Historically, Tai Ji or Tai Chi Quan originated from Chen Clan Village (ChenJiaGou) in Wen County, Henan Province, People Republic of China. Chen Style Tai Ji Quan is said to be the only style that have gone farthest in maintaining the “tradition” of Tai Ji, and is the normative for Tai Ji instruction in history.

Characteristics of Tai Ji Quan and its fitness functionality:
For about 400 years history, Tai Ji is based on the principle of unity of “Yin (receptive) and Yang (active)”.Yin Yang is a representative word in the Chinese ancient philosophy, which is used to explain the internal movements of things and/or matters with different characteristics, in complementary opposite direction.“Tai Ji Quan”, is built upon such principle, which led to the development of a set of routines consisting of movements which are hard and soft, combination of internal and external, fast and slow motions etc… Thus, the integration of Yin Yang into the routine movement.

Chinese martial art is divided into 2 schools:
-The external school which is represented by Shaolin Quan main movements are boxing and kicking with distinct attacking and defending action.
- Internal school which is represented by Tai Ji Quan
Tai Ji Quan has strong special features, such as :emphasizing on tranquility rather than anxiety, total body relaxation;and when combined with classical music, it achieves total relaxation of body and mind. Besides, perserverance in practising will also be nefit the recovery from illness and healing of mind.

It is not necessary to use entire bodily hard strength, as the focus is on exercising the lower body (that is, leg) movements.That is, when both the feet are stabilized and rooted, pelvic movements are agile; thus, leading to entire body moves to be in harmony and with elasticity.

Distinctive spiral movement
Tai Ji uses waist as the pivot to allow the easy hip movement to the left and to the right; and winding in and out of the arm and leg movements in spiral motion. This is beneficial to the whole body as every joint, muscles and bones are sufficiently exercised. This is the world’s only such form of special exercise

Combination of Wushu (martial art) and Qigong
Qigong has a few thousand years of Chinese history. Tai Ji Quan, therefore,integrates the use the breathing technique in Qigong with Wushu’s hand, eyes, body and step methodology. Hence, while practicing the kungfu routine, it is also facilitatinglongevity and healthy living.
The breathing technique in Tai Ji uses the inverted stomach style of breathing. When one is breathing in, the stomach is tucked in, diaphragm is lifted up, chest and lung are fully filled with air and expand outwards. When one is breathing out, chest and stomach are both relaxed, diaphragm is lowered and stomach is curved out.The muscular membrane partition, separating the obdominal and thoracic cavities, repeatedly upward and downward exercises, which becomes a good form ofmassage for internal organ.

Tai Ji actual combat exercise

Another feature of Tai Ji Quan is double person pushing hand(Tui Shou) method. This is used to train one’s brain reflexes andagility of senses, combining kicking, boxing, hitting, wrestling, twisting technique etc…This form of push hand movement is beneficial for the development of body strength, stamina, speed, agility and skills. Furthermore, it allows the entirebody’s total strength and energy to be directed and concentrate on one particular spot; which can tremendously increase the ability to strike out and to defend oneself.

In conclusion, Tai Ji is a form of exercises that :

- releases stress and relax the mind
- strengthens the air(gas)exchange circulation during breathing
- optimum self massage of internal organs
- works on entire body’s joint tissues and muscles.

Written by :
Garreth Shen Xiao Jian