IMPORTANCE OF MARTIAL ARTS INTENT TO INTERNAL ENERGY AND QI FLOW

IMPORTANCE OF MARTIAL ARTS INTENT TO INTERNAL ENERGY AND QI FLOW VIDEO 

太极拳 ( Taijiquan / Tàijíquán ) is composed of these characters: 太 (tai), 极 (ji), 拳 (quan) and translates to English as "Tai Chi". The "Chi" in the Han pinyin is pronounced "gee" and is not the same as (气 the "vital energy" QI FLOW that Master Hwa talks about here). The difference in pronunciation between "ji" and "Qi" is the position of the tongue on the palate. One might say that in the West "Tai Chi" is pronounced incorrectly and is not "chee" like Cheese but is more like "gee".

When one learns "Tai Chi", that learning must be good for the purposes of health and martial art. So there is much to be learned about practicing Tai Chi with Martial Intent or 意 "Yi"

"Importance of Playing Tai Chi Form With Martial Arts Intent to Internal Energy & Qi Flow"

I find it fascinating that Classical Tai Chi (Taijiquan) was once so highly regarded as not only the most capable but also the most polished martial art of its time. The royal families of China were undoubtedly protected by individuals who were extremely proficient in the art. When the sun set on the need for personal martial skills the door opened so that the general populace could be taught.

One does not hear the use of the word "Quan" along with Tai Chi in most classes today, however, I always heard it used in my study of Wu's Style at Wu's Academy in Toronto, Canada. A statement might be: "It is time to do our chuan" (Wade Giles) which would precede the group playing the form as a whole. I wonder if the term is still used because I see a store full of so-called "competitive" and "shortened" versions being touted.

However, with the teaching of the world as it were, the degradation and demise of the art thus began. What we have nowadays as a supposed "legacy" is in the majority of cases merely a shallow and insipid caricature. I am not impressed whatsoever by even the most "athletic" performances as competition routines, to say nothing of so-called "new age" Tai Chi.