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What are the benefits of making a Psi-ball?
The best way to find out the answer to this for yourself is to study tai chi. This is the easiest place to find to study this.
How many tai chi moves are there?
While it is true that there are a number of fixed moves in Tai Chi thinking about it in this way can be very misleading. When you first start to learn Tai Chi you will often be taught a fixed form. For example the '24 Posture Simplified Yang Style Form'. This has 24 distinct moves. You may then be taught a form with 48 postures/moves. Soon you will realize that what you need to learn isn't how to perform the move, but rather what this move teaches you about movement in general. Tai Chi is movement. Nothing more, nothing less. The greatest form in Tai Chi has no shape, no fixed pattern and will naturally counter any technique used against it. Naturally this is near impossible to obtain, but it gives the general idea that you should be aiming for.
Where does the term chi come from in tai chi?
The word "chi" in tai chi chuan, can be roughly translated as "ultimate, terminus" or "nexus." The entire phrase, tai chi chuan, can be translated as "Grand Ultimate Fist." Tai chi refers to the Daoist principles which form the philosophical foundation of tai chi chuan. A practitioner of tai chi begins their practice by standing in a ready position with arms at their side. This position is called "wuji," representing a void or nothingness wherein nothing is thought of, no movement occurs. At the very moment that the intention of movement is expressed, it is said one goes from wuji to tai chi. At this point, tai chi represents the balance of yin and yang, the polar opposites found throughout all of nature in general, and in the tai chi movements in particular. From the two opposites of tai chi spring "the four" - greater yang and lesser yang, greater yin and lesser yin." The four divide once again to become the eight trigrams which, combined with the tai chi diagram, form the xiantian bagua. The bagua is combined with the Chinese five elements or phases, to create thirteen distinct patterns of movement, often called the "thirteen postures of tai chi chuan." These thirteen postures predate the oldest "form based" training methodology (Chen style) and were practiced in an ad hoc manner. Trained this way, the art was referred to as "long quan." The eight trigrams of the bagua are further divided to create the sixty four trigrams of the I-Ching, the Chinese book of changes, otherwise known as the "bible" of Daoism. The "chi" in tai chi should not be confused with the "chi" which roughly translates as "life energy." While pronounced identically, these are two distinctly difference Chinese characters, meaning two entirely different things.
Where can someone buy a tai chi sword?
One could a buy a Tai Chi sword from The Japanese Sword Company. One could also ask at one's dojo or gym and obtain one that way. One could also try eBay.
Is tai chi different to tai chi chun?
Tai-chi (meaning "The Grand Ultimate Way of Life") refers to Taoist philosophy and to the healing system based on that philosophy. This includes acupressure massage, acupuncture, herbal medicine and chi-gung (health exercises based on the flow of internal energy or "chi"). Tai-chi-Chuan is the self defense system, now used as an exercise system, developed about 800 years ago by Chang, San-feng. He was the leading martial arts champion of his time but was also involved in healing within a system known as Taoist Alchemy. He wanted to use the principles of healing in his martial arts and also use martial arts to teach healing. Tai-chi-Chuan ("The Grand Ultimate Martial Art") was the result. Today this system consists of slow forms (series of movements), emphasizing the fluidity of movement, aerobic and acrobatic forms such as animal forms, various types of chi-gung (such as zookinesis, a modern term meaning animal exercises), Push Hands (a two person exercise teaching principles of interaction with another person) and sparring (full contact fighting). A school of Tai-chi-Chuan would teach the entire range of practices, including healing, exercise and self defense. A school of Tai-chi might only teach a form or some simple chi-gung exercises. It is important to learn the lineage of your teacher to make sure that he or she has had legitimate training. Contact the oldest living representative of that lineage and ask if they know of your particular teacher and his competence.
How do you develop chi?
Firstly by eating a balanced diet. Tai chi or Chi gung exercises will also help. Yoga will help. Some martial arts may also help particularly the various forms of kung fu. Meditation can help as well but you would need to learn how to meditate in a way which improves chi. Being around nature (ie a walk in the park rather than a walk along a street) will help. For women having sex will improve chi, for men it reduces it. Also you need to reduce stress.
Why was tai chi originally developed?
Tai Chi Chuan was invented to help an average sized man to stand a chance against much a much larger man in fight, using special techniques and an attitude of mind. If a very strong man falls prey to exhaustion, even a weaker man can bring him down. Basically regardless of your body type, every body type has limits. It is a way to transcend the body's limits, and to optimize its functions.
What is the role of martial arts in the taoists outlook on life?
The Taoists are given credit for creating Tai Chi Chuan which is an internal martial arts style. The Taoists use martial arts in a very similar way to the Buddhists of Shaolin Temple. That is that the Taoists use the martial arts as a form of moving meditation, a method for cultivating chi, a way to keep their bodies in good physical condition, and they generally practice Tai Chi Chuan in order to teach themselves how to live and move more in harmony with Tao.
What specific techniques do you learn in Kung Fu that you don't learn in karate?
There are many commonalities, as Karate was an offshoot of Kung Fu. The differences are vast! To name some I would say the usage of Wing Chun's forward spiral forearm known as the Bong Sau. It is not at all anything like Jodan Age Uke (Rising Arm Block). Another that pops out of my mind is the Tai Chi and Bagua Techniques..especially Tai Chi Fa Jing (explosive Force) methods such as Pressing Force or Gi Jing and Baguazhang's Whirlwind Palms (Zheng Chuan Zhang). the Shaolin Animal styles and the way taolu/kata are performed.
How has tai chi affected Chinese culture?
The same way other styles of Kung Fu have, namely in that many myths and misconceptions have arisen surrounding it. Far as nonfiction, in China like here, Tai Chi is stereotyped as "old folk's exercises." Indeed in most parks around the world, most of the people you will see doing Tai Chi tend to be elderly, people like me, among others, are extremely rare (people in their 20's who do Tai Chi). Tai Chi Chuan has become widespread in China, and although what is said to be the "Yang style" is practiced by millions across the world, only a minority of people practice the full Yang Long Form, and from that minority, an even smaller minority practice the applications and from that minority, even smaller stalle, practice it as an outright martial art. The main way it has affected Chinese culture, I would say, is the cliche in Chinese cities that "that man must have retired from his work; he's doing Tai Chi." In China, if a man is seen doing Tai Chi in a park, it is a surefire sign that he is retired. It has become cliche in China, that Tai Chi Chuan is the "retired man's martial art." Having nothing better to do, many Chinese retirees spend their day playing Go!, and doing Tai Chi. Another effect of course are the "Neijia" internal martial arts novels. A particular genre, are all the Wudang styles. The most famous is "Crouching Tiger; Hidden Dragon" the style practiced by Li Mu Bai (Chow Yeung Fat's character), is in fact the Tai Chi sword, which specific style, it looked like the Yang, however likely it was probably the PRC's sports commission "synthesized" style which is in fact an amalgam of many different sword techniques drawn from various styles of Tai Chi, even a few exotic ones unknown in the west. The reason the martial artists in "Crouching Tiger; Hidden Dragon" seem to be able to "fly" when they jump, is because one of the things incredibly strong chi will do for a person, according to legend, is "make them so light, they can walk on water." When the chi is circulated strongly, and it circulates with potency, the person can jump great heights, and even stand on bamboo stalks as shown in the movie without crushing the stalk beneath their heel. All the "flying" stuff in that movie, was the effect of their chi. However in China it is considered a myth, even among the likes of Shaolin monks. Even though the Shaolin temple acknowledges the existence of Chi, and many do indeed do demonstrations showing what resiliency it can give the skin by resisting cuts, punctures, and blunt damage, even men or women capable of such feats will generally warn, not to take such legends too seriously. The reason that is is because there have been many tragedies surrounding people who deluded themselves into thinking that their chi had given them supernatural ability.
How is exercise modified for aging?
Any exercise can be done in a slow, gentle way. For example, while Tai-chi is known to be very beneficial for the elderly, some can't stand up for very long to do the traditional Tai-chi forms. So the chi-gung exercises (which can be done in a seated position) are preferred. Resistance exercises can be done in a pool using the resistance of the water. The pool is used for other exercises to provide support for the body. New forms of exercise have been developed specifically for seniors. "Zookinesis age reversal exercises" provide seniors with a wide variety of exercise from a seated position (chair exercises). It is a combination of Tai-chi, chi-gung and Yoga. Pilates, using the apparatus, uses springs to assist the person and so can be adapted to the person's specific condition.
Best way to learn American English?
The best way to learn American English is to live in the states. When you are surrounded in American culture you will learn the language quicker.
