How to stay upright when doing Tai Chi

Friday 23 Apr 2010 by Soon Teo | No Comments
Filed under: how to learn, tai chi, tai chi stance Tags: , ,

tai chi stanceAmong the first thing you learn in your Taichi Chuan lesson is to keep your spine upright.

This is the very basic of tai chi, and fundamental to the good posture that helps you stay healthy. 

Be aware, however, that you will have to keep your spine upright, not straight.  The diffenence, while minute, is critical. 

With your spine being straight, it becomes rigid and stiff.  This prevents the free flow of chi in your body, which is essential to the execution of the Tai Chi movements.   When the spine upright  – rather than straight — it is soft and flexible, making the Tai Chi movements effective. 

How do you make this happen?

Forget about straightening your back.  Rather, lift you head, feel as if it is suspended from above by a string.  By doing so, your spine will be erected in a natural way — what you will need to do the Tai Chi exercise and stays healthy.    

The posture is important when you are performing Tai Chi meditation.

Picture source:


Shibashi -- a good way to start tai chi

Wednesday 24 Mar 2010 by Soon Teo | No Comments
Filed under: shibashi, tai chi Tags: , , , ,

If you are thinking of starting tai chi and don't know how, try shibashi.

Shibashi (十八式)in Chinese means 18 styles, which uses 18 elements of tai chi movements in a simplified way.
Strictly speaking, Shifashi is not really tai chi. It is a fusion of Tai Chi and Qigong. In addition to tai chi movements, you breathe with the flows of the movements, achieving effects of qigong to keep you healthy.

The beauty of Shibashi is that it is easy to master. As a matter of fact, it was designed with everybody in mind. Developed by Professor Lin Housheng, the exercise took the Chinese communities by storm in 1980s. As it is simple, it is especially useful for the seniors and people who have no time or patience to learn the tai chi movements slowly.

It is a good exercise to relax. Like other qigong exercises, it is also known for its healing effects.

The video below shows how the sequence is being executed in a unusually poetic way. I believe you'll like it.


Tai chi Perfect for the Seniors

Sunday 21 Mar 2010 by Soon Teo | 4 Comments
Filed under: how to learn, tai chi, who should learn Tags: , ,

While Tai Chi is good for people of all ages, it is ideal for the seniors.

The reason:  it is an internal system of exercise.

This is in stark contrast to many other exercises.  They typically employ the 'external systems' of our body and are strenuous and forceful, making the older people difficult to pursue.

Instead of using the external force, Tai Chi exercises teach us to use the inner energy of our body.  This is achieved through slow and gentle movements that promote the flow of vital energy through the meridian channels and cultivates our inner strength.

The process helps us truly relax and rid of anxiety and stress that are behind many of the illnesses.  It drains the lymphatic system of toxins, making us healthier.

Physically, it nurtures good posture and strengthens the lower part of our body.  This minimize muscular tension and improve resilience and limberness.   It effectively helps the seniors to walk with confidence.  This has an important implication.  It prevent falls -- which is a common hazard for people who are 65 and above.  

Furthermore, the exercise requires the practitioners to really focus.  The use of mind is a good way to delay aging, and activates our healing system if we are unwell.

These, I believe, are good enough reasons to make Tai Chi a perfect exercise for the seniors.

The seniors in the video below apparently agree with what I say.


Why is tai chi not an exercise?

Thursday 18 Mar 2010 by Soon Teo | 2 Comments
Filed under: definition, tai chi Tags: , ,

Tai Chi ExercisesStrictly speaking, Tai Chi is not an exercise.

It is a philosophical concept of Taoism.  It talks about yin and yang, and how you can strike a balance in between the two opposing forces, which are in existence in everything in this universe.

Since Tai Chi is a philosophical concepts, it is logical for you to think or talk about it, rather than performing it.

The more appropriate term for describing tai chi as an exercise, therefore, should be  'taichi chuan'.  

 ’Chuan’ in this context means ‘fist’ or ‘ boxing’, and Taichi chuan means ’supreme ultimate fist’.   So it is a martial art developed based on the philosophy of Taoism.  If your intention is to exercise your body, strictly speaking you should do ‘Taichi chuan’, rather than 'tai chi'.

But, hang on ... 

You may ask. "If Taichi chuyan can be developed from the concept of Tai Chi, why not other exercises."  

You are quite right.  Many Tai Chi practitioners have combined the concept of Tai Chi and the techniques and experience of Taichi chuan.   They have developed a good variety of other exercises  – which are based on the concept of Tai Chi, but not exactly Taichi chuan.

As the traditional Taichi chuan can be long and complicated, these exercises -- which are usually short and easier to perform -- are   a boon to many learners of the art, especially the beginners.

As a result,  the description ‘Tai Chi’ is often used to mean any exercise based on the concept of Tai Chi, which of course also include Taichi chuan.

In this sense, tai chi is indeed an exercise.  :)

Picture source:


Tai chi or taiji?

Tuesday 16 Mar 2010 by Soon Teo | No Comments
Filed under: definition, tai chi Tags: ,

One of the difficult decisions that I have to make when writing about Tai Chi in English is the name.

There are several ways of translation, and they can be very confusing. 

’Tai chi’, ‘taichi chuan’ and ‘taiji’ are just among the many names that I have spotted in writing about the martial art.

The problem is:  since they are translations, they are in one way or another correct.

The other way to put it is: none of them is absolutely correct.

So, this is what I have conclude:

  1. The most widely used description in English is ‘tai chi’
  2. The pinyin (the most widely recognized Mandarin phonetic system) is ‘taiji’
  3. If you want to describe the exercise as a martial art, then add the word ‘chuan’ at the back.  ‘Chuan’ in this context means fist or boxing, and Tai Chi Chuan literarily means ’supreme ultimate fist’.

Fortunately, in the world of tai chi, name does not really matter.  It is how it is done and the benefits that are of vital importance.  So -- don't worry about it.


Tai chi is a philosophy rather than martial art

Thursday 11 Mar 2010 by Soon Teo | 10 Comments
Filed under: definition, tai chi, tai chi chuan Tags: , , , ,

Strictly, tai chi is a philosophical concept, rather than the martial art that we are aware of.

It is central to the ancient Chinese philosophy of Tao.

While it is impossible to explain what Tao is in a few words, it may be described as 'the way' -- or the order of the universe.

Tao recognizes that in everything in the universe, there are always opposing forces: men and women, day and night, strong and weak, etc. The two forces are generalized as yin and yang.

Tai chi is the fusion of the yin yang into a single ultimate.

This is represented by the merging of two fish-like figures in the ying yang tai chi symbol.

Meditative, unhurried, measured, tai chi chuan -- the martial art that we know -- is developed based on the concept of tai chi.

Its continous process of interation betwen yin and yang, and the achievement of balance as a result of fusing yin and yang. 

It is a reflection of the concept tai chi, and the philosophy of Tao.


Taichi chuan is an art so profound

Saturday 6 Mar 2010 by Soon Teo | 7 Comments
Filed under: how to learn, tai chi, tai chi chuan Tags: , ,

Taichi chuan is an art so profound, you're unlikely to 'graduate' even after a lifelong pursuit.

And yet, you can benefit from practising it from day one.

It is such a vast discipline. While the physical elements alone will require tremendous amount of time and efforts from you to grasp, there are also the spiritual and mental aspects that requires strong commitment to develop and internalize.

Be patient, therefore, when you are learning tai chi chuan.

It is not uncommon for people to have practiced the martial art form for 10 years, and still find that he's still a 'beginner'.

On the other hand, the essence of tai chi is the same, whether you are a beginner of tai chi or advanced practitioner.

This is exciting!

This will mean that you do not need 10 years of leaning to benefit from tai chi.

Chances are that you would be doing similar or even the same movements and applying the same principles. The main difference is in the depth and refinement of the mastery.

So even when you are new, and practice just a little, you will enjoy benefits of the art.

... tai chi for beginners ...


Taichi chuan is not only for the elderly

Friday 5 Mar 2010 by Soon Teo | No Comments
Filed under: Health, tai chi, who should learn Tags: , ,

Taichi is often associated with old men and women doing the exercise in parks.

This biased stereotype has projected a wrong image, and deprived many younger people from benefiting from it.

Taichi chuan is an exercise that promotes the circulation of our internal energy. It tones our body. It promotes bodily balance. It improves flexibility. It prevents illnesses. It brings forth many benefits!

Such benefits are not only needed by the elderly, but the younger people as well.

I started practising the art in my twenties, and have not regreted a bit for doing so. It has helped me overcome some early health problems, and made me so much stronger phisically and mentally.

I am sure you will enjoy the tai chi exercises too!


Using tai chi to fight

Monday 1 Mar 2010 by Soon Teo | No Comments
Filed under: Uncategorized

Most people regard tai chi as an exercise for health, forgetting that it is a form of martial arts.

Tai chi is originally meant for self-denfence. Underlying every taichi movement is an intent for combat application.

You can see how the basic movements are being applied in combat in the video below. It does not matter if you don't know Mandarin. The movements are self-explanatory.


Making tai chi work

Saturday 27 Feb 2010 by Soon Teo | No Comments
Filed under: chi, movements, tai chi Tags: ,

You need patience to enjoy the benefits of tai chi.

The movements of tai chi are slow, relaxed and fluid.  If you do not do it in such a measured manner, your tai chi may end up an uncontrolled dance. It may not, as a result, be able to help you achieve the tai chi health benefits that you want, such as healing and body strengthening effects.

Thinking you body as if a plant.  It needs time and patience to nurture.  The 'tai chi chih' generated as a result of the measured movements are the water and fertilizer that make you strong.


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