Taijiquan (Tai Chi)

Taijiquan (tai chi) is a martial art that, over its 300 years of recorded history, has become clouded with layers of mystical metaphor and analogy. Many beginning students are intimidated by talk of abstract concepts like qi, jin, and shen. 

Look past the mysticism, and you find that taijiquan is a practical martial art focused on turning your body into a mechanically sound, rooted structure. This allows you to diffuse and redirect an attacker’s energy, breaking their balance without losing your own. Through slow, mindful movement, you develop your own sense of how to align every component of your body for maximum mechanical advantage.

This class focuses on learning the old frame of Chen-style taijiquan. While Chen-style is the oldest, its modern practice maintains a stronger focus on martial applications of movements compared to other styles. Regardless of whether you care about fighting, knowing the martial applications will better inform your movements, allowing you to better understand why we assume the shapes and postures taught by the form.

This class is not Cobra Kai, but neither is it movement for movement’s sake. You will learn a traditional martial art, grounded in practical applications, that will help you gain a more integrated sense of mind and body. 

This class welcomes students from all backgrounds and all identities, and strives to provide an inclusive, supportive learning environment.