FAQs
Tai chi or taijiquan?
What is taiji?
What is taijiquan?
What is Chen style taijiquan?
What is chi/qi?
What is an internal style martial art/neijia?
Taijiquan: Martial art, health improvement, or spiritual practice?
Can I practice taijiquan?
Tai Chi or Taijiquan?
There are two main systems of transliterating Chinese characters into the alphabet commonly used by English-speakers. The first is Wade-Giles which is the older, less accurate system. The second is Pinyin, which is newer and more accurate, but still contains peculiarities. In practice, both systems continue to be used, though in some cases one system’s transliteration has become more popular.
In the world of internal martial arts, there are a few commons ones to watch out for:
Wade-Giles/Pinyin
Chi kung/qigong
Kung fu/gongfu
Tai chi/taiji
Tai chi chuan/taijiquan
Chi/qi
Hsing-i/xingyi(quan)
What is Taiji?
Tai chi/taiji is a concept first attested to in the I-Ching (Book of Changes). In essence it refers to the dynamic balance of yin and yang. While yin and yang are sometimes portrayed as static opposites, in reality they are complementary and relative; as such, to maintain a balance of yin and yang is always a dynamic task.
What is Taijiquan?
Tai chi chuan or taijiquan, often abbreviated to tai chi or taiji, is the martial art which aims to embody the dynamic balance of yin and yang and to apply it in the martial contexts. It places an emphasis on cultivating chi/qi. The basic strategy can be summed up as maintaining one’s balance while strategically unbalancing another. This requires honing sensitivity and awareness, and prioritizing re-direction over direct confrontation, to capitalize on the existing imbalance of one’s opponent.
What is Chen style Taijiquan?
There are several different styles of taijiquan, and several more sub-styles. Chen style is the oldest extant style. It is characterized by its alteration between slow and fast movements, its emphasis on spiral rotations, and its incorporation of jumps and other acrobatic movements for attack, defense, and evasion. While Chen style is apparently more physically demanding than other styles, it can be modified to suit almost any body, similarly to the other styles.
What is Chi/Qi
Qi plays an important role in taijiquan, as it does in all the internal styles of martial arts. There are many different ways of understanding qi, and many different types of qi. For the purposes of taijiquan style I practice, understanding or believing in qi is not strictly necessary. The Chen style taijiquan curriculum has been designed to cultivate qi and focusing too much on qi can actually harm a student’s progress. The practice of taijiquan is more important than understanding all the theoretical principles behind it.
With all those caveats in mind, there are some points of overlap in the various conceptions of qi that may be useful. The etymology and characteristics of qi contain meanings of wind, air, and breath. Second, qi is said to follow the mind and intention. One way I’ve tried to describe qi is as life-giving and life-sustaining energy that pervades the entire cosmos and every living thing, that can be cultivated for various purposes, and which is used by many for improving health and empowering themselves.
What is an internal style martial art/neijia?
Chinese martial arts have been divided into two categories: internal and external martial arts. Internal martial arts include taijiquan, xingyiquan, and baguazhang. External styles include Shaolin kung, tantui, and bajiquan. There is reason to be cautious of placing too much weight on this categorization. Henning and others have argued persuasively that claims and traditions associating internal styles with the Wudang Mountains and the external styles with the Shaolin Temple had strong political motivations. Essentially, internal styles were characterized as indigenous to China, while external styles were imported by foreigners. In reality, many of the external styles practiced at the Shaolin Temple were likely just as indigenous to China as the internal styles.
If there is a real difference between internal and external styles, it is a matter of emphasis and degree rather than absolute characteristics. Internal styles emphasize beginning internally by cultivating health and qi as a foundation upon which to develop martial capability while external styles emphasize developing martial capability with the belief that fitness will cultivate health and qi. Internal styles emphasize generating and transmitting striking force through the connective tissues (ligaments, tendons, fascia) in contrast to the external styles which emphasize generating and transmitting striking force through the muscles.
Taijiquan: Martial Art, Health Improvement, Or Spiritual Practice?
Taijiquan is primarily a martial art. It was developed and used for that purpose for centuries. That said, it is also excellent for cultivating health, and it does have both a spiritual component and cultural significance. Chen style taijiquan has made a strong effort to retain the martial art capabilities, and it can be a very effective upright grappling system which does have solid self-defense applications. However, there are many who practice Chen style taijiquan and other styles primarily for health an/or spiritual reasons and that is regarded as a good thing. One of the great benefits of taijiquan is that the body mechanics and movement principles are the same regardless of one’s ultimate goal or goals.
Can I Practice Taijiquan?
Taijiquan can be practiced by almost anybody. Modifications can be made to taijiquan for almost any body or ability-there are even chair versions of taijiquan! The financial barrier for entry is low and many taijiquan instructors are aiming to meet costs not make a profit so negotiating fees and bartering services is often a possibility in dire circumstances. Most taijiquan instructors don’t require any special equipment or clothing-a functional pair of shoes, clothing that feels comfortable, and a water bottle are often all that’s required to get started.
Taijiquan, like many other traditional martial arts, suffered during the Cultural Revolution in China. Following this, taijiquan was intentionally spread worldwide by many of the taijiquan styles that hadn’t previously gone international. As such, you don’t have to be of any cultural or ethnic background to learn, practice, or teach taijiquan. While taijiquan was developed out of concepts and principles associated with Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism you can practice taijiquan regardless of religious or spiritual affiliation.
Since taijiquan emphasizes skill and sensitivity over brute strength and speed, it can be a good choice for people of all genders and abilities wishing to gain martial capability.
The Dreamers' Corner 