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Early teachers In the 1200’s, in this same Monastery, Chang San-Feng took the fighting forms that had developed there and added his knowledge of acupuncture and the philosophy of the I-Ching. This new form eventually became what we know as Tai Chi Chuan. Historians have recorded an unbroken line of teachers from Feng to the present day. The Chen and Yang Styles The Chen family crystallized a form that still in practice. The Yang family altered the form, keeping its basic principles but making it more accessible to everyone. Today, the Yang Style is one of the world’s most popular forms of exercise. Basic principles The principles underlying Tai Chi Chuan make it unique. The movements are very slow, mostly circular. Relaxation is important for improving circulation of blood, oxygen and internal energy. Tai Chi is a martial art, but focuses on the development of sensitivity, awareness and self-mastery. Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan
Shen Hai Min |
A
great teacher appeared about 500 AD at the Shao Lin Monastery in China.
Ta Mo, known in India as Bodhidharma, gave the monks a series of exercises
to improve their stamina and health. He is revered as the father
of both Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu.
Documentation
supports Tai Chi as being beneficial to a wide variety of diseases,
including back pain, cancer, hypertension, heart disease, auto-immune
diseases, arthritis, chronic pain, diabetes, and others. Tai Chi also
improves mental focus and enhances abilities in any sport or activity.
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