Taijiquan or taiji is nowadays known as a health nurturing exercise. Its slow and soft movements suit to people in all ages and physical shapes. Everybody can train taiji according to his/her own premises and objectives. This ancient Chinese “morning gymnastics” can be regarded as one of the best forms of oriental martial arts.
As a rule taiji training includes basic training, training of the external form and applications helping to understand the purpose and the proper way of performing the sequences.
Execution of a taiji form includes slow natural circle or spiral-like movements where yin and Yang take turns alternately. Opening and closing, fast and slow, dynamic and static, strong and relaxed movements interchange and complement naturally each other. Taiji training gradually develops from the practice of external form to internal energy exercise and to the practice of the mind and the spirit.
Chen style Taiji is one form of martial art and, therefore, has also the capability of being used for self-defense and in the combat. However, a person who concentrates above all on this aspect of Taiji will loose the deeper meaning of this art.
Push-hands training can be regarded as a link between the external form of taiji and the self defense applications derived from the taiji sequences.
Taiji is also a very demanding competitive sport. The apparent ease of the movements is a miss-conception. Slow, graceful and flowing execution of the form requires power, flexibility and durability achieved by long-lasting regular exercises.
One part of taiji is training with traditional weapons. These are staff, straight sword, broad sword and spear.
It may take a lifetime to understand the essence of Taiji but people who practice it will enjoy this demanding but absorbing sport.