Tai Chi Research Paper

There have been many forms of martial arts throughout East Asia. There are forms like Karate, Aikido, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, etc., that we are all familiar of. One form of martial arts that I have wanted to look into is Tai Chi that originated in China. I will be explaining the background history of Tai Chi how it was founded, and share the philosophical and historical aspects of physical activity. The reason why I chose Tai Chi as my topic was because martial arts is a sport I was always more interested in than the other athletic sports we are always accustomed to in America like baseball, football, soccer, or any other sport. Tai Chi Chuan is the full name which can also be written as Tajiquan, and in Chinese it also means “Supreme

According the website “taichiforhealthinstitute.org” the martial art Tai Chi is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism which was also founded by a Taoist monk named Zhang San Feng. Tai Chi was not only just a branch of traditional Chinese martial arts but it was an art to exercise their spiritual selves. As I have mentioned early Tai Chi was based on the philosophy of Taoism and the philosophy is about keeping balance within you. Tai Chi is not only used for fighting but it “stresses the natural balance in all things and the need for living in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature” (Lam). To describe what every human being has “balance”, they use the symbol Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are two halves that make a whole and describe our personalities as a whole. The concept of Yin is described as “soft, pliant, yielding, and feminine” (Lam) while Yang is seen as “hard, rigid, and masculine” (Lam). Yin and Yang lives in all of us spiritually and physically, and we cannot live with one without the other. This can be related to as good and bad there cannot be more or less; there must be a balance. Main importance of Tai Chi is balance the Yin and the Yang in order to achieve peace and tranquility

As I have said earlier Tai Chi is a type of martial arts, now it has evolved to be a free hand exercise to promote around China and around the world. It does not mean Tai Chi in martial arts is declining; it is just more popular as an exercise and meditation for people. Tai Chi is also utilized in healing people who are sick. In the website called “Britannica Academic” in an article called “Traditional Chinese Medicine” it is stated Tai Chi have “integral features of traditional Chinese healing that have been incorporated into health and fitness programs to complement modern medicine. Not is Tai Chi a form a martial arts, it has evolved to be an exercise activity, and treating health for people. Tai Chi being seen as an activity that not only can it be seen as a form of fighting but an activity to make people active makes it very popular that “many people worldwide regularly perform these exercises to promote health and may indeed derive health benefits from the exercise and relaxation” (Britannica). Tai Chi is so effective that there was a US trial that reported Tai Chi to be effective against Fibromyalgia. In the article “Tai Chi may be as effective for Fibromyalgia as standard exercise” it states “Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition where pain is felt all over the body”. In the article