Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient Chinese martial art in which the training combines slow, flowing movements, mindful breathing, and focused awareness. These days Tai Chi is mostly practiced to promote health, relaxation, and overall well-being.

Tai Chi Chuan is usually translated as “Supreme Ultimate Boxing”:

Tai (太) – supreme, great, or grand

Chi (极 / 極) – ultimate, highest point, or polarity

Chuan (拳) – fist, boxing, or martial art

Consistent practice of Tai Chi improves both physical and mental health. Its graceful, continuous movements teach practitioners to move with balance and coordination, while calming and clearing the mind.

The Yin-Yang symbol is also called the Tai Chi Symbol because it's a visual representation of many of Tai Chi's complimentary states - such as tension and relaxation, movement and stillness, emptiness and fullness.

The symbol also implies keeping balanced while enduring continuous change, and the circular, flowing lines resemble the movement patterns of Tai Chi.

Qigong (pronounced Chee-Gong) is not a martial art, but a system of gentle exercises, breathwork, and meditation that has records stretching back to nearly 200 years BC.

Qi (氣 / 气) – life force, or the body's vital energy

Gong (功) – skill or art developed through consistent effort

Qigong principles are the foundation of many traditional Chinese health practices, including martial arts. There are many forms of Qigong all developed to cultivate health, vitality, and mental calm, and are often used in Tai Chi class as supplementary exercises.

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