What is Taijiquan?

Taijiquan is a Chinese internal martial art. It is believed by many to have been founded in the 12th or 13th century by Zhang Sanfeng. It is commonly thought to place a great deal of emphasis on soft, relaxed movement, balancing Yin and Yang in the body, and various other concepts associated with Daoism and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

There are many practices that are referred to as Taijiquan, Tai Chi, or other similar names. These could include intensive study of forms, standing meditation, the practice of Push Hands, an emphasis on physical fitness, meditation, balance, or many other things. These practices and their validity as Taijiquan are neither here nor there, as they are not martial arts in the traditional sense of being primarily concerned with violence in its many guises.

So, we move from asking “What is Taijiquan” to asking “What distinguishes Taijiquan from other martial arts?”

Note that this question locates Taijiquan in the geography of martial practices. While (as mentioned) Taiji has come to refer to a broad spectrum of movement systems, including “movement for health” and various forms of medication, we are concerned with the martial roots of the art and practice (for reasons to be discussed at considerable length elsewhere). Because this is an understanding of Taijiquan as a martial art, it must endow the practitioner with the ability to respond to an attack effectively. This is a sort of bottom line. If your training does not equip you with the skills that enable you to deal with an actual attack in a practical and useful manner (or at least some semi-realistic mat version of an actual attack, or even a good shove or realistic practice punch), then it would seem you are not learning or practicing a martial art.

Within this minimal definition, the defining signature of the movement imaginary of Taijiquan is being able to respond to violence without violent intent. This describes a two-person interaction in which an Attacker is using violent force against a Defender. This Defender must respond against this attack without themselves becoming violent (in the language we use most often in practice: without “lighting up”, which is somewhat broader of a term). But what is violent intent? This means becoming caught up in ideas of dominance, control, aggression, and subjugating others. This does not exclude using kicking, punching, throws, or the application of joint locks! What distinguishes the violent application of force from the non-violent application of force is intention and desire. Responding to violence effectively without also using violence presents an enormous but surmountable challenge.

This foundational idea in Taiji likely originated in Daoist thought, turns out to have broad martial applications, and powerfully informs the fundamental movement imaginary of Taijiquan as we understand and practice it. Learning to respond to violence effectively without violence provides an unusual opportunity for diving into one’s internal states and acquiring a significant amount of self knowledge. Learning about and transforming the self is not necessary to learn or master the skills of Taiji. However, it strikes us as a wasted opportunity to not do so, and also makes Taijiquan more applicable to the world in which most of us live.