Taijiquan Benefits Your Health

• Quicker reflexes
• Improved flexibility
• Better physical, mental, and emotional balance
• Stress reduction
• Increased leg strength
• Greater alertness
• Improved concentration

Currently, researchers are investigating the effects of taijiquan on numerous medical conditions such as high blood pressure, arthritis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Although results from such studies may not be available for some time, people who have regular taiji practice consistently report overall health improvement, increased energy, and an improved sense of well being.

Taijiquan, International Competitive Sport, Benefits You . . .

As we approach The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, more and more people will become aware that taijiquan has long been a competitive sport. In recent years, Forms Competitions and Pushing Hands have grown in popularity. One reason for this is that people of all ages can participate. You don't have to be young, but the training is very demanding.

When you decide to participate in competitions and/or public performances, you enter a unique area of training. You create opportunities to:

• Promote taijiquan, your style, lineage, school, and teacher
• Challenge yourself to improve your taijiquan and to grow as an individual
• Connect with and celebrate a great tradition: Although relatively new to America, taijiquan is tremendously popular worldwide. During any given 24-hour period of time, someone, somewhere is always playing taijiquan. Furthermore, taijiquan has a history that dates back many generations. When you practice taijiquan, you become a thread in an enormous, invisible piece of fabric that encompasses the world and stretches into both the past and future. When we compete or perform publicly, we connect with the rest of the world and with the masters who came before us and who will follow us. We make this fabric visible to the world.
  
  When we "show off" our skills publicly, we are studying a lesson in humility, a lesson about being a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

Taijiquan, Martial Art, Benefits You . . .

One goal of Chinese martial arts is to achieve such a high level of knowledge and skill that you can avoid physical conflict. An old Chinese martial arts adage:

"It is better to avoid than check, better to check than hurt,
better to hurt than maim, better to maim than kill;for, all life
is precious and none can be replaced."
(Source unknown)

Although years of devoted practice are required to achieve high level martial skill using taijiquan, many benefits may be gained through the process.

Benefits:

• Increased self-knowledge and self confidence
• Corrected postures, through understanding the martial applications, optimize health benefits
• Learning strategies and practicing partner patterns and exercises can inform richly your approach to daily life
• Basic taiji principals are reinforced and more deeply understood, carrying into your daily life
• Deeper understanding of taiji philosophy broadens knowledge and perspective

2. Chest is loose, never pushed forward.

3. The waist is loose and relaxed.

4. Distinguish between "solid" and "empty".

5. Shoulders and elbows are down.

6. Use the mind/will to move, not physical strength.

7. Upper and lower body are coordinated.

8. Internal and external are unified. Mind and body function together.

9. Movement is continuous and coordinated with the breath.

10. Seek stillness in the movement.