Tai Chi is a Chinese movement art , aimed at promoting physical health and mental well-being. Helps to keep muscles and joints loose. It also promotes good posture. When someone says they do Tai Chi, they usually mean Tai Chi Chuan, the variant that originates from the Chinese martial art . Tai-Chi-Tao is a variant of that that is clearly aimed at human health.
Tai Chi exercises
The Tai Chi Tao exercises are calm and not very difficult. The exercises are based on the five elements of the energy theory: water, fire, earth, wood and metal. They ensure that you get more energy . The exercises also have a positive effect on blood circulation and oxygen supply to the muscles. The exercises of Tai Chi Tao can relieve pain, especially because the pace of the exercises is slow. People with RSI complaints, back complaints, rheumatism and ME can benefit from Tai Chi Tao.
Movement theory and self-defense
Although, especially in the West, the emphasis of many Tai Chi practitioners lies on the health aspect of Tai Chi and it is seen 'only' as a movement theory, there are also practitioners who practice this art for its effectiveness as a self-defense art . Especially in the Chen style, the emphasis on the self-defense aspect is much stronger than in, for example, the Yang style. The forms are often performed deeper, whereby one bends more through the knees and thus learns to keep the balance better.
In Tai Chi as self-defense, the emphasis is mainly on disrupting the opponent's balance , by going along with the opponent's movement and neutralizing it. Maintaining one's own balance is of course of great importance. At the moment that the opponent is thrown off balance, a counterattack can be launched.
