^§ denotes Glossary entry

The study of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is unique in the sense that it marks the historical meeting of many centuries of Taoist study known as Chi Kung ^§ ("Excellence of Energy"), which was primarily dedicated to physical health and spiritual growth, with the need of the time (approximately 1,000 A.D.) for monks to defend themselves against bandits and warlords. The result was, and is, an unusual blend of healing, martial, and meditative art which is referred to as the internal practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.

In each of these expressions, the emphasis on the internal aspect of the study is primary. This indicates that the true focus of the study is not primarily that of the physical level, but through the physical, places the true emphasis of the practice more on the mental and energetic levels. The mental component is really most important since the number one condition that inhibits an individual from achieving excellence in anything, including one's own health, is a state that Traditional Chinese Medicine ^§ refers to as being "weak-minded". This weak-minded state implies one who is easily confused, scattered, or distracted. So the first quality to be developed in T'ai Chi is that of strengthening one's concentration, or what is referred to in the martial arts as being centered.

The ability to center the mind is really that of keeping the mind interested and involved in the experience of the present moment. This is understood to be the foundation of T'ai Chi because from this state of attention comes the possibility to change, correct, and heal. To facilitate this process T'ai Chi uses a physical location in the lower abdomen/pelvis which is called the Tan t'ien ^§ in Chinese. This represents the true body center in the sense that it's the natural movement and feeling center. With this specific body awareness we can begin the process of distributing the attention more evenly and equally throughout the body. The ability to spread attention throughout the body is understood in Chinese medicine to be one of the most important elements of good health because it's indicative of the ideal relationship between the mind and the body. Unlike the prevailing Western view that one must work hard for the experience we call being healthy, in T'ai Chi health is understood to be natural (and therefore effortless) to that individual who has achieved balance and harmony between body and mind.

T'ai Chi's Core Principles

It is important to understand that at its core, T'ai Chi Ch'uan is not a study of form or style. At best, form simply allows a practitioner to explore the heart of the practice which has always been understood as a set of principles. These principles are qualities which have been observed to be effective in their positive influence regarding life in all its expressions of movement and change. T'ai Chi is therefore the study of how to better embody these life affirming qualities, regardless of what style one studies, or what form one practices.

These principles have been handed down both orally and through the traditional writings of T'ai Chi which are collectively referred to as the Classics. ^§ They include:

• an emphasis on relaxation of tension, both physical and mental, leading to the development of internal strength
• a process of integration in which the mind and body become unified
• and an unshakable understanding that the key element in respect to any life success is the maintenance of the qualities of balance and harmony.