Seven Stars Martial Arts Academy GB

These five schools are the major forms of TAIJIQUAN (naturally there are subdivisions under each school). Although each of the five has characteristic features of its own, they share the following essentials:

First, the body is naturally extended and relaxed, giving priority to lissomness. While exercising, performers must keep their trunk straight, move them with ease and lightness, and hold them steady throughout. Some classic treatises have described their motions thus: ' While making a strike, it is as quietly as a cat walks,' and ' while putting forth strength, the exertion is so mild that it looks like reeling off raw silk from a cocoon! The movements, like clouds floating in the sky, are spry and light, but well balanced and steady. Motion is even and fluid, the muscle neither stiff nor rigid. Breathing should be deep and even, and well coordinated with opening and closing movements. While practising TAIJIQUAN, the requirement of lissomness and naturalness does not mean that the performance can be loose and lifeless. Rather, it is vital to combine vigour and gentleness, and properly put forth strength-neither inertness nor rigidity is allowed.

Secondly, the mind is tranquil but alert, with consciousness

commanding the body. In practising TAIJIQUAN, it is essential that movements be guided by consciousness and that there be stillness in movement - a unity of stillness and motion. So, TAIJIQUAN requires a combination of training one's physique, one’s will and one’s breathing. As a high degree of concentration is emphasised quality movements are ensured and physiological functions are regulated. That is why some people like TAIJIQUAN to ' physical exercises of consciousness' or therapeutic barehanded exercises.'.

Thirdly, body movements are well coordinated throughout the entire exercise period. TAIJIQUAN requires that the hands, eyes, body and limbs perform as a whole, with the legs as a base and the waist as the axis. Though the movements are gentle and slow, each part of the body is in constant motion.

Performers should never act like a puppet: they must never focus their attention only on the hands while neglecting the movements of the waist and legs. In fact, while practising TAIJIQUAN, the main weight-bearing parts are the waist and legs. The chief characteristic feature of TAIJIQUAN is that movement is initiated from a half squatting position through the exercise.

After the founding of New China, TAIJIQUAN has undergone unprecedented development. Physical culture workers and medical personnel in China have collected and studied various schools of TAIJIQUAN and special hanging charts, books and musical compositions have been published.

In 1956, a simplified set of TAIJIQUAN based on the most popular

sequences of the YANG School was issued. This series consists of 24 forms which progress logically from the easy to the difficult, and take five minutes to complete. This ' SIMPLIFIED TAIJIQUAN' has proved to be a great stimulus to the popularisation of the sport.

Not long ago, the specialists compiled a comprehensive '48 Forms' and a '66 Forms' to suit different individuals. More demanding and varied in content, these new sets of TAIJIQUAN include several traditional items of dual training, such as hand pushing and counter-pushing, sword fencing and combat with other weapons.

All these have brought about a resurgent interest in TAIJIQUAN both in China and abroad.