Tai-chi or Taiji is a type of Chinese martial art that focuses on the balance between the soft and hard, or yin and yang. It was originally practiced for both self-defense and health benefits (Si, 2019), but now people also practice it for other reasons like competition and longevity. Tai-chi has a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of being flexible and pliable in order to overcome something that is hard and strong. This philosophy is rooted in both Taoist and Confucian Chinese philosophy, and claims “the soft and the pliable will defeat the hard and strong” (Zhang, 2001) as provided by Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching. To practice Tai-chi, people usually do four things: taolu (routines with hand and weapons), neigong (breathing, movement, and meditation exercises), tuishou (response drills), and sanshou (self-defense techniques). There are also five major styles of Tai-chi, named after the Chinese families they originated from. Tai-chi usually involves slow movements, but some styles also have faster forms. Tai-chi has many physical and mental health benefits and has become popular all around the world. Many studies have been done on Tai-chi, mostly focusing on its health benefits, meditation, and martial arts (Si, 2019).
Si, G. (2019). In D. Hackfort, R. J. Schinke, & B. Strauss (Eds.), Dictionary of sport psychology: Sport, exercise, and performing arts. Academic Press.
Zhang, Z. F. (2001). On “the soft and weak can overcome the hard and strong” in the book of Lao Tzu. Journal of Huaqiao University, 2, 4449. (Translated from Chinese Language.).
