Research report :
History
of T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Tai
Chi is a gentle exercise that originated in ancient china. It has been proven
to increase flexibility, muscular strength and fitness. It is the most
prominent internal style of Chinese martial art. Tai Chi offers many advantages
including, promoting overall health and mental well-being, increased energy and
strength, improved concentration, provides relaxation, reduces stress, improved
breathing, increased circulation, enhanced immune function, improved balance
and stability, improved flexibility and mobility, increased coordination
,facilitates healing from injury, improved recovery, provides pain relief,
balances mind - body communication, improved body system function. Sun Style
method of Tai Chi is presently known as one of the most effective exercises for
physical and mental well-being. Sun Style contains powerful Qi Gong based
exercises that are especially effective for healing, breathing and relaxation.
Qi Gong is the powerful core of any form of Tai Chi exercise. Designed to move
the Qi life force energy throughout the body through the body systems, chakras
and meridians
(Heartland Tai Chi,
2009)
Tai
Chi consists of fluid, gentle, graceful and circular movements that are relaxed
and slow in tempo. Breathing is deepened and slowed, aiding visual and mental
concentration. Tai Chi exercise allows the body to relax, enabling the Qi
internal energy to flow through the body. These techniques help to integrate
mind and body into a harmonized inner and outer self. Medical studies of Tai
Chi method have shown, increased muscle strength and flexibility, improved
cardio-respiratory fitness, improved cardio-vascular function, strengthens
heart and stamina, mood up-lifting, reduced anxiety, depression, effective
fitness exercise, improved fitness level. Tai Chi has powerful effect of mind
over body for improved health and well-being.
(Heartland Tai Chi,
2009)
T'ai-chi
ch'uan also spelled taijiquan and taiji chuan is an ancient Chinese martial art
that comes in so many variations that it's often confusing to the layman. Some styles can trace their lineage back to
the founding of the art, while others date back to the early part of the 20th
century. Some stress competition, while
others emphasize health or self-defence.
Obviously, without the proper information, choosing the one that is best
for you can be a daunting task. This
article will present an overview of the major styles of tai chi, and after
reading it you'll be able to understand how one style begot another. And you'll be able to more easily choose one
that is right for you. Addition, Before examining the many styles of the art
T'ai chi Ch'uan, it's wise to heed the advice of t'ai chi ch'uan Grandmaster,
insists that all are valid and beneficial to the student as long as the basic
t'ai chi concepts are adhered to even though many teachers proclaim that theirs
is the only correct method. The Art of T'ai-chi ch'uan is usually literally
translated as "grand ultimate boxing".
(Heartland Tai Chi,
2009)
The
meaning, instead of being an immodest title, the "grand ultimate"
portion of the name refers to the Chinese concept of the origin of the
universe. That is the principle T'ai chi
Ch'uan. T'ai-chi ch'uan being the art of the harmony history of T'ai chi at the
best. There are many conflicting stories
from the past, and the confusion continues right up to the present. To make matters worse, there are many
revisionist versions of t'ai chi's history which are expounded by those out to
promote their own style as the best, or the most authentic. Besides, T'ai chi
Ch'uan also deemed as a defence art, and the art of body health by age limits.
Tells the story of defence art T'ai chi Ch'uan, in the old days during the
world war in China, T'ai chi Ch'uan is very important for them as to learn more
about the art of tai ci they will feel safe and protected childhoods as well as
their families, can protect them from invaders, there are some defence of T'ai
chi Ch'uan movement.
(Heartland Tai Chi, 2009)
Real
Tai Chi Self Defence There is no soft way to fight someone or to defend
yourself. No possible way to defend yourself and not harm the opponent,
however, how many times you hear that Tai Chi self-defence is the soft martial
art that can be used to gently put someone down. Tai Chi self-defence is
deadly, it is dirty and it is one of the best self defence systems known. Only
when it is taught as it was originally intended though, as a hands-on,
energetic fighting system where anything goes in order to survive in a
realistic street attack. The types of defence T'ai chi Ch'uan is Never step
backwards, Never fight the peripheral-attacking weapon, fight the whole body,
Never meet force on force, always move at a slight angle to the attacker as you
move in, Never meet force on force, Never look at the attacking portion and
Never use a lock or hold as your main fighting method.
(Erle Montagiue,
1997)
Tells
about the health of T'ai Chi Ch'uan there are appropriate to older people who
have reached the age of 50 until 80 years old, because the movement of T'ai Chi
Ch'uan for over life can ease the body carry the blood and prevent back pain.
Moreover, T'ai chi Ch'uan can also prevent deadly diseases that cause death as
stroke, cancer and Old man's disease.
(Heartland Tai Chi,
2009)
In
addition, there is also movement in Ta'i Chi Ch'uan is a technique solace
themselves, this technique is used by everyone who studies T'ai chi Ch'uan
knowledge when they start facing life stress or tension by an object. This
technique can to do on a daily basis in the evening after a day of life after
work.
(Heartland
Tai Chi, 2009)
The relaxation responses bringing you in
nervous system back into balance. Stress is necessary for life. You need stress
for creativity, learning, and your very survival. Stress is only harmful when
it becomes overwhelming and interrupts the healthy state of equilibrium that
your nervous system needs to remain in balance. Unfortunately, overwhelming
stress has become an increasingly common characteristic of contemporary life.
When stressors throw your nervous system out of balance, relaxation techniques
can bring it back into a balanced state by producing the relaxation response, a
state of deep calmness that is the polar opposite of the stress response.
(Heartland
Tai Chi, 2009)
When
stress overwhelms your nervous system your body is flooded with chemicals that
prepare you for "fight or flight." While the stress response can be
lifesaving in emergency situations where you need to act quickly, it wears your
body down when constantly activated by the stresses of everyday life. The
relaxation response puts the brakes on this heightened state of readiness and
brings your body and mind back into a state of equilibrium.
(Heartland Tai Chi,
2009)
In
T'ai chi Ch'uan, we must know the direction we want to head in, and then focus
on the process not the result. Practicing the right process will take you to
where you want to go. Even knowing and preaching the T'ai chi Ch'uan classics
will not amount to anything, if you don't practice it.
(Wee kee-Jin, 2011)
The
movement classics body has to be upright as if the head is suspended from above
the hips have to be relaxed and seated into their sockets the chest should be
hollowed shoulders relaxed and elbows dropped. These requirements combined
create the T'ai chi Ch'uan structure. However if all the attention in placed on
the structure without having an awareness of the processes and details in the
movements, the structure will be empty and without substance.
(Wee kee-Jin, 2011)
Substance
to develop substance we must learn the sequence of how the body moves in the
T'ai chi Ch'uan way. Any raising or lowering always having always originated
from the feet before passing through the ankles, knees, hips body torso, to the
shoulders, elbows, wrists, palms and then fingers. All turning is motivated by
the hips turning the waist, body trunk, arms then hands. Both the opening and
closing, stem from the centre. Expanding outwards from the centre produces the
opening and contracting inwards from the centre produces the closing. Similar
to how an umbrella is opened and closed, a balloon inflates from air being
blown into the centre expanding it outward, and deflates when the air is
allowed to escape from the centre. Most
taiji practitioners sequence their leg movement’s feet, ankles, knees then
hips, and arms shoulders, elbows, wrists, palms then fingers, but neglect the
changes through the body trunk. The legs and arms may be co-ordinated, but are
unconnected and therefore moving independently. The classics state that when one
part of the body moves every part of the body moves, when one part changes
every part changes along with it, and when one part arrives every part arrives
together. Therefore every movement originating in the legs must ripple through
the body to produce the movement in the arms. This releasing of the body trunk
is produced by mind awareness visualising a melting sensation as it travels
through the body muscles. Only then will the movements of the legs be connected
to the arms and the whole body change as one.
(Wee kee-Jin, 2011)
Synchronization
Once the sequence of movement is established and connected, the sequence should
be timed to synchronize the whole body. If we divide the body into three groups
of parts base from the feet, ankles, knees to the hips body trunk abdomen, chest, spine and shoulder blades and
arms shoulders, elbows, wrists to the hands and fingers, the changes must be
timed to be in relation with each other. So if the base has released 10%, the
body trunk should have released by 10% and the arms also 10%. 10% in the base
but only 5% in the body trunk and 20% in the arms means that there is a
disconnection between the base and body trunk, and you are holding yourself up,
and the arms are collapsing into the body.
(Wee kee-Jin, 2011)
Pushing-hands
is not just being able to neutralise an incoming force, or being able to stick
to your opponent and follow his or her changes. When we are neutralising and
the opponent is still grounded he or she can still come in from another
direction. When we are advancing although we may be sticking, he or she can
still change if they are connected to their base. Both in neutralising and
sticking we must take them out of alignment so that they become immediately
disconnected. Without a base they will have to rely on you to keep their
balance so that effectively you become their centre. Being able to disconnect a
partner from their base and use a relaxed-force to uproot and throw them is a
good level, but the ultimate is not to have to use any of your own force,
rather absorbing the force of your partner and returning it to them. A public
company operates and grows using the funds from shareholders not their own
money.
(Wee
kee-Jin, 2011)
Figure 1: Business Card of Tai Chi Chuan Association
The
association of Tai Chi Chuan start has opened this group since year 2000 in
Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. The slogan of this group is ‘health building and
Sickness prevention’, the member group around 30 people. This society culture
original came from Taiwan, this society more focus on Taoist tradition Taiji
culture, eliminate blind spots and make up of modern science and civilization,
to promote human spiritual, physical health, Martial Arts progress, career
success and lifelong happiness.
The
main teaching objectives for first, the development potential, increase
intelligence Second, relieve the mind, in addition to grid troubles third,
self-treatment regimen, health, healing for physical transformation, weak to
strong Five changes temperament, beautify life six, Martial Arts, practical for
the first. They have four main teachings outlines for first, the traditional
Taoist Tai Chi in Chinese culture and spirit of the poor traceability. Second,
the unity of knowledge, strength training method. Third, both Li-fa, committed
victory. Fourth, simplify, Deep. Intangible Cultural Heritage, through the
Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention. In 2003, the
pursuit continued respect for cultural diversity and human creativity, in 2006
to take effect.
Tai
Chi practitioners of traditional content, its health movement thirteen type.
Tai Chi thirty-seven traditional style. In traditional health prana reactive
non qigong breathing help line prana. Tai Chi practical strength of traditional
law. Patron power, through fresh, whole fresh, rooter. Tai Chi fifty-four style
sword. Tai Chi sword, sword basic five elements water, fire, earth, metal,
wood, five Jian Shi.
BELIEF SYSTEMS
Qi
is an energy force thought to flow through the body, tai chi is said to unblock
and encourage the proper flow of qi. Qi is frequently translated as
"natural energy", "life force", or "energy flow".
Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and
martial arts. The literal translation of "qi" is "breath",
"air", or "gas". Concepts similar to qi can be found in
many cultures, for example, prana and cit in Hindu religion, mana in Hawaiian culture,
lüng in Tibetan Buddhism, ruah in Hebrew culture, and Vital energy in Western
philosophy. Some elements of qi can be understood in the term energy when used
by writers and practitioners of various esoteric forms of spirituality and
alternative medicine.
Figure 2: Yin Yang Symbol
Yin
and yang are opposing elements thought to make up the universe that need to be
kept in harmony. Tai chi is said to promote this balance. Yin and yang can be
thought of as complementary instead of opposing forces interacting to form a
dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the parts. Everything has
both yin and yang aspects, for instance shadow cannot exist without light.
Either of the two major aspects may manifest more strongly in a particular
object, depending on the criterion of the observation.
INTERVIEW SECTION
Interview
one of the participant T’ai Chi Ch’uan, which is Dr. Law Heng Neng, Dr. Law
already learning Tai Chi Chuan since 30 years ago. The reason why he wants to
join the T’ai chi Ch’uan because he went to Health, fitness, health fitness is very important for older
people and who always work in an office, this is because healthy which is the
main aspect of them. Regular practice of T'ai Chi Ch’uan develops strength and
flexibility of the joints, muscles, and ligaments.
T’ai
Chi Ch’uan also enhances the performance of the cardiovascular system with a
minimum of stress. It is classified as a low impact aerobic exercise, compared
to walking. Because of the gentle nature of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, it is often used
as a therapeutic exercise by people who are recovering from illness or injury
or for those who are beginning an exercise program and who are out of shape.
T’ai chi Ch’uan also good for daily exercise. Dr. Law said sometimes the
movement of Tai Chi when the people look like very slow but actually is faster,
when the people join this Tai Chi they will know how the actually feeling, for
the learn of tai chi is not just for one or two years but need forever life
because the knowledge about tai chi is very profound.
References
Heartland
Tai Chi, 2009, Health Benefits.com [Online]
Available at: http://www.heartlandtaichi.com/heartlandtaichi.com/Health_Benefits.html
[Accessed: 14 March 2014].
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