TAI CHI CHUAN – A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
                                                            Written by © Rashid Ansari 2008

Tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, probably developed during the Sung dynasty and is attributed to a Taoist priest – Chang Seng Feng of the Wu Tang Mountain around the 13th century.

Tai Chi literally means ‘The Grand Ultimate Fist’ or ‘The Grand Nothing’. Hence one starts from/at nothing, or from a void and since Chan means ‘Fist’ also ‘structure, form’ one arrives into something: Tai Chi Chuan – The Grand Ultimate Fist or ‘form’. Tai Chi Chua, also called Tajiquan or Shadow Boxing, is a devastatingly potent martial system, but at the same time it is much, much more. It is these other aspects of Tai Chi that we are dealing with at the moment and not its martial characteristics.

It is exercise, dance, a health cure, and is also called ‘Meditation in motion’. It can perhaps be called the first movement-orientated physical therapy specifically conceived to promote the unification of a sound body/mind for a healthy and more wholesome life. It bridges the division between mind and body. What is so unique about Tai Chi is that anyone, young and old alike, can practice it without the usual restrictions of age, sex, space etc. so common to other disciplines. The movements are done slowly, softly and at a pace comfortable to one. A series of movements, softly blending into each other make up what are called ‘Tai Chi Forms’. The movements are tranquil and dance like in nature. Unlike organized dance however, Tai Chi is not a by-product of anything. It is a total entity, composed to answer the needs to which it is directed. Total in concept, it is a unique synthesis of form and function.

Tai Chi Chuan has been heavily influenced by Taoist philosophy and is a lived out aspect of this philosophy. Its roots and philosophy lie in the I Ching (The Book of Change), which is not about knowledge, but about wisdom and the ever-changing reality of impermanence. It can perhaps best be symbolized by its symbol, the Yin & Yang – a balance of opposites wherein a part of each resides in the other. When this balance of opposing poles is disturbed then there is an imbalance. Tai Chi’s fundamental aim is to maintain this balance of opposites.

Yang Yin
Hard, masculine Soft, feminine
Day, active Night, passive

Yin & Yang also correspond to the concept of Prakriti and Purusha in Indian Philosophy.

The Yin & Yang symbol is also the symbol of Taoism and represents the basic Chinese concept of life as a circle of change, movement from the centre. We, as humans need sustenance, not maintenance, and to sustain ourselves, we need to change. We learn with our bodies, - change is motion. Tai Chi is motion; change in motion. Moving and changing from up to down, from hard to soft, from in to out, substantial to unsubstantial – ever changing motion which always returns to the centre. Like most traditional Chinese martial disciplines, Tai Chi too draws and is based upon the five element, five animals, five emotive states, five senses and the five major organ-concept that, in turn, correlate to and branch out into so many other variables.
A profoundly physical experience, Tai Chi gives substance to the pretty words and catchy phrases. For this is the balance of opposites – where each resides in the other and cannot exist without the other, but at the same time, there has to be a balance. The deceptively soft appearance of the movements is Yin – yet the discipline behind, to actually practice the movements, is Yang. The body allows no short cuts and no pretences. Change happens slowly, painfully, through perseverance. Tai Chi is form, moving through cycles of change, over and over again, gently and with freedom – carrying us through to the spirit within.

Above all, Tai Chi stresses again and again on breathing – of breathing from the belly-from ones roots – through the feet, breathing with the whole body. The ‘Breath-Mind-Body’ trilogy, to breathe deeply and gently. The stress on slowness brings about an inner calmness that in turn is complemented by the outer activity. The inner calmness results in all movements being done by consciousness – of there being a stillness in motion – again a balance of opposites – a unity of stillness and motion. The Chinese firmly believe that the basic life force or energy – chi (breath, prana, ki) can only be cultivated and tapped by softness and roundness. Tai Chi plays upon inner/outer dynamics of the human system constantly in regularizing the even ebb and flow of this energy.

The human body is composed of a series of blocks/springs and Tai Chi works extensively on this – so that there is no blockage towards the even flow of Chi – always circular, always deceptively soft. Doing the movements slowly also builds up an innate reservoir of strength and energy akin to steel being wrapped in cotton. The Chinese call this ‘Tensile Silk’, soft yet unbreakable.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of Tai Chi to grasp is; to relax to yield, to let go-an alien concept to most of us. We generally believe relaxation or yielding to be akin to collapse or weakness since, in today’s hectic lifestyle, we cling on to one agitation from another – whether external or internal. Relaxation generally means slouching in front of the television! Relaxation, here, means not being agitated, not being tense while at the same time being wonderfully, completely aware. This is why Tai Chi has often been called an ‘Investment in Loss’!

Its way of using movements – its slowness, calmness – is an immediate balm to the nervous system and helps to greatly calm the emotive agitation present in every day living.

Like Taoism, it teaches one to be in harmony with one’s inner reality and consequently, from ones centre, relate to the external world around us. To be in balance.

To quote a famous Tai Chi master: “Tranquility is a kind of inner vigilance where the human faculties display all their natural resources. When an activity takes one within oneself as a direct result of participation in it, without having to forcibly strain in it that exploration, then that activity becomes meditative in nature.”

A few key points to note:

• It is technique of organized harmonious forms. A continuity of actions where each movement evolves from and grows out of what it is joined to – motivating the next movement. A balance and merging in mental and physical coordination.
• As a health cure is serves as a remedy for high/low BP, Anemia, Joint Disease, Asthma, Gastric disturbances, Cardiovascular/Cardiopulmonary disorders, etc…
• It is not a style of dance, but is dance… a dance of the self. And while strictly speaking it is not a performing art – its principles and concept are applicable to every aspect of the performing arts.
• It is a devastatingly potent martial art and as a martial system, is unique.
• As exercise, it increases the blood circulation and activity of the glands, nourishes and strengthens the muscles, facilitates joint action, stimulates the nervous system, remarkably increases blood capacity and is used as a cure for the breath disorders… all this without placing undue stress on the heart.
• As a meditative or calming activity, the movements – circular, soft and continuous in nature – naturally calm the spirit and still the temperament. It is swimming on dry land.

As Maz Herrmann said; “Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself!” Tai Ji Quan does just that.

© Rashid Ansari 2008

 

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