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T’ai chi (Taiji) originally descended from Chinese unarmed combat techniques as a secret way of optimising health by combining mind and body through a slow series of meditative movements based on pulls and pushes, kicks, blocks, armlocks and twists. These are designed to promote the flow of energy, or chi, along the body’s meridian lines, the same channels used by acupuncturists. Even today t’ai chi can still be used as a combat style, though its intricately choreographed movements are used mostly to promote wellbeing. Conventional students learn long series of moves called forms, which can take 15 minutes to complete, and years to learn. |
