Wareham, Massachusetts
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Wareham Recreation   54 Marion Road (Rt.6)   Wareham, MA 02571

Taiji (pronounced tie-jee) literally translated means "supreme ultimate". It is a centuries old Chinese discipline for health, relaxation, self-cultivation and self-defense. Beginner students are initially taught forms which are sequences of flowing pre-arranged movements very much like dance routines. These movements, based on martial art technique, are performed slowly without any straining or tension. Also because the Taiji form does not have any extreme movements and promotes gradual learning, its practitioners avoid the pulled muscles or other injuries normally associated with other strenuous activities. As you become older, it becomes tougher to keep up with the other high-impact exercises or martial arts, but with Taiji there is no limit to how much softer or slower you can go. In fact, in China there are many Taiji masters who in their seventies or eighties are still active performers, and it is not uncommon to find masses of elderly people performing various routines in the parks. Taiji is one of the best "load bearing" exercises available. Studies have shown that the body requires a "load bearing" exercise to properly and efficiently utilize calcium in the formation of bone mass. In China, studies have also shown that an 80 year old Taiji practitioner of many years has significantly more bone mass than someone younger who does not do any form of exercise. Also the slow controlled movements of Taiji strengthen the connective tissues of the pelvis, legs and feet. A study sponsored by the National Institute of Aging (NIA) and published in the May 1995 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that Taiji was the only exercise to show a significant decrease in the number of falls among the elderly. Another federally funded study at the Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis showed that Taiji reduces injuries from falls by 25 percent in older subjects compared to a control group of non-exercisers. This is not surprising as Taiji promotes balance, coordination and strength through gradual learning. Taiji is also an excellent way of improving cardiovascular fitness because the Taiji form requires good use of the legs through constant balance shifting and squatting. The contracting muscles in the extremities, especially the legs, squeeze the blood in the veins towards the heart as the valves in the veins prevent the blood from reversing. This pumping action of the leg muscles enhances blood circulation which in turn helps reduce the workload on the heart. Hence those with heart conditions could benefit tremendously from Taiji especially since the movements are done slowly, not to extremes, and without straining. Taiji is an ideal form of exercise because you do not need special equipment; can be done anywhere; can be performed by anyone regardless of age, sex, size or athletic ability; and is a no-impact form of exercise. If Taiji appeals to you, come in for a trial class on Wednesday evenings at the Wareham Recreation.

~ TAIJI LINKS ~ Cheng Man Ching Taiji Peter Lim's Taijiquan Resource Page The Styles of Tai Chi Chuan Yang style taught here at the Rec Center Yang Style Tai Chi ~ QIQONG ~ Pa Tuan Chin - The Eight Brocades The Eight Strands Form ______________________________________________________________
	Karate Mart - Tai Chi Swords World of Weapons - The Value of Tai Chi Weapons Academy Of Karate Martial Arts Supplies-Tai Chi The Wolfe Dictionary of Chinese Martial Art Terms

A student's facination with Chinese culture and fighting styles, by Mike Souza
  The Romance of the Three Kingdoms is adapted from one of the most famous Chinese classic novels with the same title by Luo Guanzhong, and based on the history of the Three Kingdoms period (220AD-280AD). The novel depicts the events between 184 A.D. and the unification by the WEST JIN in 280 A.D. Focusing on the rise and fall of the three states of WEI, SHU and WU and the political and military struggles within the ruling feudal class, following the declined and downfall of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
  ROTK - San Guo (Three Kingdoms) can be read online or download the zip file for offline reading. The story has been translated into Japanese, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, Malay, Indonesian, and English.
  The martial arts fighting styles and weapons are still being taight in Taiji and other Chinese Arts.