What is Tai chi

What is Tai chi

tai chi chuan is a martial art developed in the Empire of China, currently practiced by several million people in the world, so it is among the martial arts practiced more widely.

In the PRC tai chi it is a very popular activity and in city parks can be seen in the morning thousands of people exercising their slow, fluid movements.

Originally, tai chi is an internal martial art (Chinese: 內 家 拳, pinyin: nèijiāquán) for hand combat, either armed or desarmada.1 In more recent times is considered increasingly as a physico practice spiritual, on the one hand would be very helpful to health, while the other is a technique of meditation (meditation in motion). Against these views, his martial art aspect becomes less important to sometimes disappear completely.

The fundamental principle of tai chi chuan is the softness: the practitioner must move naturally, relaxed, loose and fluid way. When exercising tai chi chuan exercises no strength, speed or hardening, and breaking tests (tameshiwari) common in various combat sports. On the contrary, it demands that the movements are performed with minimal force. Unlike many other martial arts, tai chi chuan exercising slowly, to apply the techniques in the most correct way possible. Some styles or forms of tai chi chuan are practiced faster (especially weapon forms) or include certain isolated movements very fast and explosivos.2

In the fight, the fighter tai chi chuan is "adhere" to the enemy, that is, always keep in touch with him. Instead of reacting to certain enemy attacks with certain techniques of counterattack, the body must react spontaneously and naturally, not by opposing resistance to attacks, but instead using the very strength of the adversary, directing against her.

The 10 basic rules

The following "ten fundamental principles" of Yang Cheng Fu abstract ideal body and spiritual stance of a practitioner. In the various styles there is also a variety of additional principles.

1.- Head erect in a relaxed way

2.- Keep the chest back and straighten your back

3.- Loosen the lower back, waist

4.- Separating the emptiness and fullness (properly distribute the weight).

5.- Leave hang shoulders and elbows

6.- Apply Yi (Chinese: 意, pinyin: yì) and not the physical strength (Chinese: 力, pinyin: LI).

7.- The coordination of the above with the below

8.- The harmony between the interior and exterior

9.- The uninterrupted flow (the movement flow).

10.- Keep still in motion