Tai Chi Manchester - The Perfect Place to Learn Tai Chi

By Vincent To


Tai Chi has gained popularity over the years, for its immense health benefits, apart from being an traditional form of Chinese self defense. Tai Chi is used for a wide variety of styles and applications even today. This Chinese form of ancient art has evolved around five forms that are taught in traditional schools in various countries. The five schools are Chen, Yang, Wu'Hai, Wu and Sun. Tai Chi Manchester is one of the most reputed schools where this form of art is taught.

There are traditionally two phases that you go through when you learn Tai Chi. In the first phase, you learn how to practice solo movement, which is referred to as qun, or ch'an. Here you are taught how to move slowly, so that you focus on carrying out a range of natural movements while breathing from the abdomen and simultaneously maintaining an erect spine. During the second phase, you learn to push your hands (tui shou) and work in tandem with a partner. Your posture improves, the blood circulation is encouraged and your joints become more flexible as you continue to practice the solo movements. You are taught to work with weapons, or just your hands, when practicing the movements. Join Tai Chi Manchester to perfect the many techniques.

Students also learn that any force from the opponents should be handled gently according to the Tai Chi philosophy. This is because the defender and the offender can suffer injury when they use brute force and resistance. In this ancient art form, focus is directed to warding the opponent's force softly and to redirect this force equally gently, so that it does not cause any damage as it gets exhausted in the act. The form of movement in Tai Chi is mainly open hand strikes and pushes, unlike Martial arts, where kicks and punches are delivered. The students of Tai Chi Manchester learn to perfect the techniques for effective defense initially. They graduate to learning how to attack their opponent by offensive skills only after they master the art.

Since this art has proved to have several medical benefits, it has gained popularity in various health centers, such as clinics, hospitals, community centers as well as old age homes. This art has helped senior citizens in the past twenty years to counteract their problems. They find it easy to master the movements as they are slow and can be performed without stress.

Many people also pursue Tai Chi as a sport. There are a number of tournaments where participants are judged for their wushu skills which are basically an aesthetic form of the art. Movie stars like Jet Li and Donnie Yen are well known for their involvement in international wushu tournaments.

The 42-Form of Tai Chi was first included in the year 1990 as a competitive sport during the 11th Asian Games.

Tai Chi was initially welcomed in the West for its true ancient form of traditional medical benefits. However, over the years, studies conducted scientifically on the subject indicate that Tai Chi has innumerable advantages for health. By practicing this art sincerely, it prevents the risks of elderly people falling down, as they learn to improve their balance with this art. Practice Tai Chi, by registering at Tai Chi Manchester, so that one is prepared for the perils connected with old age.




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