Name:

Taiji Quan or Tai -chi

Correct name is Taiji Quan (Correct spelling changed in 1956 by Chinese Government)

What exactly is Taiji Quan?
Tai Ji Quan is an Internal Martial Art, from Chinese origin. Many different styles from different families exist. Translated Tai Ji Quan, Quan means Supreme Ultimate Fist.

Tai ji consisits of steps or forms, {practised as a beginner slowly which helps perfect the forms or steps}. Tai Ji Quan is based on the Taoist Laws. which states life should be a balance of Yin & Yang, hence contrary to popular belief, Tai ji has Quick & Slow, Hard & Soft, Blocks & Strikes.

Tai Ji includes:

- Solo work= Routines (Forms)

- Partner Work= Push Hands, Combat Drills, Two Man routines and Two man Sparring, Locks and Holds,

- Weapons, Sword, Sabre, Spear, Cudgel, Short Sticks, Cane, Two Section Sticks

- Ground Work= Chinese Wrestling

The sets of steps are each called a Form, and the entire routine consists of Forms, each Form has a name For example: Pat on High Horse, Single whip and Kick with Left Heel. Many Forms get their ideas from animals, for example, White Stalk Spreads Wing. Many forms together make a set or a Form, For example, Long Form (88/ 103/ 105/ 108 steps), Short Form (6/ 12/ 18/ 24 steps), Competition Forms (42/ 56 steps), Straight Sword Form etc...

The goal of the Tai Ji Quan student is to learn to control one's body to eventually generate the greatest amount of force whilst using the least amount of physical force. This principle could be termed "Wu Wei" being able to do everything without doing anything. To make your movements as efficient as possible, you need to reduce the amount of effort or tension whilst moving. In doing so great speeds and explosive power "Fa Jing" will develop. "Wu Ji" or the void or the nothingness is the quiet time before you start Yin & Yang, it is the time that you stand and observe nothing or maybe just yourself, applying no effort in doing anything.