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Tai Chi History





Western Tai Chi Association - Cochrane Alberta
History of Tai Chi




An ancient Chinese martial art with origins in Taoism. A mind-body practice defined by slow, flowing movements, controlled breathing and a calm focused mind.

A series of movements that co-ordinate the hands, feet, body, mind and breath.

Often referred to as 'moving meditation".

Tai = supreme/ great
Chi - extreme / ultimate
Qi = life energy

Originally Called Taijiquan – the integration of the cultural philosophy of taiji (yin and yang philosophy) and the martial art of quan (boxing / fist)



Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy and religious tradition focused on living in harmony with the Tao, meaning "the Way", which is the natural flow and underlying force of the universe.

Based on the concept of yin and yang.

Yin and yang is an ancient Chinese philosophy concept showing that two opposite forces are actually complementary, interconnected, and work together to form a whole.

A healthy body (including a healthy mind) balances yin and yang. They are not mutually exclusive. Think of a coin or a mountain – they each require 2 sides and cannot exist without both. There is always an overlap of yin and yang (the symbol shows this – as they flow together and have a little of the other in each half)

"Zang" organs: manage the stored essence of life:
Meridians/organs = Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney
“inside” – dark, cold, earth, moon,
"Fu" organs: manage the growth of things:
Meridians/organs = Gall Bladder, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Stomach, Bladder, Triple Energizer
"outside" - light, warmth, sky (heaven), sun,



Tai Chi began as a martial arts system that was taught to the monks of the Shaolin temple by a Buddhist monk. It was initially taught to improve physical stamina and meditation but developed into a self-defense art, as the monks travelled dangerous roads and cities.

Tai Chi then developed into the 5 known styles under different Masters.

There are 5 styles of Tai Chi:

Chen – the oldest and most dynamic form that involves a combination of soft and power moves. Varying speeds and techniques involving kicks, punches and jumps. More energetic and a complement to other martial arts.

Yang – the most widely practiced style of tai chi. Movements are big, slow, and fluid. Developed to gain health benefits rather than fighting force – often referred to as "moving meditation"

Wu – the second most popular style of tai chi. A more compact posture, with smaller and tighter moves, more body leaning forward and back

Sun – The second least popular of the 5 styles, it combines tai chi with other martial art forms, involving higher stance and unique footwork and smooth circular hand movements.

Hao – the least popular of the 5 styles. With tight, precise internal movements, and a heavy focus on internal qi and meditation
Moy Lin-shin was a Taoist monk, born 1931 in Taishan county, Guangdong, China. His family moved to Hong Kong in 1949. He moved to Canada in 1970 and spent his life teaching internal martial arts focused on health and healing rather than fighting. Master Moy passed away in 1998.
As a result of his comprehension of the role of internal arts in health improvement, Master Moy adapted the set by adding more turning and stretching to open up joints and massage internal organs. He borrowed concepts from the internal arts of Lokhupbafa, XingYi and BaGua and included elements of Taoist and Buddhist QiGong practices.







    
Western Tai Chi Association