denny Schools Periods & Styles book

Tai Chi Chuan ( tàijíquán) literally "Supreme Ultimate Fist"), often shortened to T'ai chi or Tai chi in the West, is a type of internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. It is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons: its hard and soft martial art technique, demonstration competitions, and longevity. As a consequence, a multitude of training forms exist, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims. Some of t'ai chi ch'uan's training forms are especially known for being practiced at what most people categorize as slow movement. Today, t'ai chi ch'uan has spread worldwide. Most modern styles of t'ai chi ch'uan trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu, and Sun. One of the more obscure forms of martial arts training, tai chi ruler, invented by the Taoest sage Chen Tuan, uses a specially designed baton, about 1 foot in length, that practitioners hold between their hands to help focus their movements. A typical tai chi ruler form or set contains eight drills or exercises that train students in moving the baton in different ways. To learn tai chi ruler, seek out an instructor who is experienced in this form. The tai chi ruler is a wooden dowel, strategically shaped with two curved ends so that practitioners, who place their palms on either end of the ruler, can hold it comfortably, An alternative name of this instrument was the ...