Tai Chi martial arts is based on the concepts of the Yin and Yang relationship. Tai Chi in itself is very comprehensive, in the philosophical sense. Tai Chi treats and explains everything in the universe as a unity. The Taoist called it (Tao) means way the way things are in nature or in Gods master plan. Tai Chi has two parts in nature completely different from one another but still harmonize as one. One part is called (Yin) the other part called (Yang). Yin/Yang are the oracle of changes. Everything in the world you can find or see the Yin and Yang at work. Yin/Yang forces are found in both spiritual and physical states. Exist in day and night and positive and negative charges in physics.

Yin and Yang are opposites, they are in unity while in opposition. In a suitable and harmonized condition, they will counteract and develop. In an unsuitable and unharmonized condition they will repel one another and destroy all matter. Yin and Yang are involved in all phenomena and at all times in the universe. Tai Chi is one of the best exercises for all ages. Slow movements, calm practice and avoiding the use of great strength is necessary for the improvement of our health. If the actions are soft then the muscles of the whole body will relax easier. It will also relax the nervous system, in turn your emotions will become stable as well as an alert mind. In Tai Chi, various organs of our body depend largely on the soundness of the central nervous system, and the timing of deep breathing and the movement of the diaphragm. A tranquil state of mind and complete concentration on all the movements are required during the exercise. Tai Chi form is artistic style of exercise. The movement of the muscle exerts pressure on the veins, forcing the blood to flow towards the heart. During the deep breathing, the muscles of the diaphragm act to massage the liver. Tai Chi concentrates on thought rather than strength to keep the heart and the lungs in a proper and comfortable condition, giving the body and the mind a lot of benefit. The natural process of human life consists in the taking in oxygen (Qi). Qi is your inner to outer and outer to inner power with out Qi there's no health, self-healing, peace of mind or self-defense in your Tai Chi. Tai Chi would just be a form that looks like a classical dance with graceful movements, without alert actions and great power perform through the technique of Tai Chi. Practitioners in Tai Chi must learn how to practice Tai Chi and Qigong in unity. Tai Chi/Qigong is yin/yang, practitioner must understand that the yin promotes our health while our self-protection belongs to yang.

The yin has 3 internal aspect, Qi, Spirit, and Organs. The Yang has 3 external aspect, skin, muscle, and bones, all aspect of internal/external is united as one. When practicing Tai Chi forms, your breathing (Qi) must be in rhythm with the movement. When the arms move the legs follow, when the legs move the arms respond. When the arms and legs move the hips and spine coordinate them and act as an axis. Movement divides into inner and outer movements, inner movement is the mind that moves the Qi through the meridians, and the outer movement is the Qi that moves the body. The Tai Chi practitioner has 3 Dan Tian. Thats where the Qi stores its energy and produce great power from the Dan Tian. 1. Lower Dan Tian controls the legs. 2. The middle Dan Tian controls the body. 3. The upper Dan Tian controls the arms. When the three Dan Tians unite into one, the hands and body all reach at the same time, and the opponent can not penetrate. When one part is moving all is moving, when one part is still, all is still, when one part opens, all is opening. When one part closes, all is closing above and below is one unified Qi. When practicing Tai Chi, you also must learn the skill of finding the stillness in the movement and finding the movement in the stillness. Movement and stillness both exist in unity, however stillness is the foundation. As for the self-defense aspect, the principle of Tai Chi is divided into two parts, the yielding force and the unbending force. To understand yielding and unbending, the Tai Chi practitioner have to put many hours in push-hand exercises/drills if you want to be a great fighter. The yielding force belongs to yin and the unbending force belongs to yang. When fighting, we use the yielding force to counteract our opponents attack and the unbending force to attack our opponent with great power. The proper fighting application of Tai Chi mainly depends on good technique and practice.

Since practice can promote technique, we will improve as we learn how to perform the techniques with confidence. In time the perfect Tai Chi will find you and you will find your perfect Tai Chi in time.

By: Theodore (TC) Cooke