Introduction to Tai Chi Chu’an

Tai Chi Chu’an is a Chinese form of exercise practiced for health, longevity, and self-defense. It is the most popular form of martial arts practiced throughout the world. Its principles are to move slowly and flow continuously. To make clean Tai Chi movements neither extra strength nor external power is used. It is an exercise that helps the physical body and the mind harmonize. Tai Chi helps one to understand the body, maintain posture, balance, and control, to coordinate limb movements with the body as a unit. The term “Tai Chi” is first found in the Chinese Book of Changes, the I Ching.

The I Ching states: In the beginning of time, there was Wu Chi, the great void. Wu Chi gave birth to two powers: the power of Yin and the power of Yang. Yang represents the positive being, it is the male image, it is light, it is the sunny side of the mountain. Yin is the opposite of Yang; it is negative, it is the female image, it is the shady side of the mountain. They compliment each other. Yin and Yang are not total opposites, they each have a minor part of each other, creating the feeling of being complete and harmonizing with each other. This is Tai Chi, the philosophy of duality in the world.

Tai Chi Chu’an is the product of gathering these two powers and transforming them into action, with postures flowing into each other, yet being complete before the next posture begins: there are no stops or gaps. Each of the postures depends on the changes of the Yin and Yang to gain its output of power; they are executed slowly and expanded in a rhythmic action using no external force. The goal of Tai Chi Chu’an is the harmonizing of mind and body.