Taiji (Tai Chi)
Tai Chi Chuan (taijiquan) in general overview written by Mike Patterson
Tai Chi Chuan
(Supreme POLE Boxing)
Tai-Chi Chuan or TaiJiQuan is the third of the "three sisters" of Neijia, or Internal Martial Arts (Kung Fu) practice. The Neijia School of thought is comprised of Tai Chi (Taiji), Pa Kua (Bagua) and Hsing I (Xingyi) as primary disciplines.
There are many different styles of Tai Chi Chuan being practiced today. The most famous schools are named for the families which developed them. Chen Style, Yang Style, Wu Style and Sun Style would likely be the most widely recognized by folks today.
Each style of Tai Chi Chuan is distinctly different in flavor and appearance from the other methods, or families, as they are sometimes called.
Chen style is the original method, credited to Chen Wan Ting of Chen village. Chen style is known for its dramatic changes of pace punctuated by vigorous and powerful appearing releases of "fah jing" energy and occasional leaping movements. Indeed, some people, if having never seen Chen Style performed, will be swayed into thinking it is not Tai Chi (Taiji) at all. Chen style, when properly taught will place a great deal of emphasis on the usage aspects of the art, in addition to the much touted health benefits.
Yang style, in contrast to the Chen style, is completely smooth and slow in appearance of practice. Its stances are not nearly as deep as the Chen style, and there will be no appearance of fah jing energy in the practice of the Yang style form. The original Yang style is said to delineate from Yang Lu Ch'an, who apparently studied Chen style to learn tai chi and then he or his subsequent generations, for whatever reason, chose to modify the format. Many folks today practice an abbreviated form of the Yang style, known as the Short Form of Yang, introduced to this country by one of the more noted exponents of the style, Cheng Man Ching.
There are two varieties of the Wu style being practiced today. Like the Yang style, one Wu style is smooth and slow in appearance, carrying a much higher stance even than the Yang style, and using an extended bracing posture throughout much of the form. The other Wu style is similar in form, but uses a bit lower basin in the stance and has some mild fah jing releasing present here and there in the context of the practice.
The last style, known as Sun style, is a more recent addition to the tai chi spectrum, contributed by Sun Lu Tang. Many Tai Chi stylists today believe this to be more of a Chi Kung related practice than it is truly Tai Chi Chuan. But, that has not precluded this style from becoming widely practiced in the world today. It is an unusual form, to say the least.</p>
There are several recognized spelling and/or renderings of this arts name. The most common being TaiChi Chuan, from the Wade/Giles, or TaiJiQuan from the newer PinYin system of Chinese phonetics. Other common spellings include the abbreviated Tai Chi or TaiJi. Also, onoccasion an apostrophe is added, as in Tai Chi Ch'uanto further emphasize the pronunciation.
The practice of both Tai Chi and Chi Kung have been linked to anti-aging benefits in a recent study. Adding to such therapeutic benefits by combining our A.I.M therapy, we have achieved truly remarkable results in so many students.
Let me share with you a few of our perspectives on the key aspects of the Chinese Internal Art forms of kung fu... Follow the other links within the Taiji section... Body, Characteristics, Goals, History, Mind, Spirit or Internal Vs. External, to learn more about this internal martial art form.
Here is a video sampling of TaiJi (tai chi) movement and application.
This video represents an entirely new genre for Tai Chi instructional videos. It incorporates the latest technology to present the viewer with a superior learning tool. Each exercise and training method incorporates an educational voice-over combined with a "classroom camera angle" in addition to other angles of view. The material presented is broken down posture by posture and transition by transition to create an extremely easy to follow image that is virtually the same as having a live teacher standing right beside you in the comfort of your own living room. This technique creates a video product that anyone can learn from, detail by detail, nuance by nuance. All of this is easily accessible through a ready to use menu system contained on the DVD. This video starts by covering the Postural Alignment Principles of Tai Chi practice utilizing animation overlay in addition to video for illustration. And then onto the Four Basic Practices of Tai Chi, moving subsequently into Five Star Stepping, then a posture by posture practice of the Tai Chi Short Form of Chen Pan Ling using three repetitions of a follow along classroom angle view for step by step learning. The complete context of the moving form is also presented after the step by step education portion. If you want to learn how to properly practice the traditional art of Tai Chi in an easy to use format, this is the video for you. You won't be disappointed.
Running time = 55 minutes.
All performances on this video are of Shrmu Andrea Cheng; Co-founder of A.I.M. (applied integrative motion) Therapy; U.S.A. Chinese Kuoshu Team Leader; International Internal Martial Arts Judge; Sanctioned Chinese Kuoshu Referee.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally Mastered for lossless resolution
<>Digital Slow Motion Enhancement
<>Voiceover Narration
<>Multiple Camera Angles
<>Digital Animation Overlay
This video has been digitally re-mastered from the original archival footage to enhance clarity and resolution. Additional footage from Multiple camera angles utilizing digital slow motion, at one third speed of live movement are portrayed for amazing insights into body mechanics never before seen on an instructional video. Additional voiceover scenes have also been added to the presentation. Together, these techniques are employed for a complete learning experience. Sometimes called Water Boxing, this is the long form of the Six Harmony; Eight Methods style. This is a strikingly beautiful and intricate form. It combines the thirteen postures of Tai Chi, the Eight Palms of Pa Kua, and the Twelve Animals and Five Elements of Hsing I, all rolled into one long 137 posture, 512 technique form. Performed at a pace which alternates between slow and moderate with an occasional up tempo series here and there, this set ambles through some impressive combinations from the three classic Internal Families. If you are serious about expanding your perspectives and knowledge base of the internal arts, this video is a "must have" for the neijia enthusiast. Three separate camera angles are used to give you the most accurate portrayal possible. The form is broken into eight shorter sections for ease of learning and assimilation. Volume One portrays Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. And of course, thorough breakdowns of application follow the form segments with some truly amazing footage of slow speed uproots and Fah Jing (Issuing Energy) demonstrations. You'll want to watch it again and again. Truly worth its weight!
Running time = 51 minutes.
All performances on video are of Shrfu Mike Patterson; two time All Taiwan Full Contact Chinese Kuoshu Fighting Champion; Trainer of 37 International & World Kuoshu Full Contact Champions 1981 - 2000; Chosen as Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Coach of the Year 1997.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally re-mastered for increased clarity
<>Digital Slow Motion Enhancement
<>Voiceover Narration
<>Multiple Camera Angles
This video has been digitally re-mastered from the original archival footage to enhance clarity and resolution. Additional footage from Multiple camera angles utilizing digital slow motion, at one third speed of live movement are portrayed for amazing insights into body mechanics never before seen on an instructional video. Additional voiceover scenes have also been added to the presentation. Together, these techniques are employed for a complete learning experience. Sometimes called Water Boxing, this is the long form of the Six Harmony; Eight Methods style. This is a strikingly beautiful and intricate form. It combines the thirteen postures of Tai Chi, the Eight Palms of Pa Kua, and the Twelve Animals and Five Elements of Hsing I, all rolled into one long 137 posture, 512 technique form. Performed at a pace which alternates between slow and moderate with an occasional up tempo series here and there, this set ambles through some impressive combinations from the three classic Internal Families. If you are serious about expanding your perspectives and knowledge base of the internal arts, this video is a "must have" for the neijia enthusiast. Three separate camera angles are used to give you the most accurate portrayal possible. The form is broken into eight shorter sections for ease of learning and assimilation. Volume Two portrays Sections 6, 7 & 8. And of course, thorough breakdowns of application follow the form segments with some truly amazing footage of slow speed uproots and Fah Jing (Issuing Energy) demonstrations. You'll want to watch it again and again. Truly worth its weight!
Running time = 51 minutes.
All performances on video are of Shrfu Mike Patterson; two time All Taiwan Full Contact Chinese Kuoshu Fighting Champion; Trainer of 37 International & World Kuoshu Full Contact Champions 1981 - 2000; Chosen as Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Coach of the Year 1997.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally re-mastered for increased clarity
<>Digital Slow Motion Enhancement
<>Voiceover Narration
<>Multiple Camera Angles