Tai Chi Chuan, commonly called Tai Chi, is about 700 years old. Tai Chi was invented in China as an internal Martial Art, cultivating both self defending and Qi Gong skills, as well as having medical aspect.

There are several main Tai Chi styles: Chen Style, Yang Style, Wu Style, etc. Tai Chi Style names are usually based on the name of the founding family.

Yang Style is the most popular Tai Chi Style today. The forms and movements are highly standard among different teachers. The Yang family generously opened teaching to the public. In 1950’s Yang style was shortened and promoted to the public for the health benefits in China.

What is Tai Chi?

Since the term “Tai Chi” is widely used in North America, we do not want to replace is with “Tai Ji”, which would be more accurate spelling. Chi and Ji are different meanings and words: Chi is vital energy or air, and Ji means ultimate. “Tai” means supreme or greatest. So, literal translation of “Tai Chi” would be Supreme Ultimate.

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese phylosophycal concept of dualism. In the very begining there was Wu Chi or nothing, which later divided into Yin and Yang or Tai Chi – contraty yet complementary elements.

The outer circle represents universe with continual transformation and cyclical movements. S-curve represents the change of day and night duration throughout the Earth’s anual journey around the Sun or any other aspect of life like changing of the seasons, daily cycles of day and night, cycles of birth, maturity and death in humans life, marketing or relationships.

The two “Fish” in the Tai Chi diagram represent Yin and Yang. They are contrasting energies, active and inactive state, light and dark, full and empty. The white dot within black Yin Fish and the black dot within the white Yang Fish show that even at the heart of one there is the seed of the other. This concept is used in TCM, Feng Shui, architecture, and everyday life. Computer processors perform all their calculations using the binary system. Binary numbers consist only of 1 and 0 or True and False, which could refer to yin and yang.

Tai Chi Chuan is a very special martial art. While practising it can be slow and gentle, but it is very fast and powerful when needed.

Some Tai Chi benefits:

Body

Strenghten the spine

Strenghten and massage the internal organs

Improve equilibrium

Increases blood circulation

Mind

Stimulates the brain

Helps finding ways to deal with people and yourself

Reduces stress, anger and other negative emotions

Excellent exercise in concentration

Improve will power

Helps develop visualization

Spirit

Teaches spiritual meditation

Helps attaining harmony with Tao

Develops understanding the nature of Yin and Yang