The tai chi chronicles

• Source: Global Times
• [10:47 July 27 2010]
• Comments

Master Chen strikes a posture. Photos: Biwa Kwan

By Biwa Kwan

In an old studio tucked away in Changning district the sounds of rushing water, traditional Chinese string instruments, chimes and drumbeats punctuate the air. Four students follow their teacher, their right arms gracefully extended, fingers held together in the shape of a bird's beak. At the next beat their weight shifts forward to their outstretched left leg as the left arm sweeps for-ward, palm facing outward where they pause momentarily.

The posture, known by the English translation "single whip," is one of the many fluid movements of the ancient Chinese martial art known as tai chi. It is based on channeling 'qi' or energy through your body by controlled breathing. A series of postures performed one after the other is called a "form".

One student, 43-year-old business executive Yokota Koichi became involved in tai chi when he moved from Japan to live and work in Shanghai a few years ago.

"I thought it wouldn't be easy to sustain any strenuous activity so I selected tai chi because the softer image of this sport seemed more light-hearted and suitable for me," he told the Global Times.

The tradition of tai chi

Yokota's teacher, master Jiahe Chen has been a tai chi teacher for two decades, although he began his martial arts training at the age of seven. Chen continued practicing tai chi when his fellow classmates at Beijing Normal University's physical department of education floated into more lucrative careers in the business world.

"I don't think of tai chi as an exercise; I think of it as part of my life. I don't need to teach it, I don't rely on it to make money," said Chen, who also runs an interior design company with his wife. The company generates more money in a month than he does teaching for two or three years, he explains.

The beauty of tai chi (literally "supreme ultimate fist") movements is derived from its 2,000-year-old history as an "internal" Chinese martial art form, which redirects energy or 'qi' used by attackers against them. Although this is a more indirect martial arts approach compared to the aggressive and explosive movements of Shaolin Kung Fu, it can still be used with deadly intent.

The changing meaning of tai chi

There are five kinds of tai chi: chen, yang, wu/hao, wu and sun. Chen was the original tai chi form with other forms deriving from this style and modified according to the times. As a result the meaning of tai chi has shifted from being practiced purely for martial arts fighting, to being used more for health reasons.

A controlled US study found people who took 45-minute tai chi class three days a week over 15 weeks experienced a 50 percent boost in their immunity cells against the shingles virus. Meanwhile, there have been documented cases of tai chi masters still teaching well into their nineties.

At a more advanced level of tai chi training, meditation is taught to students to harness their 'qi' or energy.

"It is about more than simply mimicking the movements, but also understanding the use of energy in each movement, even if it is in just one simple posture," said Chen.

There is a perception of tai chi being a slow sport due to the popularity of the yang style of tai chi among Shanghai's senior citizens who practice it in the city's parks.

"Foreigners and Chinese people - especially younger people - think tai chi is too slow," said Zhang Yi, owner of the Hongwu Chinese Kung-fu Centre.

In addition to yang style tai chi, Zhang Yi teaches Chinese martial art forms such as Shaolin Kung Fu.