Tai Chi
(infinite ultimate)

Separate left leg from right

Fair lady works shuttles

Tai chi was a closely guarded secret for hundreds of years by a few families and was only passed down through a family line.

These families only taught tai chi to outsiders if they married a family member. Because of this tai chi was only
taught to a privilege few for centuries.

Slowly over hundreds of years tai chi became available to the Chinese public. After the cultural revolution the Chinese government discarded many of the old ways but tai chi and chi gong because of their awesome health benefits, was an exception to this new way of thinking of discarding the old and completely modernize. During the cultural revolution the soldiers of Mao's army practiced martial arts of all kinds to keep fit and focused, they applied acupressure to keep their chi in good order and practiced tai chi to ensure that their mind-body relationship remained as one.

Tai chi has come along way since the revolution. The communist government decreed in the 1950's that all forms of traditional Chinese medicine including tai chi (and chi gong) should be known as cultural treasure's of the peoples republic of China that are promoted throughout china for all to use. The government even published a series of hand books about tai chi and acupressure to help the Chinese general public gain skills to promote health and longevity in their own homes. If you visit china, people stand outside their houses go to the parks and start to practice chi gong and tai chi anywhere without feeling embarrassed or ridiculed.

Some of the tai chi sets that were put together by a group of tai chi masters which are part of the Chinese government peoples council for sports hand books for all to use are known as the 8 & 16 sets, Beijing 24 tai chi forms, 48 combined tai chi set and the Yang style long forms.

The 24 forms are made up of 24 independent tai chi/chi gong movements, these movements or forms are connected together by smooth transitions. Although the tai chi set is known as 24 forms if you include the transitions it works out to nearer 70 and above collective movements.

When students first practice the tai chi movements make them feel awkward and unfit, this is acceptable for the beginner. After a period of time the skill, balance, health benefits and relaxation they gain through the gentle art becomes apparent and tai chi becomes a way to access relaxation, physical health through exercise and a way to become peaceful in their life.

If a student decides to stop attending tai chi classes it is usually because tai chi when watched looks very easy. But tai chi when learnt at first is quite difficult. This conflict of belief is embarrassing to some students because they believed tai chi was easy. All the student has to do to learn tai chi is leave their ego at the door join in the class and relax.

fourseas instructors teach the 8 - 16 - 24 - 48 Yang style tai chi forms - Chen man ch'ing 37
The 8 Brocades - 18 Shibashi - 10 Yijinjing chi gong sets
32 and 50 Yang style sword forms
breathing and meditation.

The tai chi and chi gong sets shown above are some of the most practiced sets that are used.

Millions of people every day practice these sets to promote their health and improve their longevity .

One of the most practiced tai chi sets that was independently created by a Chinese master known as Chen-man ch'ing, he converted the Yang style 108 long forms in a basic 37 forms and is known as the chen-man ch'ing yang style 37 forms.

Why do tai chi practitioners practice or aim to practice tai chi and chi gong outside in a beautiful setting?

Tai chi masters of old knew through meditation and being at one with nature that air outside was more natural and good for the mind, body and spirit.

Modern science has now identified that the air we breathe in contains vitamins, minerals and other cool stuff like negative irons which are abundant in fresh clean air that is still and peaceful in a natural setting (like near a waterfall or in a forest on a warm summers/cool gentle winter's day etc.). Negative irons in the air are suppose to make us feel good and healthy.

Meeting rooms inside with air conditioning and central heating destroy negative irons and make the air sterile but are a necessary environment for most western people to socialize/learn/practice tai chi and chi gong in the western world because of the structure and way we view exercise, how and when it should be practiced.

Until the attitudes about training changes most people will only enjoy tai chi in sports/village halls.

To receive the full health benefits of tai chi or chi gong one should practice in the open air on a peaceful day with no wind

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