With its distinctive grace and flowing movements, Taiji is becoming an increasingly popular form of relaxation in the West, as it provides an effective antidote to our stressful and competitive society. Many people practise Taiji solely for its benefits to health and as a means to relieve tension. However, with a little dedicated study we find that Taijiquan is a complete training, starting with the mind which the body naturally follows.

Taijiquan is also an effective internal martial art - its name translates as 'Grand Ultimate Fist'. To achieve this level of understanding takes many years of dedicated study and practice. Through the practice of Taijiquan we learn not to rely on external strength and hardness in order to overcome opponents and obstacles, but rather we apply principles such as the yielding overcoming the unyielding, the soft overcoming the hard. As the body gradually learns to soften and yield, the mind follows suit by becoming more open and flexible.