Tai Chi

Tai Chi for Health

Ancient Fighting Arts brings the best in traditional yang-style Tai Chi Chuan to northwestern New Jersey. Our teachers are certified by the Wu Kung association and occasional opportunites arise to train with the associations founder, Grandmaster Hsu Fun Yuen. A practioner of 65 years, Hsu trained under Cheng Man-Ching - the man credited with bringing Tai Chi Chuan to the west. Below are descriptions of the Tai Chi offered at our Morris county New Jersey location.

The impact that Tai Chi has on health can be thought of as a type of nourishment. Practice of the Tai Chi form will strengthen the muscles, organs and fibers down to the cellular level. This is done by focusing on the development and control of the body's natural energy wellspring, or "chi". Chinese acupuncture is well known for its ability to control pain by tapping the nervous systems' energy network. Tai Chi applies a similar principle, except it does not work from the outside in, it works from the inside out. Tai Chi techniques are designed to build chi, and control how it is focused through motion and controlled breathing.

This is accomplished, in part, by understanding the composition of the body and how its parts are interconnected and interdependent. Various exercises concentrate on stimulating the lungs, kidneys, heart, spine and so on. In time it is possible to feel the chi, and learn how to consciously deliver it to a part of the body that is in need of this physically nourishing force. The result is improved circulation, lower blood pressure and greater overall strength.

Tai Chi is practiced slowly and evenly, with great control and with circular patterns. To an outside observer this might suggest Tai Chi is simple and physically unchallenging. Nothing could be further from the truth. Imagine any physical activity, like push ups or weight lifting, done at a very slow pace. The slower they are done, the greater the demands on the associated muscles. Tai Chi is extremely low impact, removing the element of joint and ligament stress that one finds in more conventional exercise venues. The same characteristics that remove the possibility of high-impact related injury also enhance toning potential.

Students are often surprised at first by the difficulty of sustaining Tai Chi motions. But after a few weeks the muscles become accustomed to the new kind of exercise they are receiving. Concentrated breathing techniques begin to become comfortable and as proper positioning of weight is understood balance begins to improve. And with the serene application of Tai Chi temple exercises and the Tai Chi form, evidence of modern stressful living in the shoulders and face begin to dissipate.