Tai Chi - Health & Mobility

Taiji Quan (also known as Tai Chi) is the most widely practiced martial art in the world. Famous for its ability to enhance health and relaxation, it was invented by Taoist philosophers who noticed that in nature, softness often overcomes hardness. Accordingly, they invented an art based on yielding and neutralizing an opponent's force. The slow, circular movements of Tai Ji strengthen all parts of the body and improve flexibility, coordination and balance. Taiji Quan utilises eight specific powers or Jin. The eight Jins in Taijii, “Ba fa” or “Ba jin” are the eight basic ways you can use the body. 

The names for the eight jins are: 掤 peng (expanding), 捋 lu (roll back,) 挤 ji (press), 按 an (push), 採 cai (pluck), 

挒 lie (split), 肘 zhou (elbow) & 靠 kao (shoulder).Every movement in a Taiji form belong to one of these jins. In Chinese calligraphy, there are eight basic strokes that make up all of the characters. In Taiji the eight jins make up all of the movements in the form. There are five steps in Taiji - advance, retreat, left, right and centre. When combined with the eight jins you have the 13 principles of Taiji. This training workshop will be focusing on Tai Chi for health and mobility. We will be focusing on the foundations of bu fa (stance and stepping skill), breath, coordination and balance in the pursuit of graceful movement. Suitable for all levels.