Tai Chi

Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient form of martial art practiced for hundreds of years in China as a way to maintain health, promote fitness, and rejuvenate the body and spirit. Some people refer to it as a form of moving meditation. Regular practice strengthens muscles, promotes digestion and controls weight. Health care professionals have recognized it as an outstanding low-impact form of exercise suitable for people of all ages.

Tai Chi Origins:

According to legend, the art was founded in the 17th Century by Chen Wangting, from Henan Province. He drew heavily from an military instruction manual on pugilism and incorporated the techniques into the movements of Tai Chi Chuan. He passed these techniques down from one generation to the next. His style was documented by later generations and became known as the Chen style in honor of its founder. Other styles of Tai Chi trace their origins to the Chen family.

Tai Chi which literally means Grand Ultimate, is based on the Chinese theory of Yin and Yang. According to Yin and Yang theory, all forces of nature are complimentary: light and dark, positive and negative, soft and firm, activity and inactivity. Too much of one leads to imbalance and illness.

Students of Tai Chi learn a series of physical movements which stimulate offensive and defensive techniques against an imaginary opponent. They coordinate the use of hands, arms, shoulders, feet and legs in a series of patterns while trying to maintain a physical and mental balance between the forces of Yin and Yang. For example, instead of using force to meet force, you yield when your opponent attacks and advance when your opponent retreats. Moreover, while the body is active, the mind is quiet.

The Jow Ga Shaolin Institute provides authentic instruction in both Yang and Chen Style Tai Chi. The Yang Style program includes the Beijing Short Form, the original Yang style long form, Tai Chi meditation, self-defense applications, two-person push hands routines, and Tai Chi sword routines. The Chen Style program is lead by Stephan Berwick, one of only a handful of instructors certified by Master Ren Guang Yi to teach for The International Chen Style Taijiquan Association.