Of all the martial arts I have studied, none have given me the martial ability, peace of mind, relaxation of body, and general joy for life that Tai Chi has.
Tai Chi benefits its players in three areas: health, martial ability, and spiritual well-being. In the realm of both physical and mental health, the primary goal is relaxation. Relaxation of the breath, of the body, and of the mind. Professor Cheng would say, “relax the very cells of the body.” Bruce Lee, perhaps the most famous student of Tai Chi, described it as being “like water”. The martial practice can only come after relaxation has begun. If you are tense, then you are fragile. But most important in the martial practice of Tai Chi is sticking and listening—developing an awareness that is quiet, yet alert, like a cat awaiting a mouse. Our practice of connection is partnered with a study of yin and yang as the great balancing forces of the universe. Spiritual well-being is a lifelong process, not a destination.
The three gems of our practice are the Hand Form, the Push Hands, and the Sword. The Hand Form, as developed and shortened by Cheng Man Ching has 37 postures. The first third may be practiced alone as a 16 posture form. The first third of the form contains the set of postures on which the Push Hands (推手) choreography is based, known as “Ward Off, Rollback, Press, Push” (掤、扌履、擠、按) or “Grasping the Sparrows Tail” (攬雀尾). Towards the end of the 37 posture form is a section known as “Fair Lady Weaves with a Shuttle” (玉女穿梭) which underpins another two-person practice: the Da Lü (大履). The Sword Form contains 52 postures and is typically taught after a student has completed two years of empty-hand study. Upon learning the Sword Form, another type of two-person practice becomes available: Tai Chi Fencing. Unlike Push Hands and Da Lu, fencing does not have a set choreography and allows students to be playful and exploratory while staying in principle.
As you start to practice Tai Chi regularly, the relaxation becomes delicious. And as you find community in the two-person practices, the playful joy is extraordinary.
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