What is Tai Chi?

“Moving slowly, under the trees, breathing, it seems, in time with a gentle breeze; merging with nature itself in a healing rhythm. Head, shoulders, arms, trunk, legs and feet moving as one; continuously, smoothly and restfully, as if swimming into a new, all pervading element; a different time a different space.”

Paul Crompton
“The Elements of Tai Chi”

Tai Chi is often called the art of moving meditation. Each posture is performed in a slow rhythmic manner and focuses the practitioner's full attention. The form is a physical expression of the constant ebb and flow of universal energy. It promotes physical relaxation and mental concentration. This encourages the practitioner to live fully in, and appreciate, each moment.

Tai Chi is a “soft” or internal martial art. It does not focus on the use of strength or speed, but on increased awareness of your energy and that of your opponent. Tai Chi allows the practitioner to interpret any attack and neutralize it with body movements that causes one's opponent to miss their target, lose their balance, and have their negative energies and aggressiveness used against them.

Tai Chi Chuan means ‘Supreme Ultimate Boxing'. The ‘Supreme Ultimate' here refers to the ‘Tao', or more specifically, the framework within which the dualities of ‘Yin' and ‘Yang' manifest themselves in the field of time. The essentials of the ‘Yin-Yang' school are as follows: the Tao/Supreme Ultimate is divided into two opposite principles: Under Yang are the principles of maleness, the sun, creation, heat, light, heaven, dominance, and so on, and under Yin are the principles of femaleness, the moon, completion, cold, darkness, material forms, submission, and so on.

All opposites that one experiences—health and sickness, wealth and poverty, power and submission—can be explained in reference to the temporary dominance of one principle over the other. Since no one principle dominates eternally, that means that all conditions are subject to change into their opposites. Tai Chi contains within itself (in its movements, shapes and patterns of breathing) all that is necessary for these dynamic forces to interact and be reconciled

The character ‘Chuan' refers to a school or method of boxing or combat. Therefore, it can be said that Tai Chi Chuan, as it was originally conceived, is a sophisticated method of fighting based on the reconciliation of dynamically interacting forces. Structurally speaking then, the Tai Chi Chuan practitioner seeks to neutralize his opponent's use of force before applying a countering force of his own. In this give and take, this interplay of energies, Tai Chi finds its highest expression as fighting art.

“Tai Chi Chuan is created through observations of the natural phenomena of matters in the universe, the physiological needs and nervous system of the body. It is the accumulation of the wisdom and essence of the Chinese martial arts. The postures are outstanding and the movements are free, smooth and natural. The whole set of postures is made up of many circles linking together”

“In the circular movement, we have to consider ‘Yin Yang', ‘Reality and emptiness' so as to increase the practical value of self-defence. We must also incorporate them with the breathing technique so that the strength is concealed under a disguise of gentleness. The movement may appear to be light and weak but the force is actually extremely hard and strong. So Tai Chi Chuan is the training of Man's potential inner energy. It is one of best forms of martial arts and an invaluable treasure to the Chinese culture”.

(Extract from Paul Tam's “Tai Chi Chuan - “Theory and Practice”)