Tai Ji Quan
Tai Ji Quan, literally “Supreme Polarity Boxing”, is an ancient and refined Chinese Martial Art. Tai Ji is the principle generating the two Yin - Yang opposites; Quan (“fist”) is the martial application of the Tai Ji principle. The dual aspect is always present in Tai Ji Quan: hard and soft, movement and quietness, velocity and slowness harmoniously alternate in a continuous change.
We can define Tai Ji Quan as an integrated system of psycho-energetic-physical trainings, based on the philosophical principles of the Chinese tradition, encompassing at the same time the art of the warrior, the spiritual search, the Taoist philosophy and the traditional Chinese health science. It is at the same time a philosophy and a science.
Tai ji Quan is a process, developing on different levels of practise:
The salutary effects perform at 3 levels:
- at physical level it helps loose the joints and strengthen the human body on its whole;
- at energetic levelit develops better internal vigour, spreading in whole body;
- at mental level it increases the ability to attention and concentration.
The benefits are perceived above all through perseverance and continuity in practise as well as in the patience to learn. Tai Ji can be practised at any age and all life long, fostering a deep dynamic balance between external force and inner energy..
Nei Gong literally means “inner work”. It is a training system based on ancient exercises of the Chinese martial tradition, acting on the body inner structures and functions.
The aim is to develop “the body intelligence”, to refine the self internal and external awareness and to facilitate the activation of the inner force (Nei Jin).
The program can be divided into sets of exercises aiming to the development and strengthening of particular qualities:
- the elastic force (Yi Jin Jin or Power Stretching)
- the spiral force (Zhan Ssu Jin)
- the explosive force (Fa Jin)
- the force of the central axis (Zhong Ding Jin)
- the upper and lower arch
- the Dan Tian force (Dan Tian Jin)
Their aim is to make the body strong and elastic by strengthening tendons and ligaments, to unblock the joints and to enable the dynamic connection of the various parts of the body.
In this way looseness in the movements and at the same time force and physical, energetic and mental stability can be obtained.
The Form involves the learning and performance of a routine of single movements, to be practised in the most harmonious way in a continuous and natural flow.
To study the Form means to learn the basic principles of Tai Ji Quan. You learn how to be slow and fast, soft and hard, to open and to close, to expand and to shrink. You study patterns made of different numbers of sequences, from 24 to more than 100.
In the Yang Form movements are soft, light, slow and regular. Rhythm is continuous and uniform. In the Chen Form, from which Yang style originates, movements are more forceful and syncopated, there are variations in rhythm and techniques have a stronger martial feature.
The regular practise of the Form enables to develop a sharp perceptive skill and to increase sensitivity.
Tuishou – literally “pushing hands” – is the two-person training of Taiji Quan aimed to fully develop the body sensibility.
It helps reach higher coordination of movements, increase to skill to perception of the Self and of the Other as well as check one’s level of learning.
The aim is to use the force of the Other to make effective movements in a two-person training routine with the smallest effort, looseness and quietness according to the Yin Yang principles.
By practising Tuishou you gradually get rid of the tensions in the body, by loosening the joints and by increasing the concentration and listening skill.
You also study some qualities of the force (Jin) such as the pushing force, the pressing force, the defending force by practising various kinds of Tuishou: one hand, two hands, with steps and free.