taiji
Slow Chinese exercise
Taiji is the Chinese martial art and meditative practice known in English as tai chi, characterized by slow, flowing movements performed in sequence.
Rooted in Taoist philosophy, taiji embodies the principle of balancing opposing forces—yin and yang.
Practitioners move through forms like the 24-form taiji for health, meditation, or self-defense training.
The word literally means "supreme ultimate."
Philosophy of the Way
- yinyangDual force emblem
- qiVital life energy
- LaoziTaoism's legendary founder
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
balance · duality · opposites · complementary · transformation · unity · effortlessness · emptiness
Chinese health cultivation art
- formsVarieties or documents
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- postureBody position, alignment
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
warmup · cooldown · routine · sequence · practice · training · sifu · master
Focused attention practice
- relaxationState of being unwound
- stress-reliefReduction of mental tension
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
joints · circulation · seniors · rehabilitation · arthritis · wellness · therapy · healing
Unbroken forward movement
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- fluidityState of flowing freely
- circulationMovement through a system
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
rhythm · glide · sweep · transition · softness · roundness · spiral · rooting
Protecting oneself from harm
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- applicationFormal request document
- sparringPractice combat training
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
leverage · redirection · centerline · throw · neutralize · counter · internal · power
Zhou dynasty state
- YangMasculine cosmic principle
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- contemporaryOf the present age
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
sword · fan · saber · spear · shortform · longform · Beijing · family
Taoism
Philosophy of the Way
harmony · balance · duality · opposites · complementary · transformation · unity · effortlessness · emptiness · stillness
qigong
Chinese health cultivation art
breathing · warmup · cooldown · routine · sequence · practice · training · sifu · master · student
meditation
Focused attention practice
- relaxationState of being unwound
- stress-reliefReduction of mental tension
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
flexibility · joints · circulation · seniors · rehabilitation · arthritis · wellness · therapy · healing · centering
flow
Unbroken forward movement
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- fluidityState of flowing freely
- circulationMovement through a system
continuity · rhythm · glide · sweep · transition · softness · roundness · spiral · rooting · sinking
self-defense
Protecting oneself from harm
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- applicationFormal request document
- sparringPractice combat training
sensitivity · leverage · redirection · centerline · throw · neutralize · counter · internal · power · technique
Chen
Zhou dynasty state
- YangMasculine cosmic principle
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- contemporaryOf the present age
competition · sword · fan · saber · spear · shortform · longform · Beijing · family · lineage
taijiMuay Thai
Thailand's striking martial art
kickboxing · MMA · Krav Maga · cage fighting · street fighting
taijiplyometrics
Explosive power exercise regimen
sprinting · HIIT · thrashing · speed drills