| For Easterners, particularly Chinese, this MAY not | | | | Chuan itself. It is more of philosophical principles - |
| be an issue. Tai Chi Chuan is deeply rooted as | | | | close to I-Ching, and some of Daoism. |
| part of the Chinese culture. It is known to almost | | | | The fundamental principle of Tai Chi Chuan is a |
| everyone what Tai Chi Chuan is all about. Note | | | | must for a beginner, so that he or she will know |
| there: I said "...MAY not be an issue", meaning that | | | | the correct way to execute the movements. |
| there are exceptions, particularly to Chinese who | | | | Other things enquirer of Tai Chi Chuan would like |
| are not born and grown up in China. | | | | to know is - "What's in for me?" |
| For Westerners, surprisingly - I found many sites | | | | Particularly skeptics who see this as slow-moving, |
| dedicated to Tai Chi Chuan, and some of this | | | | apparently energy-less, and senior-people related |
| information is from Westerners. However, deep in | | | | martial arts. |
| my instinct, there are still many who want to | | | | "Can this help me?" |
| know more about learning Tai Chi Chuan. | | | | If I say - "Yes, it can help!". You may also doubt |
| Moreover, many literatures and scriptures about | | | | my words. I don't mind that. But, how about |
| Tai Chi Chuan are still mainly written in Chinese, | | | | keeping an open mind and you try it out for |
| and much translation is needed to make it more | | | | yourself. You will see the effects over time. And |
| accessible to the West. I'm doing such translation | | | | if you don't, then, you are not doing it correctly! |
| work. | | | | Sorry, no catch here! :) |
| Yes, I'm a Chinese, trained in both Chinese and | | | | Tai Chi Chuan may 'appear' to be slow - but this is |
| English languages since young. And, I would really | | | | only for practicing. It actual combat application - |
| love to share my passion in Tai Chi Chuan with | | | | you should be able to move extremely fast in |
| whoever interested about the subject. | | | | order for it to be of use. |
| In my 23 years of learning and research in Tai Chi | | | | The apparent energy-less motion is in fact energy |
| Chuan, martial arts, meditation and healing, I found | | | | in disguise. The energy gathered and harnessed in |
| some questions are very much of interest for a | | | | Tai Chi is not brute force - but vital energy, Qi |
| keen learner, or even beginner. | | | | that is even more potent than physical strength |
| Examples of these are, "Can a senior person learn | | | | and energy. |
| Tai Chi Chuan?", "Is it easy to learn and master?", | | | | Senior-related? |
| "What do I need?", "Should I know about Daoism | | | | Incidentally - yes, it seems more senior people |
| to learn Tai Chi Chuan?" and so on. | | | | practice Tai Chi Chuan than younger people, for |
| For a start, everyone and anyone can learn this | | | | health reasons. But international champion male |
| art though it is once a closely kept secret among | | | | and female Tai Chi exponents in China were been |
| the family or clan, or later among Chinese. Age | | | | trained since childhood. And there are a lot of |
| has no barrier. In fact, senior people found it very | | | | young adults learning and practicing this art. Hmm... |
| beneficial to their physical health and mental | | | | should I still say senior-related??? |
| well-being, by practicing regularly. | | | | It does bring a lot of benefits to anyone who |
| The original forms of Tai Chi Chuan, irregardless | | | | practices it religiously, and in particular - correctly. |
| of which styles, require a lot of effort, time, and | | | | And the best thing is - the benefits can be |
| dedication to learn and master. Simplifying is a | | | | limitless, and may cover every aspects of your |
| necessity. In fact, I started learning the simplified | | | | life! Try it for yourself! |
| version of Yang style 24 forms. This requires a | | | | Written by: C. Guan Soo |
| lot of effort and time from my side to achieve | | | | Tai Chi Practitioner |
| reasonable level of mastery. | | | | *************** Note *************** |
| Tai Chi Chuan is the outward projection of certain | | | | You may distribute or publish this article freely |
| principles found in the Chinese culture. Though the | | | | provide you do not make any changes or |
| understanding of its principles is desirable, it is not | | | | alteration on the article content, or remove my |
| necessary...yet, for a beginner. Principles I referred | | | | name and website from the article. Thank you! |
| to here is not the fundamental principles of Tai Chi | | | | |