There many different forms of Tai Chi weapons when one practises Tai Chi Chen.  It is recommended to use Tai Chi swords only after having had one year’s of training in Tai Chi because that is the minimum amount of time that it will take for the body to feel comfortable using Tai Chi swords, and even then you will need to continuously keep checking that you stick with the principles of Tai Chi without fail. There are certain things you need to bear in mind and you also need to be cautious before actually using Tai Chi swords.

Know The Sword Well When Practising Tai Chi

To begin with, you need to know your Tai Chi sword well as well as understand the various attacking parts of your sword, and once this has been accomplished, you must play with your sword each and every day so that it becomes an extension of your body. Finally, you will need to think of it as a tool, and not something that is meant to be a decorative piece that you may want to hang on your wall, and when moving with it, it should be done with purpose as well as grace. Also, when you are practicing with Tai Chi swords, it is important to stay focused and to also remain calm in your movements since the calmness within should reflect your inner feelings when you use the swords.

One thing for sure, and that is that the Tai Chi swords are the supreme Kung Fu weapons for close range battle and they are generally quite small as well as light in weight, though they are very deadly when used to combat an opponent. And, when you use Tai Chi swords in a sword fight, there is much violence elicited and the mental state is usually quite barbaric which is quite contrary to the purpose of Tai Chi Chen, which is to cultivate the inner self.

It is normal for the Tai Chi swords to have a length of about three feet overall and the blades are double edged and may be twenty-eight to thirty inches in length, and about one to one and a half inches, and in some cases two inches broad. Its handle would be about nine inches long and the tip is very sharp as too the upper third of the blade and to attach these Tai Chi swords there is usually a hole towards the hilt’s end into which tassel may pass and thus helps secure the swords.

According to tradition, Tai Chi swords were made in accordance to the user’s size and then were balanced for the user’s comfort. However, in today’s world, these swords are very light in weight and are also non-functional and even weight and balance are known to vary, and they are mostly used for competing and also for practice and are thus mass produced.
 

Tags: tai chi chen, tai chi weapons

Those who teach tai chi moves are very quick to proclaim the sheer volume of benefits of tai chi to the consumer public. These benefits of tai chi movements include increased health, wellness, peace of mind, etc. Needless to say, all of these perceived health benefits can greatly enhance a person’s ability to increase his or her quality of life. Of course, such quality of life can only be realized if the system of tai chi moves truly provides what it claims in can provide. As such, there needs to be a critical examination in regards to the actual positive elements of the system and whether or not the person who studies the art will actually achieve the promised benefits. So, let’s get on with the examination.

Examining the Benefits of Tai Chi Moves vs. the Falsehood of Mysticism

What needs to be immediately understood in regards to the benefits of tai chi movements is the fact that these benefits are based on basic cardio vascular conditioning and isometrics. In other words, the positive benefits of tai chi come from both basic physiology and biology. The origins of the benefits due not derive from quasi mysticism such as iron fist training, chi power, meridians or any of these dubious concepts. However, many people continue to prescribe a belief in the mystic aspects of the art as opposed to looking at the science aspect of it.

Many of the mystic notions of tai chi moves originate from the early history of kung fu which is to say that these mystic beliefs can trace their origin many hundreds of years prior to the inception of tai chi and carried over into tai chi when tai chi became incorporated into the collective whole of martial arts. In other words, many mystic beliefs derive from a time period prior to a good understanding of physiology and science. While tai chi exercise is based on physiology and science, as the system became part of the world of “kung fu” a number of kung fu myths slowly entered the world of tai chi over the course of many decades. Hence the science of the system becomes lost and people start looking at esoteric concepts as chi power as the ‘source’ of primary tai chi’s benefits.

Of course, to truly gain the benefits of tai chi it is critical to understand the science behind the benefits of this exercise. To believe in weird mysticism will undermine success and should be avoided. Sadly, many do not avoid it. Rather, they embrace the notion. Do not fall into this trap. Stick with logic and disappointment will be avoided.

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Tags: exercise, tai chi, tai chi chuan, health