Tai Chi has many forms. Empty hand forms; weapon forms; moving forms and warm up forms. The Yang Family Tai Chi Style is taught at our academy and the Chen style is taught as an advanced level once the Yang is completed and understood.
Forms are used to train patience, endurance, strength, and energy. There are several ways to practice your forms for different emphasis and outcomes -
- Slow : allows focus on weight distribution / breathing, allows the student to fill their body with Qi and to direct it to the arms and legs.
- Fast : allows focus on maintaining the accuracy of the movements at speed / focuses on balance.
- Sense of enemy / sun : allows the student to raise the Qi and Spirit.
- Eyes closed : emphasises balance.
- Hitting power : allows the student to learn the correct sequence of body mechanics and relaxation to emit maximum power.
BUT FIRST – WARM UPS.
Why warm up?
The joints are complex structures of bone, cartilage, bursa, synovial fluid, ligaments, and tendons. The Chinese understand that the joints are also close to the surface, so they are less protected. The joints are prone to injury and degeneration. Warming them up mobilises and lubricates them, infuses them with Qi and blood, and prepares them for work. In the Chen village they do 40 repetitions of every warm up, every time they prepare for the practice of Tai Chi Chuan. This enables them to maintain good joint flexibility and mobility into their old age. We would benefit from doing our joint warm ups daily, even if we did nothing else.
“If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
What mental attitude should we use when warming up??The Chinese say “Use your mind to lead your Qi.” Everyday our body directs Qi to various areas to take care of automatic functions and also to deal with stresses.
But with the added focus of your mind to lead the Qi and blood, more of each can be led to specific areas for the purpose of preventing injuries and maintaining health.
