4th World Taijiquan Championships
4th World Taijiquan Championships Dates: August 21-28, 2024 Location: Singapore
4th World Taijiquan Championships Dates: August 21-28, 2024 Location: Singapore
The word “Tai” (太)meaning “Supreme”, “Ji” (极or Chi) meaning “Boundary” and “Quan” (拳or Chuan) meaning “fist” or “movement”. Together, the term “Taijiquan” meaning a kind of movement to make a power without limit. Taijiquan, or how some people say Tai Chi Chuan, coming from very old Chinese thinking about world and nature. First time people talk about this in “Yì Jīng” (易经)book, very old book from China, talking about how world change and keep balance. This book, more than 3,000 years old, saying everything always changing but follow rules, and balance is important. This “Yi Jing” book and ideas inside it, like “Taiji”, “Yin &Yang” (阴阳)and “Five Elements” (五行), very important for Chinese old thinking, like Confucianism and Taoism. Also, these ideas become big part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Long time ago, more than 2,000 years, “Huangdi Neijing” (黄帝内经)book talk first time about “Yin & Yang” and “Five Elements” for human body and health. This book say human body is like small world, need to keep balance of Yin & Yang energy for good health.
While both practices aim to improve health and well-being through the manipulation of qi, they differ in their approach and execution. Tai chi is characterized by its flowing, sequence-based movements that engage the whole body, making it akin to a comprehensive workout that integrates the mind, body, and spirit. In contrast, qi gong focuses on specific exercises that target particular health issues or objectives, resembling a series of exercises for particular parts of the body or energy systems.
hroughout the current Tai Chi Push Hands competitions and daily exchanges, some Tai Chi enthusiasts, during the push hands process, do not progress from easy to difficult and strictly follow the principles and techniques of Tai Chi. Instead, they start off by being overly competitive, eager to push their opponent away. As a result, their techniques are rough, monotonous, stiff, and forceful, lacking in technical content and the aesthetic movement of Tai Chi. Furthermore, some enthusiasts are narrow-minded and demean others. There is a lack of respect among some masters and fellow disciples, leading to disparagement of others to elevate oneself, resulting in disharmony and affecting unity and the exchange and improvement of martial arts skills. Such malpractices should be avoided by our generation.
Almost for all Tai Chi and any martial arts practitioners, the training is always begins with a fundamental stance. The Ma Bu, or "horse stance," is one of the most iconic basic learning. Why the name? Simple—it mimics the posture of a horse, with both feet slightly wider than shoulder-width, a steady and strong base, and a balanced, grounded position. Ma Bu is considered the foundation of martial arts training. In fact, there’s an old Chinese saying: “One year of Ma Bu is more beneficial than three years of practicing forms.” how important to Ma Bu. The Wuji Stance is a another variation of Ma Bu, or at least shares similarities in its goals. While Ma Bu focuses on strength and stability, Wuji Stance serves a broader purpose in building your fundamental structure and mental focus , and the goal to get rid or remove the stiffness or the energy prevent you from Tai Chi relaxation or call Loose . There’s also another foundational stance known as the Hunyuan Stance, often practiced by beginners in Tai Chi. Though Wuji Stance and Hunyuan Stance may seem similar, they are distinct in their purposes and practice. Many people confuse about the two stance, but understanding their differences is key.
Tai Chi Chuan is globally recognized as the foremost martial arts style, epitomizing the quintessence of Chinese martial arts. It ranks among the three major internal schools of martial arts in China—Tai Chi Chuan, Xing Yi Quan, and Bagua Zhang. As a vessel and emblem of traditional Chinese culture, Tai Chi Chuan manifests and interprets the wisdom of traditional Chinese philosophy through the physical form.
Tung Ying-Chieh (董英杰) was a prominent figure in the world of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan), celebrated for his profound contribution to the martial art's development and dissemination. Born in 1897 in Ren County, Hebei Province, China, Tung was introduced to martial arts at a young age. His dedication and talent in martial arts led him to become one of the most respected Tai Chi masters of the 20th century.
In practicing Tai Chi, wanting to delve deeper into the art, the biggest obstacle encountered is the challenge of one's inherent force, which is the stiffness throughout the body, both inside and out. This inherent force affects the light and agile application of Tai Chi, presenting practitioners with the task of overcoming this barrier.