Grandmaster Hans Martial Arts of Central Arkansas

The solo form should take the students through a complete, natural range of motion over their center of gravity.   Physicians, Physical Therapists, Chiropractors, Insurance Companies and the AARP have realized the benefits of recommending Tai Chi to their patients and members.

The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi may be effective as a therapy for fibromyalgia, according to a study published on Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine.

A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Center found that after 12 weeks of tai chi, patients with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, did significantly better in measurements of pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education. Tai chi patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later.

Accurate, repeated practice of the solo routine is useful in retraining posture, encouraging circulation throughout the students' bodies, maintaining flexibility through their joints and further familiarizing students with the martial application sequences implied by the forms.

The major traditional styles of tai chi have forms which differ somewhat cosmetically, but there are also many obvious similarities which point to their common origin.

Centuries old, T'ai Chi ("Tie Jee") is a profound exercise that explores awareness of the mind, the life force and the body and their interactions.

Deeply rooted in Chinese medicine, meditation and martial arts, this intriguing and enjoyable practice consists of a series of precise, gentle, physical movements combined with energy awareness and mental concentration.

The movements are always done in the same order as the early ones lay the foundation for later development. T'ai Chi is a sophisticated form of the ancient practice of Ch'i Kung ("chee gung", energy/breath work) in which, gradually, students gain awareness of and learn to concentrate on their physical, energetic and mental center which is called tan t'ien ("don tee in," energy cultivation field.)

Extremely well tested and proven, T'ai Chi has long been prescribed by doctors to alleviate a wide range of conditions including stress, arthritis, hypertension, balance difficulties, lower back pain, etc., as well as for anyone needing the general revitalization that results from improved respiration and circulation.

Plus, it is fun to do!

Tai chi's martial aspect relies on sensitivity to the opponent's movements and center of gravity dictating appropriate responses.

Effectively affecting or "capturing" the opponent's center of gravity immediately upon contact is trained as the primary goal of the martial tai chi student. 

The sensitivity needed to capture the center is acquired over thousands of hours of first yin (slow, repetitive, meditative, low impact) and then later adding yang ("realistic," active, fast, high impact) martial training; forms, pushing hands and sparring.

Tai chi trains in three basic ranges, close, medium and long, and then everything in between. Pushes and open hand strikes are more common than punches, and kicks are usually to the legs and lower torso, never higher than the hip depending on style.

The fingers, fists, palms, sides of the hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders, back, hips, knees and feet are commonly used to strike, with strikes to the eyes, throat, heart, groin and other acupressure points trained by advanced students.

 T'ai Chi practice is often called "playing" T'ai Chi to emphasize this lightheartedness.

The first steps involve learning the opening movements while increasing physical awareness and training yourself to be relaxed (i.e., not too tight and not too limp).

Walk like a cat. Relaxation leads, with guidance, to energy awareness which is the first element of the very important meditative aspect. Reconnecting to your center is the first step towards rediscovering the harmony of body, mind and spirit.

Harmony with others is a major part of happiness. Once a certain level of movement, balance and energy awareness has been attained, those who are interested in interpersonal relationships and/or self-defense begin with T'ui-Shou (literally "push hands" but better described as "sensing centers") which emphasizes timing and sensitivity to another's energy in order to neutralize their force and lead them off balance.

These skills are also directly applicable in less overtly physical situations such as discussions, negotiations and arguments. Your size, age and gender do not matter so much as your timing, awareness and understanding of your center.  

The philosophy of the style is that if one uses hardness to resist violent force, then both sides are certain to be injured at least to some degree.

Such injury, according to tai chi theory, is a natural consequence of meeting brute force with brute force.

Instead, students are taught not to directly fight or resist an incoming force, but to meet it in softness and follow its motion while remaining in physical contact until the incoming force of attack exhausts itself or can be safely redirected, meeting yang with yin.

Done correctly, this yin/yang or yang/yin balance in combat, or in a broader philosophical sense, is a primary goal of Tai Chi training

Tai Chi Classes are Held each Sunday at the Conway Dojang Beginning at 2:00 PM.

Tai Chi is also Available for Corporations and Groups at Your Site.

For More Information e-mail Tom or call 501-733-5003