Taijiquan (Tai Chi)

Inner Circle Academy teaches Yang Tai chi as a separate curriculum. Some of these forms are Core techniques as they form foundations for other useful techniques. This curriculum can be taught in isolation from the Core Ju-jitsu curriculum however parts of it will enrich the outcomes and conversely. This elective curriculum, even though it may be substantially an ‘art’ will enhance your knowledge of movement balance and discipline.

No part is more or less important than another. There is intrinsic value in all.

The history of Tai Chi is a mix of myth, legend and facts being somewhat indistinguishable. The Wudang Mountains seem to be an agreed backdrop for its mystical beginnings. With a background of legendary fighting techniques to protect their monasteries, the Monks were thought to have powers that were both feared and desired. Families who were able to learn and adopt the techniques were said to only teach their families these methods

The earliest known references to tai chi date from the T’ang Dynasty (618-960 AD),

Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art initially practiced for defense training, and in modern times mostly for health benefits, and meditation.

The term taiji is a Chinese cosmological concept for the flux of yin and yang, and 'quan' means fist.

Tai chi training originally involved five elements, taolu (solo hand and weapons routines/forms), neigong and qigong (breathing, movement and awareness exercises and meditation), tuishou (Pushing Hands) and sanshou (self defense techniques. Modern forms are now so highly stylised there is little left that directly relates to self-defence however there are several important concepts and uses of the bodies natural summative forces that can be very useful in street style self defence.

Most modern styles of tai chi trace their development to one or more of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu, and Sun. All popular styles trace their historical origins to the Chen Village. Modern Tai Chi is a relatively young martial art. The Yang family first became involved in the study of t'ai chi ch'uan (taijiquan) in the early 19th century. The founder of the Yang-style was Yang Luchan (楊露禪), 1799–1872), who studied under Ch'en Chang-hsing starting in 1820. The 5th Generation Grandson, Yang Jun, son of Yang Zhenduo is the current world head of Yang Tai Chi.

Main forms:

The Chinese Sports Commission commissioned the Beijing (24) form in 1956 as a national calisthenics program. It is the single most widely practiced form on the planet by far. It was meant to represent the most important parts of each style however it is almost entirely a contracted version of the Yang traditional long form.
In 1989 Chinese National Wushu Association commissioned and developed the 42 Competition Form as a Wushu competition form combined from Chen, Yang, Wu & Sun styles
Yang Zhenduo (1926 – 2020), developed and promoted Yang Tai Chi Internationally and in particular the most modern version of the form, known as large frame forms, the Yang Traditional Short Form (13)
The form still encapsulates the three primary principles, the eight gates and 5 forms/steps of tai chi coalesced by the original founder of Yang Tai Chi.
Panda Chi is a form of Qigong and Ni ryū /Double Dragon is a form of the ubiquitous Japanese Taikyoku Shodan kata, which translated to Chinese means “Tai Chi”

It's not just for old people!

t is not just an exercise form either. It is a complete martial art and includes Tiushou ("push hands" or response drills), Self defence systems called Sansshou, including Chin-fa (Joint lock & holds) & Sanda (Throws and grappling) and probably most importantly Qigong, pronounced "Chi Gung" a complete isometric exercise system you can do anywhere any-time. When you see tai chi and when you think of tai chi, you are most likely thinking of the slow moving meditation in movement forms. This is called Taolu. Think of this as the equivalent of a Karate Kata or Taekwondo pattern or form. The form, Taolu, lets us practice the 3 principles, 5 steps and 8 gates of the martial art in a safe and beneficial manner. We practice the Yang style. There are only 108 movements. There are hundreds of styles of taijiquan, there are 5 main styles of which most are derived, The Yang 108 style is the one you will most likely see on TV, the one where millions of Chinese people seem to spontaneously hit the streets and exercise together, This is Yang 108 and you can start by learning the first 5 moves. Even the first 5 moves has 7 exceptionally good martial arts techniques contained within it and 3 critical postures.

More about Taichiquan

In taicichuan ( t'ai chi ch'uan), we practice the principles known as the "Eight Gates and Five Steps," eight different leverage applications in the arms accompanied by footwork in a range of motion, intended to allow students to defend themselves calmly and competently if attacked. Also known as the "13 original movements of tai chi", a posture expressing each one of these aspects is found in all tai chi styles. Training including the Tuishou pushing hands competitions generally involve contact but no strikes.

The three primary principles of movement cultivated by Taijiquan practice are:

Rooting - Stability of stance, a highly trained sense of balance in the face of force.
Yielding - The ability to flow with incoming force from any angle. The practitioner moves with the attacker's force fluidly without compromising their own balance.
Release of Power (Fa Jing) - The application of power to an opponent. Even while applying force in push hands one maintains the principles of Yielding and Rooting at all times.

The Eight Gates (Chinese: 八門; pinyin: bā mén):

P'eng (Chinese: 掤; pinyin: péng) - An upward circular movement, forward or backward, yielding or offsetting usually with the arms to disrupt the opponent's centre of gravity, often translated as "Ward Off." Peng is also described more subtly as an energetic quality that should be present in every taiji movement as a part of the concept of "song" (鬆) -- or relaxation -- providing alertness, the strength to maintain structure when pressed, and absence of muscular tension in the body.
Lü (Chinese: 捋; pinyin: lǚ) - A sideways, circular yielding movement, often translated as "Roll Back."
Chi (simplified Chinese: 挤; traditional Chinese: 擠; pinyin: jǐ) - A pressing or squeezing offset in a direction away from the body, usually done with the back of the hand or outside edge of the forearm. Chi is often translated as "Press."
An (Chinese: 按; pinyin: àn) - To offset with the hand, usually a slight lift up with the fingers then a push down with the palm, which can appear as a strike if done quickly. Often translated as "Push."
Tsai (Chinese: 採; pinyin: cǎi) - To pluck or pick downwards with the hand, especially with the fingertips or palm. The word tsai is part of the compound that means to gather, collect or pluck a tea leaf from a branch (採茶, cǎi chá). Often translated "Pluck" or "Grasp."
Lieh (Chinese: 挒; pinyin: liè) - Lieh means to separate, to twist or to offset with a spiral motion, often while making immobile another part of the body (such as a hand or leg) to split an opponent's body thereby destroying posture and balance. Lieh is often translated as "Split."
Chou (Chinese: 肘; pinyin: zhǒu) - To strike or push with the elbow. Usually translated as "Elbow Strike" or "Elbow Stroke" or just plain "Elbow."
K'ao (Chinese: 靠; pinyin: kào) - To strike or push with the shoulder or upper back. The word k'ao implies leaning or inclining. Usually translated "Shoulder Strike," "Shoulder Stroke" or "Shoulder."

The Five Steps (Chinese: 五步; pinyin: wǔ bù):

Chin Pu (Chinese: 進步; pinyin: jìn bù) - Forward step.
T'ui Pu (Chinese: 退步; pinyin: tùi bù) - Backward step.
Tsuo Ku (simplified Chinese: 左顾; traditional Chinese: 左顧; pinyin: zǔo gù) - Left step.
You P'an (Chinese: 右盼; pinyin: yòu pàn) - Right step.
Chung Ting (Chinese: 中定; pinyin: zhōng dìng) - The central position, balance, equilibrium. Not just the physical center, but a condition which is expected to be present at all times in the first four steps as well, associated with the concept of rooting (the stability said to be achieved by a correctly aligned, thoroughly relaxed body as a result of correct Tai Chi training). Chung ting can also be compared to the Taoist concept of moderation or the Buddhist "middle way" as discouraging extremes of behavior, or in this case, movement. An extreme of movement, usually characterized as leaning to one side or the other, destroys a practitioner's balance and enables defeat.

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