22 January, 2014

Tai Chi Brief History


Tai Chi is a centuries-old Chinese Martial Art that descends from Qigong, an ancient Chinese discipline that has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves a series of slow, meditative body movements that were originally designed for self-defense and to promote inner peace and calm. 

According to the Tai Chi historian Marvin Smalheiser, some Tai Chi masters are famous for being able to throw an attacker to the floor, with the attacker and spectators unable to clearly see how it was done. Their movements use internal energy and these movements are too subtle for most people to observe, reflected in the notion that "four ounces can deflect a thousand pounds." At this high level of skill, a defender can use a small amount of energy to neutralize the far greater external force of an attacker.

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