TAI JI QUAN- TAI CHI CHUAN   It´s an art of longevity, practised by all to develop a balance of  body and spirit.   It´s based on the theory of Yin-Yang (full, empty).We work on our internal energy, the Chi, and it´s called an internal martial  art .  It develops the harmony of gestures and corporal agility, it lightens our step and it gives us  a vitality that irradiates from our body and spirit.  It boosts our self-confidence and self-esteem, it regulates the blood circulation, it strengthens muscles, joints and develops our reflexes.  It can be practised by all as it has no side effects. The FORM, a serie of  slow circular movements, joined together in a flowing flexible manner.Is the base of Tai Chi Chuan, and in which the teachings that we acquire are summarized.  The practise of Tai Chi Chuan leads progressively to the rooting and control of our energy as well as agility, harmony and  peace.  It is a search for harmony which gets better all the time. It is not a tecnique to be mastered; it´s a process of continuous learning about oneself, observing the sensations that are aroused in your body.

Tai Chi should not only be exterior, it should also change the interior of those who practise it, working from inside, so we don´t only practise the forms but our internal energy too.

Tai Chi is  more than a technique or style of this or that school.  It´s  more than a tool to reach longevity, health and relaxation. It´s  more more than a martial art, of combat or self-defense. It is a philosophy of life, it is a way and attitude to understanding nature and human  Nature.  On the other hand, don´t even look for  the benefits of its practise,or intend doing so because if you do you will miss out on the experience of your Being, what you yourself actually are.  Expecting to feel the Chi, or the channels, or the energy, visualizing  the dantien (the part of your lower abdomen, one or two inches below your navel) leads you to carrying out the practise mentally, subtly but far from the principles of  TaiChi: and it´s therefore unrewarding.  Later on you can define express and identify these reactions, objectively and without criticism, simply sharing the experience.

Taoist Principles:  

We obtain what is known as the 13 tecniques of  Taichi (8 hand movements and 5 steps)  starting from the Taoist principles (The 8  Bagua or Trigrams, and the 5 Wuxing) They are practised in a short routine or series of four fundamental postures.

* The 8 trigrams = Bagua (I Ching) : 8 Archetypal forms of the Universe (sky earth, thunder, wind, water, fire mountain and lake)

* The  5 elementary processes (not elements): Metal, water, wood, fire and earth.

The 13 Taichi Techniques

* 8 hand movements: 4 Primary ones (Rejection = Peng; Withdrawal =Lu; Pressure = Qi; Pushing = An); and  four secondary ones (Extension =Lie; Taking= Cai; Elbowing =Zhou; Bending =Kao)

* 5  steps: Forwards =Jin; Backwards =Tui; Step left = Ku; Step right =Pau and Stay in centre= Ding.

The 4 fundamental postures of Taichi : Taichi (Mounting the goat); Bow- Arrow ; 4-6 ; On one leg.

The 3 Levels of  Taichi Chuan:

•  HEALTH: Internal strength. It increases the vital energy of the body by abdominal greathing. It encourages the flow of harmonious energy. What is important is practising the form (sets, patterns, Taos) JING
•  SELF-DEFENCE: Martial application. What matters is the development of our internal strength, applying the movements to fighting. CHI. Without using this martial application it is just Tai chi, to maintain good health, do gentlye exercise, simply a feeling of general well-being. The martial art helps us to be agile and keep fit and gives us serenity and mental awareness, full of vitality and  resistence.  
•   SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT : Taoist cult. What matters is the path to immortality and to reach spiritual satisfaction. It consists in transforming Jing into Chi and the latter to Shen to return the spirit of the great vacuum. This is achieved through meditation  (Jing-Zuo)

The complete work of Tai Chi Chuan: Means learning the basic mechanisms, developing your interior strenght and combat.

The training is :

•  Zhan Zhuang (keeping postures)
•  Chi Kung (desveloping internal strength)
•  Form (tao, pattern, sequence...) development of graceful movements, flow of energy and lucidity. 
•  Tui Shou (develop aptitutes for combat; percieve movements of your adversary, capacity of assessment, choice of timing, reflexes and flow of  movements.
•  San Shou (martial functions of the short forms) Series of combat sequence.
•  Meditation

Benefits:

• Self-defence 
• Helath (prevent and cure illnesses)
• Keep fit (gracefull agility and balance)
• Emotional stability
• Broadening the mind (Mental clarity) 
• Spiritual joy

 Principles to bear inmind when practising Tai Chi Chuan: 

•  Don´t concentrate on your hands of legs, but on your waist.
•  Differentiate between the obvious and the  sólido? (if not, you will have awkwart movements, which will be weak points for your opponents)
•  Flow of internal energy (relaxed, slow, graceful movements)
•  Be relaxed and alert for combat.  The form or body still and Chi moving in your interior.
•  In combat, your mind still and rapid movements. 
•  The tecniques are directed by the mind. The movements fulfill their purpose and go at their own speed. 
•  As is an INTERNAL ART, it entails  5 points: Peace of mind, agile body, full of energy, total strength and concentrated spirit. 

Styles  of Tai Chi Chuan 

• Chen  Old form: The movements are big. It favours the development of strength and  New form: Add circular movements, smaller form = ZHAO BAO (teach strangers ). Spiral strength.
• Yang: Learnt it Chen, although he wasn´t a member of the family. It favours helath.
• WU: A combination of the new Chen form and the old Yang form
• SUN: Expert in the three schools of internal Kung fu.

TAICHI CHUAN WUDANG: It´s purpose is to merge with the cosmos, to cultivate the spirit. 

TAICHI CHUAN CHEN: It´s purpose is the martial application or combat.  

TAICHI CHUAN YANG: It´s purpose is our health and the martial dimension disappears   

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