ai Ji Quan (or
T'ai Chi Ch'üan) is an old Chinese
martial art of centuries that is inspired to the
principle of the "
Great Union" of the two cosmic
forces
Yin and
Yang from which all things are
originated. The movements and their applications in
the fighting reflect this conception of the Universe:
the practitioner uses to his own advantage the
weakness of the enemy without oppose force to force,
but with smooth and relaxed techniques.
Tai Ji Quan training represents also a healthy
exercise, that strenghtens bones, tendons and muscles
and improves blood circulation, metabolism and the
neurovegetative system, as proved by several
scientific studies both in Asia and the West. Traditional
Chinese Medicine attributes to
Tai Ji Quan the
property to increase and to use at will the vital energy,
called "
Qi", equivalent to the Japanese
"
Ki".
There are many schools of TaiJi, in which the
movements are performed in different way, but they are
all similar in the basic features.
Koo style is spread especially in Hong Kong: it was
created by
Koo Yu Cheung, famous for his skillness in
"Iron Palm" (
Tit Sa Jeung) and for the Northern
Shaolin Kung Fu (
Bak Siu Lam), that he incorporated
into the TaiJi Quan with wide movements of the arms
and big, low stances. The extension of the shoulder
and the "knife hand" (
Sau Do) are the trademark
of this style. The techniques are soft but containing big power, with
graceful but very useful maneuvers for attack and defense.
Koo Yu Cheung transmitted his knowledge to the loved
disciple
Lung Chi Cheung, then the style passed on to
the son of him,
Lung Kai Ming. The lineage continues
with Master
Olive Hui.