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What is T’ai-Chi Ch’uan?

Tai Chi diagram
The term T’ai-Chi Ch’uan is also spelt "TaiJiQuan" and commonly abbreviated to "Tai Chi", "TaiJi".

Tai Chi is one of the ‘softer’ Chinese martial arts. There is an emphasis on yielding & neutralising rather than attacking. As such Tai Chi does not rely on ordinary ideas of strength. This makes it accessible to a wider age & fitness range than harder styles.

The general benefits of Tai Chi are:
  • General fitness
  • Mental & physical relaxation
  • General strength building
  • Agility & flexibility
  • Calmness & mental focus
  • It is a very adaptable system suitable for young & old alike

Many people are also captivated by the intriguing principles & mechanisms that govern the art which are drawn broadly from Taoist observations.

Tai Chi is essentially a martial art system originating from China that incorporates softness & looseness into functional exercise. However, as a martial art, it belongs to a minority often referred to as ‘internal’. An internal martial art is one that exploits mindfulness & 'internal energy' rather than relying on strength &/or speed.

Tai Chi is also one of the ‘softer’ Chinese martial arts. There is an emphasis on yielding & neutralising rather than attacking. As such Tai Chi does not rely on ordinary ideas of strength. This makes it accessible to a wider age & fitness range than harder styles.

The emphasis on training mindfulness & 'internal energy' has led to reports of abilities in skilled practitioners.

The cannon of T’ai-Chi Ch’uan literature is littered with stories of apparent weakness overcoming strength & speed or age over youth. These serve to illustrate the principles that underpin Tai Chi.

"After I practice TCC I always feel better, physically and mentally. The movements are very simple and beautiful." - student
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My classes are not aimed at teachers and attendance is by no means tacit approval for a person to go on and teach.