The goal of this web site is to provide an abundant source of information for those who are curious about Taiji Quan, those who are currently practicing and would like more information, those interested in obtaining helpful literature on the art, or those who are looking for elements missing from their current practice. For the interested, Cheng Man Ching style meet-ups are available. It is my hope that you find the contents of this web site to be a helpful supplement to your training.

Taiji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) is a complex martial art with immense health benefits. Due to it’s gentle movements it can be practiced by the young and old, and it’s intensity adjusted to fit it’s particular practitioner. There are 6 well known styles: Chen, Yang, Wu (吳家 Wujia founded by Wu Ch'uan-Yu,) Wu (武氏 Hao style of the Wu Yu-hsiang fame,) Sun, and Zhaobao, well as countless styles that branched off from the originals, one of the more recent ones being Wudang.

As a rule, Yang-derived styles of Taiji Quan are gentle, flowing, circular, and balanced. It contains numerous elements of Taoist theory, such as the interplay of the Yin and Yang elements, fast/slow, hard/soft, bent/straight. It also contains strong elements of Qi Gong as can be seen by it’s meditative applications, and it’s overwhelmingly positive effect on mental and physical health. In it’s whole body movements, Taiji Quan serves to clear away any blockages among the body’s 12 energy channels, and regulate the flow of Qi smoothly and evenly. For these reasons, the Qi Gong aspect of Tai Chi Quan is an ideal art for both the young and the elderly, the sick wishing to improve their health, and the healthy wishing to maintain their well-being.

In it’s meditative and medicinal elements, Taiji Quan has been proven to relieve such ailments as arthritis, back pains, stress, insomnia, asthma, joint pains, depression, and countless others. In it’s slow contemplative movement, Taiji Quan is a moving meditation, providing the practitioner with a blissful state or relaxation.