Ng YueWah
It will be great if we can identify the differences between “Tai Chi Chuan” and “Tai Chi Exercises”, because most of people don’t know how to differentiate them, what they can do is just by guessing. Therefore, here are a few of criteria that we can use to make our judgment:
Comparisons between Tai Chi Chuan and Tai Chi Exercises
Benefit the entire body & enhance health As good as all other low-impact sport
Tuition fee is high due or small-class Tuition fee is relatively much lower
Class Size up to 5 students at most 20 or above, unlimited class size
No more knee pain Students may suffer from knee pain
Not to force Force applied
Strengthen the skeleton Strengthen the muscles
Training starts from legs Training starts from hands
Step by step teaching with decent adjustment for individual Unable to perform the decent teaching
Does not use force for Push Hands1 Use “very” large force for Push Hands
Stomach as the enegy center to access tremendous inner power inside (Fa Jing) No inner power at all
Relax Not relax or presume relax
Inner energy development Without inner energy training
Strong immune system Easily get ill or weak
It takes at least 3 to 10 years …… Much quicker, one set after the other……
Tai Chi Chuan was originally “freestyle” in boxing. It has later been developed into around six major styles, namely Chen, Yang, Wu, He, Sun, Zhao Bao. According to the legend, Zhao Bao was the very first style of Tai Chi Chuan and has formed a very secret chapter. Teaching Zhao Bao Tai Chi Chuan and passing it on was only conducted in the Zhao Bao region in the early days. In recent years, it has been spread everywhere. They have a tradition to teach and pass the skills to the capable students, but not necessarily passed it on to the next generation of their family, like what most family business does. According to the history of the Zhao Bao Tai Chi Chuan, the great master in each generation is: the first generation: Jiang Fa; the second generation: Xing Hi-huai; the third generation: Zhang Chu-chen; the fourth generation: Chen Jing-bo; the fifth generation ….. In each generation, they have a well recognized and representative martial art master. The most remarkable and amazing thing is their “names”. They all have different “last name” which indicates that the martial art is not only passed on to family members from generation to generation, but to inherit it to a person who has the talent and is capable. The one who got the skills in each generation was so brilliant that their names were marked in the history!!
Let’s talk about something else:
Tai Chi Chuan is “arbitrary” in boxing. Everyone should have their own style because their physical condition, personal perceptive and understanding, etc are different. For example, Yang Cheng-fu’s style, (I saw his photos), his three outstanding students, who are Zheng Man Qing, LI Ya Xuan and Dong Ying Jie. They all were trained by Yang Cheng Fu. Their styles of Tai Chi Chuan however are completely different. Why? Let’s see: 1) Zheng Man Qing’s style emphasizes on the “Yi”4, but not on the Form. Generally, it is soft, free and easy. 2) LI Ya Xuan’s style is with relaxing and large movements. Its Form and Yi are in equal importance. 3) Dong Ying Jie’s style is with moderate stretch movements and having both Form and Yi. As they all have their own understanding and perceptive in the Tai Chi Chuan, and hence they have different style. Their martial art and boxing are “real”, “authentic,” and “genuine”. If the students of these great masters just copy and imitate the same moves of their teachers, then their Tai Chi Chuan is surely “counterfeit”, and is a “fake” Tai Chi Chuan of their master! By doing that, these students for sure cannot work out and create their own style. Of course, beginners should follow their teacher’s move mainly, but ultimately they should be able to go on their own ways.
Now we are talking about the differences between Tai Chi Chuan and Tai Chi Exercises. We need to know how to use the Tai Chi Chuan when we are practicing it. Therefore, we need to be able to distinguish between Tai Chi Chuan and Tai Chi Exercises
Tai Chi Chuan is certainly >not the same style boxing, but Tai Chi Exercises are possibly the same style “boxing”.
Don’t you see how the Olympics “natural” (?) Tai Chi Chuan performs? They are “the same” boxing!
Keys:
- Push Hand:
An important training device used in Tai Chi Chuan. It involves two people, usually in fixed position, giving and receiving energy, using Tai Chi movements and principles, with the intention of developing an awareness of the highest levels of Tai Chi. - Fa Jing:
Fa Jing is an explosive burst of energy used in push hands and fighting. - Dan Tien:
Storage vessel for acquired energy, usually referring to the lower Dan Tien locatd slightly below the navel. In Tai Chi and many forms of Chi Kung, the mind is centered on the Dan Tien, thereby moving energy that is acquired into that storage site to be used or refined. - Yi:
It means the “will” and the conscious mind.