing the chest out and tucking the stomach in.

Reverse breathing- My favorite, inhale through the nose and tuck the stomach in and push the chest out. Exhale through the mouth and push the stomach out while the chest tucks in.

 Remember that the inhalations must be very slow and the exhalations must be slower. The average American breathes about 15-25 times per minute, which doesn’t provide enough oxygen to reach the bottom of the lungs. By breathing proper you get the oxygen to all the vital points of the body and you only breathe 5-7 times per minute. Try these breathing exercises while going on a morning stroll or walk around the park in minimum time bursts of 15 minutes and see the difference you will feel in little over a week. You must do this every day though for at least 15 minutes to feel the results. Like how you feel afterwards, then contact a local tai chi instructor for further tutelage or order one of my tai chi videos via mail (coming soon fall of 2007).

Tai Chi has several ancient hidden techniques in the long 108 movement barehand sequence that are quite adaptable to any system. They would practice tai chi at night so the movements could not be easily seen and due to secrecy. Kung fu was passed down from family to family, outsiders were not welcomed. I could talk tai chi history for pages, but there are plenty of books out there on this subject alone. After years of practice these forms were practiced two-man with lightning fast movements. Weaponry was also utilized in tai chi as well like the tai chi sword, the rod and the narrow blade tai chi sword. Some would include the saber and much more depending on the branch of Tai Chi. Qi gong was the father art of Tai Chi. In order make a long story short it gave birth to Yang style, Chen style, and Wu style Tai Chi. These are among the most popular styles. There are many other variations. 

In our Kenpo Kung Fu, Tai Chi can be broken apart from the rest of the art and taught to those who wish to only receive the health benefits from it. Our Tai Chi is taught in 3 phases at blue to purple, green to brown and 4th brown to black. Along with this is ground fighting, crane, and dragon. Tai Chi aids as a special training.

The first phase is very beginner. It teaches you warm-ups and the 10 breathing drills to start you off on the right track. After the breathing drills are comfortable to the practitioner, one starts the moving drill to develop movement and moving the energy with them. In the breathing drills one remains stationary and works on building strength in the arms through movement of the arms. One will also learn a shortened more modern version of the barehand sequence. Sticky hands is also taught where two practitioners are locked by the wrist (wrist are touching facing each other) and practice the Yin/Yang theory of circular movement to intercept an attack by easily redirecting with a gentle movement. Chi circulation is also required in Phase 1 to develop more inner health among the organs and relaxation. This is a meditative stance and utilizes the breathing and circular path of chi travel.

For more on Tai Chi click on the following links:

TAI CHI PHASE 2 | TAI CHI PHASE 3

*THESE METHODS ARE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE TRAINING IS LIKE AND A REFERENCE FOR STUDENTS AND NOT TO ACT AS A TRAINING TOOL.

Click on the below methods for more information about their ways of self-defense.

Chin na |  Tai Chi | Ground Fighting |  Multiple Man Fighting | Takedowns  

Also see: Five Animals | Weapons

Sealing the Breath and Sealing the Vein |  Cavity Press   

Misplacing the Bone  |   Dividing the Muscle

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