Learn about tai chi
The basic terminology is more than necessary when trying to learn the essence of Tai Chi. Among the basic terms to know for Tai Chi we could mention ‘chi’ as life energy or force, ‘tan tien’ as the energetic center in the pelvis, ‘yin meditation’, ‘yang meditation‘, ‘abdominal breathing’ and so many more. The practice of Tai Chi depends on the understanding of each of these concepts. Some major principles of Chinese philosophy thus get expressed in a very concise and direct way.
There are glossaries of terms to know for Tai Chi in most books dealing with this martial art. Indexes at the back of the book or footnotes, thus explain the Chinese terms and specific concepts used in Tai Chi. The terms to remember are not that numerous. Trainers have to explain the lexical structures and words to new students. A complex concept thus gets expressed in a very condensed phrase, word or structure. The terms to know for Tai Chi will no longer be necessary once you complete the first training stages of Tai Chi.
There is little need for words when you know how to perform the exercises and you have got used to breathing and meditation. The terms to know for Tai Chi have relevance only for beginners, and they work as integrated concepts in the practice and the understanding of the more advanced practitioners. Little by little, every new trainee gets used to everything that seems unfamiliar in this martial art. Yet, familiarity with the terminology is not the same thing with full practice mastery. It’s just a way of saying that you are approaching the stage when concepts will no longer require definition.
Make sure you clarify all the terms to know for Tai Chi before the practical part of the class begins. There will never be a stop during the exercise performance just to clarify one term or another. And unless you understand the guidelines, you won’t be able to perform the flowing moves. All in all, you should learn all the terms to know for Tai Chi prior to exercising, or else practice will have little rewards for you. This may sound more difficult than it really is. You’ll see that Tai Chi terminology is not that hard.
