What form of Tai Chi is this called?

It's more like when you're doing tai chi, instead of having a gentle flow to it, you're still doing the same exercise except trying to keep your arms from moving how they are supposed to move. Like you have to hold yourself back, but you're still doing it. What is this called?|||If you are describing what I think you are describing, you have witnessed traditional martial arts or qigong exercises which use isotonic tension.





"Isotonic tension" is a term used to describe physical movements which are performed against the resistance of antagonistic muscles. For instance, if you bring your hands to your shoulders and then push the hands forward through space, you will be using your triceps (the large muscles at the back of the arm). This is isotonic movement. If you tense the muscles on the other side of the arm (your biceps) at the same time, the biceps will resist the natural contraction of the triceps, requiring them to work harder to accomplish their task.


If the tension between the two sets of muscles were equal, then there would be not movement at all. This would be called isometric tension.





What you saw was probably not tai chi exactly.


Tai Chi routines are meant to be practised in a very relaxed manner. The idea is to cultivate an ability to move quickly, effortlessly, and powerfully without losing awareness of the opponent's intent.


However, there are several exercises which use isotonic tension. They may look a lot like tai chi, and many are even closely related to the art.





Shaolin kungfu, Omei kungfu, Wudang kungfu, some styles of white crane kungfu, and many styles of karate, have exercise routines which use isotonic tension. In Karate and White Crane Kungfu, it is called Sanshin.





Omei Kungfu has several similar exercises, including Daperng Qigong, an esoteric method which I learned from my teacher. It is famous for its ability to build incredible strength and internal power.





The isotonic tension exercises of Oriental martial arts were the inspiration for Dynamic Tension, and exercise developed by Charles Atlas ("The World's Most Perfectly Developed Man"). Every man who read comic books between 1941 and the 1980's would be familiar with the ads for his exercise programs.





So, if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say you were probably watching Sanshin Kata from Okinawan Karate, or White Crane Kungfu. Either that or a Shaolin basic power training exercise. Those would be the most common.





Another possibility is that you were watching tai chi done very badly.





- Ian Sinclair


Chief Instructor ~ Cloud Mountain Martial Arts, Orillia, Ontario, Canada


Vice President ~ Canadian Taijiquan (Tai Chi) Federation|||prob a variation of temple style, or an americanized version.|||Are you sure it is not Falun Gong?|||Well ur not suppose to tense up ur muscles when ur practicing Taiji. In the highest levels of Taiji u use ur Yi to move ur Chi, and ur Chi to move ur body. I think u might be talking about using ur Yi.