Tai-Chi

            Taichi is an ancient martial art based on Taoist philosophy, probably developed in China during the Song Dynasty.  Legend has it that Master Chang San Feng saw the light while watching a crane worrying a snake.  He was intrigued by the reptile’s slow, watchful and evasive actions, which countered the crane’s abrupt and aggressive attacks.  The snake’s delicate and circular movements seemed to yield and yet warded off the aggression effectively.  Chang saw the self-mastery in this and incorporated the movements of many different animals to be developed later by other Taoist physicians.

            The aim of Taichi as a martial art is to stop violence conclusively without recourse to more violence.  Most of the time, the violence is redirected against itself or rendered ineffectual.  Hence Taichi Chuan exponents usually just overpower their opponents by turning their own violence against themselves, educating them rather than hurting them.  Violence begets violence but Taichi Chuan makes violence not an option by rendering it pointless.  In Taichi Chuan where violence acts against itself, the destructive cycle is broken and a more rational, less confrontational solution becomes the most effective approach.

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