Tai chi is one of the most practiced oriental martial arts in the world. It is not only a sport, but it is also considered a true relaxation technique that, being dynamic, gains thousands of followers every year.
Tai chi deepens its roots in yoga and Taoism, mixing exercise with philosophy, mysticism and meditation and with the aim of ensuring that the user acquires full harmony and calm at the level of the body, soul and mind.
This practice is not homogeneous, having different modalities with different movements, rhythms and suitability depending on the age and level of expertise of the practitioner. Next we will see the main types of tai chi
Of all the sports of Asian origin, tai chi is undoubtedly one of the best known. Considered between a martial art and a relaxation technique, tai chi chuan or tai ji quan represents something more than a sports practice in China For the Chinese it is a way to achieve balance between the mind, body and soul in an energetic but non-aggressive way, whose literal name means “supreme definitive fist.” Those who practice it claim that it has positive effects on their health, reducing stress and improving flexibility.
Its origins are related to Taoism and yoga and judging by the way it is executed, it can be seen as a kind of dynamic meditation, in movement. This is what has surely made it gain so many followers in recent decades, being more entertaining than static meditation but not as exhausting as a high-intensity sport. Despite its popularity, it was not until December 17, 2020 that UNESCO categorized it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Tai chi is a heterogeneous practice having different modalities that are based on different principles and with varied therapeutic purposes. It should be said that although it can help the health of those who practice it, This sport is not a medical or psychological treatment, which does not replace any therapy However, the degree of well-being that this martial art provides can help those who practice it to be calmer.
Main types of tai chi
The practice of tai chi has five main modalities which vary in their repertoire of movements, postures and exercises which will be recommended depending on the physical condition of the person who is going to practice it.
1. Tai Chi Chen
Chen tai chi is named after the person who created it. Chén Wángtíng (1580–1660) of Chenjiagou assimilated different martial arts techniques combining them and giving rise to their own version of the sport which they called “pao chui” (“cannon fist”), with roots in the Shaolin martial art that received the same name.
As a result, we have a form of tai chi that consists of five routines with a total of 108 postures that make it highly complex although, if done correctly, the maximum point of relaxation can be reached in just one movement.
2. Tai chi Yang
It is based on the thoughts of Yáng Lùchán (1799-1872), whose lineage has given rise to three prestigious schools of tai chi, and who learned his art from Chen Changxing (1771–1853).
In this modality, tai chi promotes long, calm movements, without changing the rhythm of breathing or the momentum exerted and therefore it is recommended for very novice beginners and older people. The way it is practiced has hardly changed over the centuries.
Wu tai chi is one of the most practiced. It has very similar foundations to those of Yang, but with modifications that have simplified its postures and with softer movements It is named after Wu Quanyou (1834–1902), who was a student of Yáng Lùchán.
During the 20th century, small modifications were made, turning it into a martial art consisting of 37 movements, ideal for those practitioners who did not have the time or patience to learn the long sequences of the more traditional forms. Thanks to its simplicity, the Wu tai chi style is considered the second most practiced modality of this martial art.
4. Tai chi Hao
Hao tai chi is considered a variation of the Wu style by Hao Yue-ru a martial arts master who included slow, level jumps in the movements, but retaining fast movements of the original style.
There is also the idea that this technique was originally created by Wu Yuxiang (1812-1880), who had two brothers, Wu Dengqing and Wu Ruqing, both government officials.
The three brothers were interested in martial arts after having learned from their father the hung boxing techniques of the Shaolin monks. The three studied with Yáng Lùchán, whose children were cared for by Wu Yuxiang who would introduce a small structure sequence to the technique.
5. Tai chi Sun
Sun Lutang (1860-1933) combined the foundations of the known martial arts of his time, including Xingyiquan and Baguazhang, with the main movements of tai chi As in the rest of the modalities of this martial art, Sun contributed his knowledge about the cultivation of Qi (mystical energy), working on it to, according to him and his beliefs, achieve balance between body and soul.
This type of tai chi is one of the most recent and differs from the others by the fact that the body takes a higher position, in addition to the fact that the balance point does not fall on a single foot but rather both are placed at an angle. of 45º with the aim of achieving movements with greater flexibility and speed. Between movement and movement an opening and closing transition is made.
Other modalities
The five previous modalities are considered the most practiced and widespread tai chi techniques in the world, although they are not the only ones. Among the other variations of tai chi we have the Xin Yi, Wu Dang, Zhaobao Taijiquan, Zheng Zong and Hulei styles, which, like the others, share the objective of harmonizing body, mind and soul and bringing peace and calm to those who do it. practice.
