taijiquan
Slow Chinese exercise
Taijiquan is a Chinese martial art characterized by slow, flowing movements and deep stances, practiced for health, meditation, and self-defense.
The name means "supreme ultimate fist." Often spelled tai chi or tai chi chuan in English, it's commonly seen in parks where practitioners move through choreographed sequences called forms: My grandmother does taijiquan every morning.
Chinese health cultivation art
- DaoismPhilosophy of natural harmony
- yin-yangChinese duality symbol
- qiVital life energy
- meridiansPole-to-pole geographic lines
Chen · Yang · Tao Te Ching · Laozi · five elements · I Ching · shen · traditional Chinese medicine
Awareness of the present
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- focusConcentrated attention point
- inner peaceMental and emotional tranquility
centering · presence · awareness · calmness · intention · moving meditation · body-mind · relaxation response
Unbroken forward movement
- fluidityState of flowing freely
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
posture · coordination · alignment · stepping · transitions · slow-motion · circularity · spiraling
qigong
Chinese health cultivation art
meridians · Chen · Yang · Tao Te Ching · Laozi · five elements · I Ching · shen · traditional Chinese medicine
mindfulness
Awareness of the present
inner peace · centering · presence · awareness · calmness · intention · moving meditation · body-mind · relaxation response · stress reduction
flow
Unbroken forward movement
- fluidityState of flowing freely
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
sequence · posture · coordination · alignment · stepping · transitions · slow-motion · circularity · spiraling · softness
wushu
Chinese martial arts collectively
- kungfuChinese martial art
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
- combatArmed hostile engagement
sparring · forms · grappling · striking · blocking · kicking · stance · an · applications · yielding
form
Shape or document
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- solo practiceUnaccompanied skill work
- swordHilted fighting blade
saber · fan · spear · short form · long form · warm-up · cool-down · class · master · lineage
taijiquanMuay Thai
Thailand's striking martial art
boxing · kickboxing · Krav Maga · street fighting · cage fighting
taijiquanHIIT
Alternating intense and rest periods
high-intensity interval training · plyometrics · CrossFit · sprinting · speed drills