Tai Ji Quan literally translates in English to "grand ultimate fist" or "grand ultimate boxing." It is first and foremost a sophisticated form of self-defense and exercise.
Health and fitness is the area with which Tai Ji is most commonly associated in today's media. The slow, graceful movements practiced in Tai Ji offer a variety of health benefits from decrease in stress to increase in blood flow, muscle tone, and stimulation of hormone production. This physical aspect coupled with the mental/meditative aspects, provides a very holistic approach to well-being.
The goal of Tai Ji is to incorporate both the health and self-defense aspect to increase one's awareness of them both physically and mentally and to increase the life energy (chi in Chinese) to a level that can ward off illness and disease.
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