Mo's Society: T'ai Chi Chuan

T'ai Chi Chuan

ancient Yin Yang symbol T'ai Chi Chuan is the well known Chinese martial art which in its basic form resembles a slow and graceful dance. It is based on the powerful and subtle application of the principles of Yin and Yang to every action.

This basic principle of Yin and Yang is that underlying all things, pairs of opposites complement each other.

Day turns into night.
Hard becomes soft.
Tension leads to relaxation.
Noise alternates with quiet.
Male complements female.
West balances East.

All traditional Eastern martial arts, including T'ai Chi, stand on three "legs." These are: physical fitness, mental awareness, and self-defence.

Family names became associated with the different styles of T'ai Chi that were being passed along, mouth to ear, from generation to generation. The three best known styles of T'ai Chi are Wu, Yang, and Chen. Our school concentrates on the Wu style.

The phrase T'ai Chi means supreme ultimate, and Chuan means hand or fist. Thus T'ai Chi Chuan means 'supreme ultimate hand'. T'ai Chi Chuan forms the basis for weapons forms such as T'ai Chi Sword, Sabre, and Stick.

"The form is fixed, but the feeling is not fixed." -- Sifu Mo