What is Tai Chi (and qigong, for that matter)… and how is it spelled and pronounced?
Over many, many years of practice and study, I’ve heard it described in many ways. T’ai Chi, taiji, chi kung, qi gong, qi gong, etc., etc. Translated means “harmony of opposites”,Supreme Ultimate, ultimate reality, perfect balance, and perfection (I’m sure I’ve missed a few… no emails please). Tai Chi is a martial art, a self defense system, long-fist, shadow boxing, meditation in motion, a slow folk dance, a dance of creation and destruction, health fitness routine and more. I’ve read about Tai chi as a means for teaching conflict resolution and anger management, and for controlling ADD/ADHD, as a mood management system, stress reduction, immune system tuner, and balance training system. I’ve heard from a very prominent contemporary Grandmaster that Tai Chi is “anything done well”, and I’ve heard of Tai Chi as a way of life. Currently, tai chi (a VERY SPECIFIC tai chi) is the answer to arthritis. So once again what is tai chi?