Physical exercise, along with proper eating, is crucial in maintaining health. Martial arts provide not only whole body exercise, but also traditional knowledge, performance art, and competitive aspects. Chinese martial arts, often known in the West as "kung fu," are divided into many different schools with their own characteristics and strategies. The so-called "internal arts" (内家拳) of xingyiquan, baguazhang, and taijiquan, are famous for their meditative and health-preserving benefits, as well as their high-level skills in combat. These three arts are notable for their combining of martial arts with ancient traditions of meditation and callisthenics into something a lot more interesting!
|
Xingyiquan is the hardest of the three classical internal arts, but combines the sitting meditative practices of Daoist and Buddhist traditions with combative movements, into special standing practices called "three bodies posture" (三體式, santishi).
The basics of the system are the five element fists (五行拳, wuxingquan) - five strikes of five vectors that are matched with the five elements of traditional Chinese philosophy, also linked with five organ systems of the body.
These are:
|
|
Baguazhang is the most mobile of the three internal arts, and combines the ancient Daoist practice of walking in circles with martial techniques. The fundamentals of the system are the eight old palms (老八掌, laobazhang), eight short sets of techniques practiced while walking on a circle. Baguazhang curricula are very extensive, and often include a large number of sets and techniques, each teaching different skills to the baguazhang adept.
|
|
|
Taijiquan, the softest of the three internal arts, and certainly the most popular and famous, it combines the old moving meditation (qigong) methods with combative postures; taijiquan is also the most famous of the internal arts.
Its main practice is the slow routine, which is often counted as 108 postures total; however, in many lineages of taijiquan there is actually fast routine practice as well.
Because the slow routine is so long, many people have also choreographed shorter routines of only 16, 24, 30, 32, etc. postures total.
Another very important practice is the two-person push hands (推手, tuishou), where each partner tries to "read" his partner with only touch, and trains the ability to neutralize attacks; it is also a very fun way to practice and compete with friends!
Push hands practice begins with one hand, and then two hands, and then finished with stepping practices.
Like the other three internal arts, taijiquan also involves weapon practice; weapons include the sword, saber, and spear.
There are many styles of taijiquan, including the athletic and vigorous Chen style; the expansive and elegant Yang style; the soft and meditative Wu style; the scholarly and narrow Wu/Hao style; and the combined Sun style.
|
