Tai Chi
Tai Chai dates back many centuries in Chinese history. It is a specific type of martial arts which can be traced back to qigong. Qigong is also an ancient discipline which is associated with traditional forms of Chinese medicine. It has been estimated that Tai Chi could date back 2,500 years or even more.
This art form involves body movements that are very meditative and slow. The movements were originally designed specifically for self-defense as well as to promote an inner sense of calm and peace. While it might not seem so to you now, there are some masters of Tai Chi who have become so accomplished that they were able to throw an opponent to the floor without an observer being able to see clearly how it was accomplished.
The movements used in Tai Chi utilize internal energy as well as movements that are typically far too subtle to be observed by most people. The primary idea behind this art form is that when skilled sufficiently, even a small amount of force is able to deflect something of more weight.
The Importance of Qi
Many of the tenets of traditional Chinese medicine are based on the idea that humans are actually small versions of the universe. Much like the universe, humans are believed to be comprised of the continual interaction of five elements. These elements are:
• Fire
• Water
• Metal
• Earth
• Wood
It is thought that these five elements flow in a manner that is interrelated throughout the entire body as five distinctive phases of qi or life force. This is the intrinsic energy within the body that is thought to travel along paths in the body that are known as meridians. Under traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that health can be achieved whenever the interaction of these elements results in the flow of qi in a manner that is balanced and smooth.