Tai Chi (吳氏洪家拳)
Wu Tai Chi Chuan is the Wu family style of Tai Chi Chuan. Tai Chi is interchangeable with the term Taiji. It literally translates to mean “Great Ridgepole”. Tai Chi is a concept in Chinese philosophy of the “Supreme Ultimate”. The “Supreme Ultimate” is the state undifferentiated (or unspecialized) absolute and infinite potentiality. In Chinese philosophy, the Supreme ultimate creates yin and yang. Movement creates yang and when movement can no longer continue, the lack of movement creates tranquility. Conversely, lack of movement (or tranquility) creates yin and when tranquility runs its course, movement returns. Thus, inside this philosophy movement and tranquility create one another through their own cessation. The Supreme Ultimate or Tai Chi then is the state before either movement or tranquility not the “Highest Best” as one might think first when hearing the phrase “Supreme Ultimate”

Tai Chi Chuan means “Supreme Ultimate Fist” and is the distillation of the above philosophy into a martial art. It attempts to use the ability to either move or not move and cause an end to the moving or not moving, producing the other in quick effective utilization of techniques. Central to Tai Chi’s philosophy is the notion of being dynamic. Because of this, it can be both hard and soft, internal or external, artistic or defensive when the practitioner becomes skilled enough and willing to take the time to develop both sides. Beginners are typically first introduced to the soft, internal, artistic side of it, however.

The movements of Tai Chi Chuan are slow but martial in their roots. It focuses on being dynamic (moving or not moving as the situation calls for) and having the speed and agility to redirect opponent’s energy against themselves. The Emphasis is on relaxation, breathing, and concentration. Students of Tai Chi achieve calmness, greater concentration, agility and patience.

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