by Admin | Oct 29, 2012 | history and philosophy, musings
When discussing the Taoist roots of Tai Chi, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching is usually brought up. It’s seen as the defining document of Taoism and the source of the philosophy underlying the principles of Tai Chi. The imagery of flowing water, and softness overcoming the...
by Admin | Oct 23, 2012 | history and philosophy, musings, Tai Chi
A quick note on studying Taijiquan, and how to get what you want out of it: Taijiquan, no matter what the style, is a complex and demanding object of study. I tend to think of it a three components nestled inside one another, each component requiring it’s own focus....
by Admin | Sep 26, 2012 | history and philosophy, musings, Tai Chi
I’ve been asked this question often: Why study Tai Chi? What’s the point of dedicating countless hours to a practice that brings no obvious benefits beyond what you would get from a yoga class or a mild exercise routine. It’s a fair question. And I think most of us...
by Admin | Sep 8, 2012 | history and philosophy, Tai Chi
The Cultural Revolution created a massive break in Chinese culture. From then on there was a Before and After when talking about Chinese culture. The last 50 years have been an attempt to rediscover traditional Chinese culture. Thankfully China has been a literate...
by Admin | Sep 6, 2012 | history and philosophy, Tai Chi
There are many stories on the origins of Tai Chi, most of which try to link the modern forms to some ancient source. But there are a few, more recent, events that are perhaps more relevant. All modern Tai Chi has been impacted by two major events: The fall of the Qing...
