A Brief History of Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial arts that also has
many health and energy development aspects. One legend is the art was developed
by Chang San Feng around 1200 AD after he watched a crane fight a snake. From
that he developed a self-defense style based on animal inspired movements.
The first recorded mention of Tai Chi comes from the Chen
village in the Henan province of China. The patriarch of the family, Chen
Wang Ting, returned from a war with a new style of self-defense. He taught
it only to his sons, and so kept it within the family for several generations.
In the early 1800’s Yang Lu Chan went to the Chen village
to learn the style. Not being related, he was not allowed to learn. Again
the story moves into legend. One version is that he played a deaf mute while
working in the Chen household. He would observe their daily practice and then
practice on his own at night. When he was discovered practicing he had to
face the Chen’s in combat. After defeating all of them, he was allowed to
stay and train. Another version is similar except that once when the Chen
men were gone the village was attacked. Yang defeated the attackers and as
a way to reward him, the Chen’s allowed him to study openly. Whatever the
true story may be, Yang did learn the Chen style, adapted it into his own
style, and taught Yang style Tai Chi widely in China. Because of this, the
Yang style is one of the most commonly practiced styles. Yang’s form has 108
movements and is performed slower than some other styles.
The next player in the story was Cheng Man Ching. In 1932
when he was suffering from tuberculosis, he began to study Tai Chi. His health
began to improve and he started to teach Tai Chi to others. Later he developed
a shorter easier version to teach the Chinese military. His shorter form only
has 37 movements and is still taught to beginning students.
Forms
Most styles of martial arts have a standardized order to
practice basic movements. These are called forms and Tai Chi is no exception.
At White Crane we do three different forms. The first form is a warm-up form
learned by Colonel “Tse” as a child in the imperial court of China. The second
form is the Yang short form as developed by Cheng Man Ching. Finally the Yang
long form developed by Yang Lu Chan will be taught in an intermediate class.
Rank
There is no rank system or belts in traditional Tai Chi
classes. White Crane classes are organized as needed for beginning, intermediate
and advanced level students. A student’s level is determined by time in class,
competency, and the student’s wishes. If a student wishes to be moved, the
student and instructor will meet to determine the best placement.
Sparring
Sparring in Tai Chi takes two forms—push hands and free
spar. Those are introduced in the intermediate class and continued in the
advanced class.
Dress
Tai Chi is about relaxing and so what you wear should be
loose and allow you to move freely. Sweat pants, T-shirts, and tennis shoes
are the most common dress, but more traditional uniforms and shoes can be
purchased.
The 10 Tai Chi Essentials (by Yang Cheng Fu)
1. Keep head erect (as if suspended by a thread from the heavens).
2. Hollow the chest (relax your chest-not military style with shoulders thrown
back).
3. Relax the waist (the waist should turn, leading the movements).
4. Differentiate between substantial and insubstantial (be aware of which
leg is weighted).
5. Sink the shoulders and elbows (relax-not military style).
6. Use you mind rather than your muscles.
7. Coordinate upper and lower body (don’t isolate parts-the body moves as
a unit).
8. Coordinate outer and inner parts (the mind guides the body, is involved
in movement).
9. Continuous and flowing motion (flow like water).
10. Tranquility and peace in movement (mind and body working together to bring
calm to the soul).