NEW AGER0:

When we think of martial arts, we imagine Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies and lots of kicking, punching and screaming. Tai chi, however, although a martial art, is more about conditioning your body and mind than fighting another person. It's thought tai chi could date as far back as two thousand five hundred years. It involves a series of slow, meditative body movements that were originally designed for self defense and relaxation. Tai chi is a "soft"" martial art.

When we think of martial arts, we imagine Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies and lots of kicking, punching and screaming... Tai chi, however, although a martial art, is more about conditioning your body and mind than fighting another person. It's thought tai chi could date as far back as two thousand five hundred years. It involves a series of slow, meditative body movements that were originally designed for self defense and relaxation. Tai chi is a "soft" martial art.
NEW AGER1:

But don't be fooled; it's not as soft as it looks. Tai chi experts believe in using a small amount of energy to counter the greater force of their attacker. Meeting offence with defense reflects the principle of Yin and Yang, a belief related to both Taoism and Buddhism. Using a tai chi move, a smaller, older person can knock a larger, younger attacker flat on their back. Of course, most people don't practice tai chi in order to fight or even to defend themselves; they practice it to stay healthy.

But don't be fooled; it's not as soft as it looks. Tai chi experts believe in using a small amount of energy to counter the greater force of their attacker. Meeting offence with defense reflects the principle of Yin and Yang, a belief related to both Taoism and Buddhism. Using a tai chi move, a smaller, older person can knock a larger, younger attacker flat on their back. Of course, most people don't practice tai chi in order to fight or even to defend themselves; they practice it to stay healthy.
NEW AGER2:

In China, it's believed practicing tai chi prolongs your life by keeping the body strong and the mind active but calm; it's also believed that tai chi helps defend the body against heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, stress and depression. Western medical experts aren't yet convinced by these claims, and studies are ongoing to find out exactly what the medical benefits of tai chi are. However, if you practice tai chi regularly, your body will be more flexible, your balance will be better, your heart and lungs will be stronger and your general energy levels will rise. So if you're young and healthy and do regular exercise, tai chi may not be for you. Yet.

In China, it's believed practicing tai chi prolongs your life by keeping the body strong and the mind active but calm; it's also believed that tai chi helps defend the body against heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, stress and depression. Western medical experts aren't yet convinced by these claims, and studies are ongoing to find out exactly what the medical benefits of tai chi are. However, if you practice tai chi regularly, your body will be more flexible, your balance will be better, your heart and lungs will be stronger and your general energy levels will rise. So if you're young and healthy and do regular exercise, tai chi may not be for you. Yet.
NEW AGER3:

But perhaps you should get down to the library or the DVD store and get some information for your grandmother or grandfather. It's likely tai chi could make them stronger, healthier and happier.

But perhaps you should get down to the library or the DVD store and get some information for your grandmother or grandfather. It's likely tai chi could make them stronger, healthier and happier.