Taichi Fitness Components

When we talk about fitness, it actually comprisesmovements which require larger range of
of many components. In general, the fitnessmotions. Balance is also required for stability during
components can be classified into Health Relatedmovement transition and weight transfer. Agility
and Performance Related fitness components.and power are used in some of the faster and
Health related fitness components are theexplosive movements such as the Chen's style
fundamental fitness components to assess if oneTaichi. Motor skills are needed during Taichi
is physically fit, examples of health related fitnessmovement learning and for executing proper
components comprise of body composition,movement sequence to achieve hand and leg
cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength,coordination.
muscular endurance and flexibility.Having understood the different Taichi fitness
Performance related fitness components arecomponents, we need to realize that in order to
more specific to the nature of the sports involvedperform well in Taichi and to benefit most from
and some of the examples are power, speed,practicing Taichi; these are the fitness
quickness agility, balance, motor skills etc. Certaincomponents which we have to work at during
sports require more priority on one particularour physical preparation phase so that we can
fitness components than the other, for instance,apply them into our Taichi practice. Very often,
in long distance running, cardiovascular endurancemany Taichi practitioners rely on practicing of the
is of higher importance while having agility andTaichi routines alone to train all these Taichi fitness
power is not the main priority. This is important tocomponents, which will take a much longer time
be taken into consideration when designing theto develop and even so, the result will not be as
training program so that the correct fitnesseffective and many components are still left
components are being well developed.undeveloped or under developed. Without all these
Next we will now look into the different types offitness components being well developed, one will
fitness components that are specific to Taichi.find it difficult to achieve the technical
The main Taichi fitness components involved arerequirements in the Taichi routines and to benefit
cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength anda better quality of life from practicing Taichi.
endurance, flexibility, balance, motor skills, agilityThe next question would then be on how to train
and power.these specific Taichi fitness components. One
Cardiovascular endurance is needed for continuouswould need to have a proper and systematic
practice of Taichi. Muscular strength andtraining program, preferably under the guidance
endurance is also needed for executing theand personal coaching of well-qualified Taichi
controlled movements of the Taichi routines andcoaches, with the relevant sports knowledge and
also the strength for holding the different typesexperience in designing such specific Taichi fitness
of weapons (sword, saber, spear, cuddle etc).component training.
Flexibility is needed for the different Taichi