Taijiquan is an ancient Chinese martial art form that - in its gentle and slow fashion - is perceived to be soft as cotton and to be hard as steel when one's internal energy is activated at will to create an explosive physical (and internal) impact.
Taijiquan movements are soft and pliable, but explosive in energy. The Dao De Jing states that when two great forces oppose each other, victory will be yours if you know how to yield.
"The gentlest thing in the world overcomes the hardest thing in the world. That which has no substance enters where there is no space."
Taijiquan movements principally involve the whole body and it has an overall beneficial effect on improving one's strength, flexibility and stamina. The conception here is the cultivation of your mind and body to move in unison and as a whole in a well coordinated and balanced manner. When done correctly, the varied forms of taijiquan help your body joints to be supple and improve your overall physical and mental health.
There are two ways to look at taijiquan- as a form of exercise or as martial art. In China, and in many parts of the world, many people take up taijiquan to keep their body healthy. You can easily find the garden parks full with the young and elderly who wake up early at dawn to practice this art. Taijiquan movements involve breathing methods which is essential to work well on all of one's muscles and joints in the body and helps to circulate one's internal energy or 'qi' - when you have a constant good flow of 'qi' your body will stay fit and healthy.
On a more sophisticated level of thought, taijiquan is practiced with what is known as 'mind-intent' whereby each physical movement is performed and focused on the flow of energy. When you stay calm and focused, you will be able to allow the 'qi' to easily flow through your entire body. As you move around constantly in a soft, relaxed and effortless manner, the internal energy-flow in your body is constant.
Taijiquan - as a martial art - unveils a form of explosive intrinsic energy. Physical movements appear soft and calm but very explosive in nature. The power of this energy comes from within and in reality taijiquan then becomes a very brutal art form because it causes serious bodily harm which at times can be fatal.By staying relaxed, rooted, and rounded - calmed, still and 'listening' the victor anticipates and easily executes his move in unison, well in advance before the opponent does.
In conclusion, taijiquan is a very gentle form of martial art that enhances your physical and spiritual wellbeing and when executed as a martial art, it cultivates the internal energy within your body to create an explosive intrinsic energy to defend and attack your opponents.
Taijiquan principles of Yin and Yang have a role to play in our daily lives. Man is a living testimony of contemporary times, constantly evolving and adapting to change. http://promotingthebestofchineseartsandculture.wordpress.com/
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