What is Tai-chi?

photo credit: Morning Tai Chi by Martin

I’ve always wanted to learn more about Tai-chi and someday plan on practicing. But what a surprise to get this wonderful guest post from Twitter friend Vincent who is a trainer helping people realize their dreams and full potential.

From Vincent…

After practising Prof. Cheng ManChing’s Tai-chi martial art for some time, these are some of my personal interpretations …

What is Tai-chi?
The word Tai-chi, in direct chinese-to-english translation, means the Ultimate (Singularity / Wholeness ).
Tai-chi is the state before the Duality. Duality is commonly known as Yin and Yang.
So, Tai-chi, mathematically, may be interpreted as 1 and the state which Yin and Yang reside, may be interpreted as 2.

Yin and Yang are abstract concepts. Yin and Yang are relative.
In harmony, Yin may complement to Yang and vice versa.
In disharmony, Yin may act against Yang and vice versa.

What is Tai-chi martial art ?
In general, it is a soft-skilled martial art that has its principles firmly based on the Tai-chi concepts. Tai-chi martial art’s sutras and poems are written by many Great Masters that excel in this field.

Health aspects
Prof. Cheng’s version emphasized relaxation and complete release of tension; so that the physical body can start to heal itself. In addition, Prof. Cheng’s version emphasized resting one’s weight on a single foot; essentially the practitioner is using his/her weight to do foot-reflexiology on himself/herself.

Self-Defense aspects
This can be achieved by “listening” (feeling) attentively to external pressure and rotating accordingly along a fine middle vertical path, any force or flow encountered is neutralized to the ground and refluxed back to the opponent at the same time. This should be done in a natural way without any muscle strain, ideally.

Spiritual realisation aspects
Tai-chi martial art provides insights on how the Body works, how the Senses work, how the Mind works, how the Energies work, how the Spirit-within works and how the Spirtual-worlds work. As a moving meditation, Tai-chi martial art provides abundance opportunities for the practitioners to achieve Self-Realisation and God-Realisation, the degree of Realisation depends on how ready and how open-minded the individual is.

Cultural aspects
With the help of Tai-chi martial art, one will be able to appreciate the China History and Culture. In general, the foundation of China Culture is built upon this concept: Dynamic Balance of Yin and Yang via the Power of Change to adapt, evolve and achieve stability.

Financial Market Risk Management aspects
Most movements of Tai-chi martial art are done in a curvy (non-linear) manner to achieve physical stability and mental clarity. These are identical to a Financial Risk Managers carrying relevant risk control measures (hedging) to ensure financial stability with the help of delta-hedging, gamma-hedging and others.

Sales aspects
By practising “swimming-in-the-air” and pushing-hand exercises, the practitioner will improve on his/her “listening” (feeling) skills. Such “listening” skills are heavily emphasised and sought after in any activity involving Sales. The concept of “Shadow Boxing” reminds one to be a “mirror image” of the Prospects and Clients for higher chance of closing a deal.

There are many more other aspects …
Simply do a YouTube search on “Cheng Man Ching” or surf www.taichi.com.tw

Cheers,
Vincent Chia
Singapore

Thank you, Vincent!