T’ai Chi Practiced at the
Phoenix Taoist Center

T’ai Chi, in essence, is Taoist philosophy in motion. The solo form is geared to develop a person’s qi and central equilibrium, but also has the wonderful benefit of relieving stress and tension, preventing arthritis, and increasing the blood circulation for overall improvement and maintenance of your health.

The two-person exercises are considered a means of self-defense, but in reality they are more about teaching you “defense against your self.” Meaning, we get hurt when we are attacked or by our own mishaps because of our inability to react without bodily tension and mental fright.

From the practices of the T’ai Chi solo form and the two-person exercises a person can derive all the benefits of T’ai Chi.

Two-Person T’ai Chi

The self-defense training of traditional
Yang Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan
are found in three distinct practices:

T’ui Shou (Sensing-Hands or Skills) Sensing-Hands consists of nine basic exercises: 1) Single-Hand 2) Pushing and Warding-Off 3) Pushing and Rolling-Back 4) Pulling-Back and Neutralizing 5) Withdraw-Pushing and Neutralizing 6) Rolling-Back and Pressing 7) Thrusting and Neutralizing 8) Single-Hand, Circular Thrusting 9) Four Skills Sensing of Warding-Off, Rolling-Back, Pressing, and Pushing

All nine exercises must be learned in both Fixed and Active Stepping manners; in both Enclosed and Direct Stances; in the Three Postures of High, Medium, and Low positions; and, with Tao motion (vertical movements going from high to low and vice versa). The primary goal for practicing Sensing-Hands is to acquire all the associated skills of Adhering, Sticking, Joining, and Following.

Ta-Lu Shou (Greater Pull-Back Hands or Skills) There are three training exercises for Greater Pull-Back Hands: 1) Yang Style Pulling-Back and Shouldering Exercises 2) Yang Style On-Line Pull, Split, Elbow, and Shoulder Exercise 3) Yang Style Circular Pull, Split, Elbow, and Shoulder Exercise

San Shou (Dispersing Hands or Skills) This exercise consists of 88-Postures wherein each partner learns all the martial applications of the T’ai Chi postures in connection with Neutralize, Seize, and Issue.

For more information about Two-Person T’ai Chi, see the following books:

T’ai Chi Sensing-Hands
A Complete Guide to T’ui-Shou Training from Original Yang Family Records

The Tai Chi Two-Person Dance
T’ai Chi with a Partner

T’ai Chi Qi & Jin
A Complete Guide for Developing Internal and Intrinsic Energy

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