Taijiquan means “The Supreme Ultimate Fist or Way”. Tradition says that the monk Chang San Feng during the Ming Dynasty, observed how the crane attacked the snake in the court yard. After persistently attacking the snake, the crane eventually had to give up because the snake’s soft yielding movements made it impossible to overcome.

Inspired by this Chang San Feng developed the self defence art form of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan). So the origin of this martial art goes back to temple life and being in resonance with nature.

Today Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) is practiced as a gentle form of exercise strengthening the body, mind and inner organs. It has a rich and deep tradition in the martial arts for balancing the leadership on warfare and big decisions of state. In today’s society it can become a crucial tool for more reflective leadership and a more harmonious and healthy life.

Form

The teaching at Norsk Taiji Senter stems from Yang style short form as developed by Professor Cheng Man Ching. The form consists of 37 different positions. The unique meditation aspect of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) is its practice of finding stillness in the movement. This cultivates the inner development of the mind.

The form’s postures represent the martial application in relation to another person, coordinating the internal flow of the Qi (Chi) in relation to external forces.

Pushing Hands (San Shou)

Pushing Hands is about communication through working with a partner. The first principle of the Pushing Hands practice is to listen for your opponent’s force of intention. The next step is to yield to this force, neutralize and balance it, and finally to return to the opponent.

Pushing Hands is a powerful tool to understand communication and the forces of change through and with other people.

Da Lu

Dalu is an advanced form of Pushing Hands focusing on applying the four corners/four directions in a movement pattern.

Sword form

The Taiji (Tai Chi) sword serves as a channel for the spirit of the root of our school of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan).

Many masters have said that a frequently handled weapon takes on the soul of its master. This is why one always asks permission to borrow someone else’s sword with the deepest respect.