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Origin of Tai Chi
From the Land of the Sleeping Giant, China. One of the legendary and respected founders who created the idea of imitating the flow and motion of the different martial art
techniques is Chang San Feng. He is said to live during the year 1391 until 1459. Back then, he was living in a monastery named Wu Tang as a
monk. By combining the principles of Taoism, kung fu, and the theory of Yi Jing, he created the ever popular form of meditation, Tai Chi.
Some researches indicated that traces of a wide acceptance of Tai Chi were found in the village of Chen. This
was the time of Chen Wang Ting during the early 1600s. Documents have it that this is the place where Tai Chi was born.
Characteristics of Tai Chi
Tai Chi, in a word, literary means "One".
Yet in another sense, it means “Supreme
Ultimate Fist”. So, with the words combined, Tai
Chi is done as one, with or without a partner, with the use of hand
gestures and different slow motions. Tai Chi stresses to its
practitioners that they must observe proper breathing, and correct
posture so as to facilitate the pattern of the flowing Chi. However,
Tai Chi can also be used as a form of self-defense but as time has
moved forward, the stress has moved away from this and has become more
of an exercise or meditation practice.
The Four Schools of Tai Chi
Today, there are four popular schools
of Tai Chi – Yang, Wu, Sun and Chen. These four are all
unique in appearance and method of instruction but all follows the
fundamentals of the basic principles applied in ancient Tai Chi that
consists of cultivation of chi, correct posture and principles of
breathing.
Yang Style - The Whole Body
Yang style is probably the most famous and popular form of Tai Chi. In this kind of
style, the body emphasizes a consistency regarding its movement speed,
smoothness and slow but refined motion with continuity through the
entire session. There are no moves that will isolate one part of your
body, thus, enhancing every part and move at the same time. Relative to
stances, they are wide and high. Your back foot must maintain a 45
degree form in a front stance.
Chen Style - Similar to Traditional Kung Fu
May be quite similar to the traditional style of kung fu wherein stances are
opposite to that of the Yang and Wu styles. All stances are often done
in a low state and have a bit of an external feeling.
When the Chen style of Tai Chi is performed, it features a motion that
is in slow portions but then builds a stronger inner chi. it also
exhibits a more explosive form with a fast turning when attacking. The
back foot remains the same with the Yang style but as to being
straight, it maintains a bent back knee.
Sun
Style - Combines Three Major Martial Arts
This type of Tai Chi was created in
the year 1914 by Sun Lu
Tang. He was already renowned in the world of martial arts
at that time. He trained extensively in Hsing I,
Bagua,
and Shaolin Kung Fu. By combining the
three together with the theory supported by Yi Jing, principles of
Taoism, and Qigong,
he created a new and unique style of Tai Chi.
Wu Style -
Reaching and Leaning, Controlled and Slow
Considered as the youngest, it
represents high stances and much more slower movements. The front
stances are parallel. This newer form of Tai Chi introduces a lot of
reaching and leaning movements that are more controlled and slower than
the rest.
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