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Tai Chi: Mastering It as a Martial Art

Many people look at tai chi as a type of meditation or an exercise centered on slower movements. Though it is being taught for those applications, it is really a standard form of martial art. The initial name for this martial art style is Tai Chi Chuan which is translated to English as &quot;supreme ultimate fist.&quot; The name suggests that Tai Chi was originally intended as a martial art form and not an exercise for seniors.

One reason that individuals don't think of tai chi as a martial art style is because it's very slow moving. Whereas, you will see quick and strong movements in karate and kung fu. Tai chi, however, is done in what appears to be slow motion. It doesn't mean, though, that the same movements can't also be carried out fast. In fact, it takes more control to move at a low speed, which makes the movement more exact. You can actually practice tai chi at various speeds but to cultivate balance and coordination, you need to do it slowly. Checkout this link here http://www.youtube.com/swimmingpoolsstlouis.

One traditional tai chi practice is called push hands. In push hands, two individuals face one another and push against each other with their hands and make an attempt to get the other person off balance. They actually have push hand tournaments which are like the sparring competitions in karate. In tai chi push hands, your objective is to beat your opponent with as little force as possible. You are meant to get the other individual off balance using his own weight and strength. It takes a lot of practice but once perfected, you can be viewed as a powerful martial artist. The best way to practice push hands is to sign up for a tai chi school or hire a qualified trainer. Simply doing the tai chi form will not be enough to teach you the martial arts uses.

You will need to seek a school or instructor that has a focus on tai chi as a martial art and not an exercise. Practicing tai chi form as purely as an exercise is great for your health and will help reduce stress but you will likely not really develop your martial art skills. You are going to develop balance and flexibility by learning the form but you'll not know how to use it in a real situation if you had to. If you don't live near a qualified tai chi instructor with a martial arts background, you can find some books, DVDs and web sites that can point you in the right direction. Checkout this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORVKiwCmoMw.

Tai chi is considered an internal martial art rather than external like karate. In addition to push hands, practitioners of tai chi also make use of swords and other traditional Chinese weapons. Regardless if you would like to learn tai chi for exercise or as a martial art style, it will help you to become flexible and balanced plus it  will  boost  your health.