A Description of Tai Chi
Zenobics Tai Chi (pronounced Zen o bics) (or Zen Tai Chi, as it is also called) (and which I will shorten, still further, to Tai Chi), is a smooth, low-impact, flowing set of motions designed to promote a person’s health, flexibility, and well-being.
Each motion (form) is related to the entire set of motions that make up Tai Chi. That is, each motion follows physically from where the previous motion left off.
The 108 motions that make up Tai Chi are done slowly and without any pain. But many parts of the body are used (and that helps to keep those parts limber).
Tai Chi is not judo, karate, aikido, kung fu, or any of the martial arts that involve force. It has some of the postures of martial arts’ forms but none of the impact.
Zenobics Tai Chi is performed in the Yang Style of Tai Chi.
Tai Chi is designed for anyone of any age. If the person can walk, he or she can do Tai Chi.
Benefits
Tai Chi is flowing motion that helps to let one remove the stress from the day. It is social time with friends. It is gentle toning for the body. Tai Chi is also learning how physical motions can improve one’s health and outlook on life.
Each form is taught one step at a time. No one is rushed with the learning. During class, the benefits of the forms are explained for health insights.
Socializing after each class lesson and at events in the city during the year provide opportunities for enjoyment with friends, old and new.
A Little History
Master Thanh Cao Nguyễn brought Tai Chi to Houston, TX in 1984. His unique approach to teaching Tai Chi was the idea of doing the forms in relation to an analog clock. For example, if the form says to look to 3:00, then the individual knows to look 90° to his right. Using this technique makes it easier to understand and learn the Tai Chi forms.
Master Thanh founded the Thiền Sinh Hội Zenobics Society. His eldest son Dr. Duke Nguyễn, and Duke’s wife Hannah Trần, continue his legacy by teaching Tai Chi in the place where I have taken my lessons. Also see Basic Notes About Tai Chi.
Format of the Tai Chi Forms
I originally wrote my notes about the Tai Chi forms in MS Word documents. I adjusted each Word document so that each form would fit entirely within a document. This would let them print in a good fashion.
Form 3 is so long that it extends to two pages (but is entirely within its document). The other forms are short enough so that more than one form can fit within a single document.
I used the Word documents to build these web pages. That is the reason for the names of the links to the Forms on My Home Page.