Taijiquan
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Taijiquan: The Art of Nurturing, The Science of Power
The martial arts of China are typically categorized as either "internal" or "external." Taijiquan downplays brute strength and natural ability and emphasizes learned motor skills, nurturing, and the accumulation of hardness through softness, and thus it is considered an internal martial art. Other popular internal martial arts include Yiquan, Xinyiquan, and Baguazhuang. Classification of a particular art as internal or external is useful in describing beginning training practices to novices, but it is ultimately an oversimplification of the martial arts. In their complete form many, if not most, external or "hard" styles also eventually seek to develop and incorporate an internal or "soft" aspect in their practice. Similarly, all practices of the internal martial arts are intended to develop gong, the physical aspect of which includes improvements in strength or power. In the classical literature, Taijiquan is referred to as the "science of power." And so it can be seen that the practices of internal and external martial arts eventually merge toward common ground (if not unification).
History of Taiji
Most of the practitioners' unawareness of Taijiquan being an effective health exercise as well as an in-depth internal martial arts training can be explained in terms of Taijiquan's evolution and practice. After years of research and study of historical documents by Taiji practitioners and scholars, it is now believed that most of the major styles of Taijiquan currently practiced (e.g., Chen, Yang, Wu as in Wu Yuxiang, Wu as in Wu Jianquan, Sun) were all derived, directly or indirectly, from Chen Family Taijiquan. Their origins can be traced back to a small village located in Henan, China, with the name Chenjiagou, literally, Chen Family Ditch.
Damo’s Taijiquan Study
Damo has studied Yang style Taijiquan with numerous teachers from within various lines. He has studied within the Zhen Manqing, Huang Xingxian, Nanpai and Tian Zhaolin lines. These are all variations of the Yang family tradition and each manifests the Yang principles in a unique manner. Alongside this Damo has studied Daoist Taijiquan, Chen village style Taijiquan and Hunyuan Taijiquan from the line of Feng Zhiqiang. Study across these lines has given Damo a varied and extensive understanding of Taijiquan principles and application. He now focuses upon the Yang line with students of the school beginning with the Huang Xiangxian system before moving onto other expressions of the Yang family tradition.
Knowledge Graph
Examples
1 Tai Chi or Taijiquan is an outstanding gem of traditional Chinese culture that is valuable in promoting health, developing combat and self-defence skills.
2 Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit is a grandmaster of Taijiquan (spelled as "Tai Chi Chuan" in English). He was awarded "Qigong Master of the Year" in 1997 by his peers at the Seond World Qigong Congress. Qigong, or "chi kung" in English, is an essential part of Taijiquan.
3 Our Wu-bao Taijiquan course has three distinct levels so that anyone from 18-80 can study the art in a manner suiting their personal needs