Tai Chi at Malee's School

Tai Chi and Chi Kung

Centuries ago, the Chinese developed the gentle arts of tai chi and chi kung to promote health and well-being. Now, millions around the world are discovering what the Chinese have known all along – that tai chi is (as described by Time Magazine) “the perfect exercise.”

Master Malee Khow

What Are Tai Chi & Chi Kung?

What exercise burns almost as many calories as impact aerobics, improves balance, relieves and eliminates back and neck pain, and on top of all that helps those with stress, fatigue, even mild depression? Nothing other than Tai Chi and its close kin, Chi Kung.

Chi Kung (or qigong) literally means “breathing or energy exercise.” In Chi Kung, you coordinate your breathing with gentle movements of the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Chi Kung activates and helps circulate the body’s chi (qi) or energy.

The roots of Tai Chi lie in the development of martial arts in China. The Chinese were never concerned solely with combat. Rather, they looked to improve overall fitness, so martial arts training was deeply connected with traditional medical and exercise practices, including Chi Kung.

Tai Chi Class

In Tai Chi, this emphasis on health has become so central that the vast majority of its practitioners look to tai chi not to learn how to fight, but to improve their lives. Tai Chi can be classified as a special form of Chi Kung.

Tai Chi and Chi Kung gives benefits to its practitioners that compare favorably with all other forms of exercise. It is gentle and flowing, meaning that it is not hard on the body. At the same time, however, it has been shown to improve balance, strength, and stamina as well or better than other forms of exercise.

Tai Chi Fan Class at the Studio

The Chinese have known this for a long time, but it is just now that the rest of the world, through modern scientific research, has been confirming it. Long-term studies at universities throughout the country have demonstrated all of these health benefits.

In addition, Tai Chi and Chi Kung have recently been shown to help people’s ability to focus, decrease fatigue, and reduce stress levels. For both students and those in the work force, this means a better outlook and increased productivity.

For us, it isn’t necessary to go the studies in science journals. Countless students have told us how coming to classes gives them energy, helps them relax, improves their strength and balance, and eliminates aches and pains that used to force them to take painkillers daily… for good.

Our Tai Chi & Chi Kung Classes

At Malee’s School of Tai Chi & Kung Fu, you will begin by learning a simple set of eight chi kung exercises. These will teach you how to breathe properly and relax. Then we will teach you 24 Form Tai Chi, the most widely practiced form in the world. We will teach you step by step, helping you to get the most out of your lesson and practice time.

With practice, you will feel comfortable with this form in a short time, and combined with regular class attendance will soon be able to do the form on your own.

Tai Chi Students at Tournament

Later, to add depth, variation, and interest to your practice, you can learn other styles and forms of tai chi, including tai chi sword and tai chi fan. We also teach different forms of chi kung, particularly medicinal chi kung forms aimed at improving specific aspects of one’s health. For those interested in competing, we teach the 42 Form barehand and sword international competition forms. Instructional videos are also available at all stages of learning.

Tai Chi and Self-Defense

Although Tai Chi is now practiced mostly for health reasons, it was originally developed as a form of combat. As self-defense, Tai Chi puts emphasis on softness and non-resistance, of using one’s opponent’s energy. Circular motions and whole-body coordination are used to attack and counter. Students hone their sensitivity and skills through a practice called push hands (tui shou).

At higher levels, one’s cultivation of chi was believed to produce an even subtler and more powerful form of Tai Chi that few modern masters have been able to attain. During intermediate and advanced classes and private lessons, you may learn how to use tai chi as self-defense.

About 24 Form Tai Chi

24 Form Tai Chi derives from Yang style Tai Chi, traditionally the style considered most appropriate for health. However, the original form is 108 movements by some counts, with some movements repeated several times. Therefore, in 1956 Grandmaster Li Tianji compiled an abbreviated version of the form to make the style more accessible to the modern person who does not have the time to practice the longer form, which may take half an hour to go through just once and is very difficult to remember. Grandmaster Li removed the repetitions to create 24 Form, which contains 80% of the separate movements of the traditional style.

Since its introduction, 24 Form Tai Chi has become the most widely practiced form in the world. It is this form that was performed by ten thousand people at the same time in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1999.

You are welcome to come visit us anytime and try or view a class. Please see our Class Schedule page for class times. Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have.

Learn more about:
Zhaobao He Style Tai Chi Chuan

Malee's School of Tai Chi and Kung Fu
991 Main Street, Manchester, Connecticut
Phone: (860) 646-6818
Email: info@malees-tai-chi-kung-fu.com

Page last updated April 04, 2006