Tai chi
"be like water, my friend" ~ Bruce Lee
Tai chi is a non-competitive, gentle variation of martial arts, often referred to as "moving meditation."
What tai chi is about:
awareness · balance · meditation · strength
Benefits of tai chi:
Healing
Many commonly-known diseases + illnesses, mostly from modern-living,
can be improved or healed:
Joint pain
Stress
Slow metabolism
Digestive upset
Fight or flight response
Weak lungs
Good foundations
Tai chi is also awesome as preliminary sport to improve your experience + performance in other sports, as it improves:
Balance
Body awareness
Mental health
Co-ordination
Core strength
Resilience
About
Practice times
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Beginner class | 16h30 to 18h00
Senior class | 18h00 to 19h00
Practice venue
Martial Arts Room
Sports Centre, Upper Campus,
University of Cape Town
What to wear
Loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes, socks or barefoot
breathe in · breathe out
How to sign up
Students; On PeopleSoft, search the code 'WUC' and join us by scanning the QR code below!
Annual fees; R420
Externals; Get in touch via email and we'll see what we can do
Annual fees Double student rate
What to expect
Tai chi affects everyone differently. Some people notice changes within a few weeks, others maybe a year. Benefits are proportional to the time + effort spent practising, + progress dependent on one’s musculoskeletal condition when beginning + one's dedication to practice.
Tai chi can be performed by everyone throughout their lives,
irrespective of age + level of fitness.
Blog
Interested in reading more?
The Balance, Spirit, Culture and Approach of Tai Chi
Mar 6, 2023
The tai chi state of “the form following the intent, internal and external harmony, following the opponent, and overcoming hardness with softness” and the underlying understandings of the art
Feb 10, 2023
Breakdown of the Yang-style Short Form, posture by posture, with some detail on the movements.
Jan 31, 2023
Understanding the purpose of Yi Jin Jing, 5 animals and Ba Duan Jin and what goes into them.
Hear it from our members
“Tai chi is simple, but it's not easy.”
“Tai Chi = being content, not consumed!”
“Anything worth doing takes time to master.
Find out who you are.”
“Tai chi is about first learning to let go and not stand in your own way.”
“The way to a flowing form is simply through time, discipline, and patience.”
“The biggest war is with yourself, and your memory, until muscle memory kicks in and you kick your mind out.”
“How to not be tense... when you realise you're tense.”
"There is no secret ingredient; it's all you"
- Po Ping, Kung Fu Panda :)
