The prevalence of the oldest schools of learning on dynamic principles of today is believed to be the aftermath of the ongoing and ever-rising practice in Tai Chi. The term Tai Chi originates from the Tai Ji symbol which is commonly known in the Western World as the Yin and Yang.
As a practice, Tai Chi’s core training features 2 forms: first, the solo form, which stresses slow sequence of movements while keeping the spine straight and firm, maintaining the range of motion and constant breathing. The Push Hands being the second core of Tai Chi training involves training of the principles of movement in a manner that is more practical and convenient.
By incorporating solo form in Tai Chi training, the students go through a natural and complete range of motion over gravity’s center. With constant practice, the solo form of Tai Chi benefits the student with good and proper posture, improved flexibility, and better their body’s blood circulation. Moreover, it gives students’ focus and prepares them for an even more rigid form along the course of Tai Chi training.
Major styles of traditional Tai Chi have forms that somewhat differ from the others in its presentation. Some differ in the wave of the hands, in the position of the legs, the reaction of the body and the pace of the movement. But these things don’t matter at all because what is important to Tai Chi practice is that it benefits not just your body but your mind as well. And besides, there are still many similarities coming from the point of their common origin that are obvious enough to recognize, anyway.
Solo forms, weapons and empty-hands are the basics in learning just about any form of martial arts application. This is in preparation for students for their self-defense training.
The philosophy goes: if one becomes stiff and equally uses hardness in attending to violence, otherwise resisting it, then it is expected that both sides can be injured at a certain degree. An injury like that is a Tai Chi theory that coincides with the consequence of fighting brute with brute, which, in Tai Chi is far beyond the right attitude and style.
Unlike in other martial arts wherein force is applied to some measure, in Tai Chi, students are taught that instead of battling it out or directly resisting an incoming force, they should meet it with the most subtle movements and softness, following every attacking motion and in the end, exhausting the attacking force. This is all done while remaining at a close contact manner. This is the principle wherein the yin and yang is applied. If this method is done correctly, the yin-yang balance in combating is the primary goal of training Tai Chi.
Moreover, Tai Chi schools also focus on how the energy of a striking person affects his opponent. For example, the palm can strike physically with the same appearance and manner of performance but actually there is a difference of effect on the target.
With your palm you can push a person forward or backward, do it in such a way that the opponents are lifted vertically from the ground, this way their center of gravity will be shaken and eventually fall.
After which, this technique can literary terminate the striking force within the body of the person with the dearest intention of causing traumatic internal damage.
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