Full Contact TaijiQuan

TaijiQuan also spelled Tai chi chuan is an ancient Chinese system of slowly flowing movements and shifts of balance that strengthens all your major muscle groups, tnendons, ligaments. Focuses the mind, increases stamina, and strengthens ones will. In the United States studies have shown that even people in their 70's or 80's can learn a simplified series of Taiji forms and benefit in terms of blood pressure regularity, strengthening of lower body, causiing less injurious falls, and improved  balance and confidence.

When I think "martial arts" I think kicking, punching, and body contact. Not slow rythmic and meditative body movements designed to enhance relaxation, inner calm, balance and peace. However, the Old Yang style Taiji invented by Yang Lu-chan has explosive movements in the form as well as the slow meditative movements. Taiji is a centuries old Chinese martial art that descends from Qigong (chi gung, meaning breath work or energy work.) an ancient discipline with roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to some records, taiji dates back as far as 2500 years, It involves a series of slow meditative body movements that were originally designed for self defence and to promote inner health and calm.

Learning TaijiQuan is not a quick process. You can't learn it in a short time and reap the benefits immediately. You can reap some of the benefits early on but as some masters of old have said "it will be a long time before you beging to "get it." Don't be put off though, the learning process is fascinating. Learning the form is about repetition, learn a move , practice ttill you get the hang of it then add another move and so on. The more you practice, the more your body becomes in tune, as well as your mind. You will spend most of your time initialy concentrating on the mechanics of the movement, once the repetition has freed your mind from thinking of every posture, you can move on to concentrating on your breath during the movement and finally be in a state of meditation during the movements, however difficult. There is no single exercise that can do for you what Taiji will do for you physiclally.

I d love you to get started right now if youre not already. follow this link and you can get started right away learning the "Old Yang style Taiji" in all its glory. http://realtaiji.com/ Hope to see you all out here at some point.