Sunday Tai Chi- at different location.

The full name of Tai Chi should be Tai Chi Kuen, meaning that in the distant past; martial art elements were the dominant essence of the art. Nowaday, it is more health orientated and stress-free forms. Tai Chi is like a cross between Yoga and Ballet, but operate in a slow moving dance-like movements. The various weight distribution within the practitioner’s body during a particular move, required a lot of attention initially and as experience grew; the mind is free from thinking about it (i.e. free flowing). This weight change from movement to movement has the effect of making the spine relatively straight during the changes and together with a particular routine hand form would resulted in exercising the internal organs without you even realised it.

Logically, if your internal organs are strong, then You are strong and healthy! In addition, the slow change in direction, sinking down and lifting movements also help to all the joints to be more supple and flexible. The side effect of good flexibility can make you feel quite energised and feel rather confident! Older people must not go down too low, so not to hurt them at the knees, but still require a little bend at the knees (i.e. below any pain threshold): this way older person can reap the benefit from Tai Chi without accidentally hurting oneself through lack of knowledge. Whereas those who can lower themselve (without acquired any pain) while doing the routine hand form, do so. This should greatly enhance your Tai Chi Kuen.

The word Tai Chi, in Chinese – literately mean ‘ Very Extreme’. This can mean an extreme of a subject/object and its opposite( mirrored opposite if you like). For e.g. Light – Dark , Positive-Negative, Softness-hardness, hot-cold, tall-short, big-small, male-female, good-evil, etc.. Interesting enough the Tai Chi symbol contained both the two extremes and in each half contained a little bit of opposite element.

For example, If the above symbol represent Softness (white part) and Hardness (black part) – Then literally mean Within the softness there is a little bit of hardness and within the hardness there is a little bit of softness. And yet, both are contained in the circle (i.e. a vessel).

Alternatively, if the symbol represent good and evil- then the interpretation can mean a good person can have a little naughtiness within and a bad person can also have a little goodness within.

You might ask, well what is that got to do with Tai Chi or Tai Chi Kuen. Well, understand its nature means that you don’t go all the way in what you do: i.e. just enough force/way to solve a problem without forcing an issue or cause unnecessary harm to others. This calms your mind and makes you a better person. So, in short, Tai chi not only helps your body but also helps your mind!

The origin of Tai Chi have many version of interpretation – some believed that the art was past down from a retired general in the 13th Century in China, others believed that was past down from a famous Daiost who saw a fight between a crane and a snake some 1600 years ago. None of them have any historical record; however from the point of learning, the art is particularly good in enhancing other hard style of martial arts and totally very theraputic! In terms of reliefing stress in the mind, it is very similar to meditating but in dynamic way. Ideally, it is best to perform in the early morning of a WARM sun with blue sky and with the birds singing: unfortunately, not in the UK except few weeks in the Summer time. One of the characteristic of performing Tai Chi slow movements, the posture needs to be correct and the BREATHING is naturally LONG and DEEP to fully appreciate its full benefit!

So, if you are interested to learn. Do come along to our Sunday class, but at Netherhall College, Martial Art Studio hall, Queen Edith Way CB1 8NN, from 2pm – 3 pm at £8 per head per session.

Thank you.