| Tai chi is one of the oldest martial arts and it has | | | | to feel the energy moving through the body. |
| been practiced for hundreds of years, for | | | | Even though the body is kept pliable and calm |
| exercise, a martial art and also a way to help the | | | | energy is continually going through the body. The |
| inner flow of the energy in the body. Practiced in | | | | energy in the body is continually moving and |
| a gentle and slow way, Tai chi is used so the | | | | keeps the body in motion. Tai chi promotes the |
| stylist can engage the body with the proper | | | | feeling of weightlessness and that movement |
| feeling with every movement. | | | | takes very little or no energy to incorporate. |
| Tai chi promotes endurance, power and flexibility | | | | When you actually move it takes very little effort |
| by using little or no intensity with the body. | | | | if any. |
| Training the body to be used in a whole fashion, | | | | When in an actual fight, Tai chi uses the |
| Tai chi encourages the connection between the | | | | opponents energy to defeat him. The practitioner |
| body and the mind and helps to improve ones | | | | of this art is very calm believing the opponents |
| overall body movements and balance. It also | | | | energy can be used against him and is being used |
| promotes health of the joints and will improve the | | | | against him. Very little strength is used. When the |
| stylists joint strength and lessen stiffness. | | | | opponent starts to get tired and worn out that is |
| It has been utilized to be used as a martial art, | | | | when the stylist attacks. This way the opponent |
| and it involves the minimal amount of attacking, | | | | can barely use defense let alone attack. |
| striking and even defensive moves. Incorporating | | | | Tai chi dates far back in history and is an ancient |
| the use of all the muscles in the body and also | | | | martial art and is one of the most difficult to find |
| concentrating on the breathing, Tai chi focuses on | | | | these days. Like the martial arts Tiger Claw and |
| the inner workings or "chi" of the body. The | | | | Ninjutsu, it can be very difficult to find someone |
| Chinese believe the chi energy correctly used | | | | to teach these arts. If you do find a dojo that |
| stops diseases. | | | | teaches this art you should go for it and not pass |
| The body remains pliant and calm when the art is | | | | up the opportunity as its well worth studying. It |
| being put into action, and the body posture | | | | can teach you a lot about your inner energy and |
| becomes as if the joints were being suspended | | | | help your spiritual path and you can learn a lot |
| from above like a puppet. The student | | | | about yourself more then you might have |
| concentrates there thinking on every movement, | | | | thought you were capable of by stretching your |
| focusing on the flow of chi energy. By going into a | | | | boundaries. |
| state of relaxation and concentrating they begin | | | | |