The philosophy of Tai-Chi 太極拳 and Aikido 合気道 I’ve been practicing Tai-Chi-Chuan 太極拳 for several years, which energizes me by the practical and philosophical wisdom how to control my body, mind and soul. Its philosophical concept could be summarized that the true form of existence is the ceaseless changes caused by opposing powers termed Yin 陰 and Yang 陽. It was originated in the ancient scripture I-Ching 易経 (known as the Classic of Changes or Book of Changes in English) written 3000 years ago. This concept is widely shared by people in East Asia, for example a flag of Korea or Vietnam directly depicting this concept. As a martial art, Tai-Chi analyses a body anatomically, Firstly static structure of bones, muscles and joints, Secondary dynamic power of movements, force vector, timing, breaths and souls, Thirdly interactive effects of forces. It’s important to train how to control them to generate effective forces by adapting Yin and Yang relationship. Without utilizing Yin and Yang relationship, simply a powerful big must overwhelm a weaker small by meeting power with power. However Tai-Chi enable a weaker small control and win a powerful big by meeting flexibility with stiffness. In actual practice, focusing attention on a point 5cm below ones navel, called Tan-den 丹田, try to generate continuous arcing and twisting movements as coordinated motions of joints led by inner muscles. This motion, looks externally soft but internally rigid, can enable to transform the other one’s force to own force which would be more agile, flexible and stronger. Tai-Chi practice looks like a religious dance quest for symphony of one’s body, mind and soul with forces in the universe. Actual fight of a Tai-Chi master is rarely seen and not so exciting like a movie, but lethal. Tai-Chi philosophy and theory have been re-discovered or altered into new style martial arts. For example, Japanese Aikido 合気道 established after WWII has very similar philosophy and methodology. I appreciate these great traditional Chinese culture which is endless well of wisdom. https://youtube/watch?v=rs4gTZjSqJc
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:32:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015