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Tai chi showing some graceful moves adapting to changing times
By Xu Wenwen |
January 4, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
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POPULAR around the world, Chinese martial art tai chi is practiced for both self-defense and health benefits.
In the past, tai chi gyms were commonplace in China, but most disappeared in the past decades.
Only in recent times have they began to reappear, offering modern facilities while maintaining the traditional spirit.
Traditionally, martial arts centers were places where masters trained their disciples. Usually the master and disciples were like a family, living and practicing together. Students not only learn from their masters but also work for them.
This form of training no longer exists and a tai chi gym today is like a modern gym; it hires professional coaches and charges students.
Changes in the martial arts have led to debate about its direction: on whether slow-paced tai chi can be called a sport in modern society; on the difference between tai chi gym and tai chi teams that can be seen in many parks; and on its potential.
The First China Tai Chi Economy Forum held last week in Hangzhou discussed the current situation of tai chi gym industry.
"There are tai chi gyms because there are market needs," Huang Zhongda, the owner of i-TaiChing, told the forum. "But the meaning of tai chi has changed as times have changed.
"A century ago, people practiced tai chi as a martial art for defense but today people do not fight, they practice it to keep healthy and for inner peace," he added.
Huang said i-TaiChing has built the brand. It has seven gyms in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities, and almost 2,000 members.
Other participants reported healthy numbers. Forum organizer, Hangzhou Rouzhiyi Tai Chi Gym, which has been running for more than six years, has had around 700 students.
Another forum attendee was the tai chi team of Alibaba Group. The Hangzhou-based group of Internet-based businesses established its tai chi team two years ago, providing coaching to employees.
Last year, the company hired five full-time tai chi coaches from Chenjiagou in Henan Province, the home of Chen-style tai chi fist, and almost 1,000 employees have received tai chi training. Alibaba is planning to build a 2,000-square-meter gym in Hangzhou next year.
"Many staff are already pleased at the health benefits of tai chi," said Lu Zhuting, who is in charge of the Alibaba program.
Lu cited the example of a man who used to suffer from many ailments and now climbs 20 floors to the office every day, following months of training.
Medical studies support claims of the effectiveness of tai chi as exercise and martial arts therapy.
Studies found that focusing the mind solely on the movements of the form helps bring about a state of mental calm and clarity, helping manage stress and offering general health benefits.
But going to gym is much more costly than going to a park tai chi team, which can be seen everywhere in the country. Park teams charge just tens or hundreds of yuan a year, while the price of a year course in a gym costs from 5,000 yuan (US$800) to 10,000 yuan. At the gym, VIP one-to-one coaching is most expensive.
Lu believes that "high-end customers prefer private and refined services in professional gyms."
At the forum, tai chi gyms agree that a way forward is to cooperate with enterprises, not only to train a company's employees, but give tai chi culture and philosophy classes. Promoting tai chi gyms internationally is a must in the future, they also agree.
Rouzhiyi has trained foreign students in local universities, and received students from America, Italy and Britain.
Meanwhile, i-TaiChing is to open a gym in New York next year, and planning another in Hamburg, Germany.
The forum is expected be an annual event and focus on promoting modern tai chi economy and industry.
In the past, tai chi gyms were commonplace in China, but most disappeared in the past decades.
Only in recent times have they began to reappear, offering modern facilities while maintaining the traditional spirit.
Traditionally, martial arts centers were places where masters trained their disciples. Usually the master and disciples were like a family, living and practicing together. Students not only learn from their masters but also work for them.
This form of training no longer exists and a tai chi gym today is like a modern gym; it hires professional coaches and charges students.
Changes in the martial arts have led to debate about its direction: on whether slow-paced tai chi can be called a sport in modern society; on the difference between tai chi gym and tai chi teams that can be seen in many parks; and on its potential.
The First China Tai Chi Economy Forum held last week in Hangzhou discussed the current situation of tai chi gym industry.
"There are tai chi gyms because there are market needs," Huang Zhongda, the owner of i-TaiChing, told the forum. "But the meaning of tai chi has changed as times have changed.
"A century ago, people practiced tai chi as a martial art for defense but today people do not fight, they practice it to keep healthy and for inner peace," he added.
Huang said i-TaiChing has built the brand. It has seven gyms in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities, and almost 2,000 members.
Other participants reported healthy numbers. Forum organizer, Hangzhou Rouzhiyi Tai Chi Gym, which has been running for more than six years, has had around 700 students.
Another forum attendee was the tai chi team of Alibaba Group. The Hangzhou-based group of Internet-based businesses established its tai chi team two years ago, providing coaching to employees.
Last year, the company hired five full-time tai chi coaches from Chenjiagou in Henan Province, the home of Chen-style tai chi fist, and almost 1,000 employees have received tai chi training. Alibaba is planning to build a 2,000-square-meter gym in Hangzhou next year.
"Many staff are already pleased at the health benefits of tai chi," said Lu Zhuting, who is in charge of the Alibaba program.
Lu cited the example of a man who used to suffer from many ailments and now climbs 20 floors to the office every day, following months of training.
Medical studies support claims of the effectiveness of tai chi as exercise and martial arts therapy.
Studies found that focusing the mind solely on the movements of the form helps bring about a state of mental calm and clarity, helping manage stress and offering general health benefits.
But going to gym is much more costly than going to a park tai chi team, which can be seen everywhere in the country. Park teams charge just tens or hundreds of yuan a year, while the price of a year course in a gym costs from 5,000 yuan (US$800) to 10,000 yuan. At the gym, VIP one-to-one coaching is most expensive.
Lu believes that "high-end customers prefer private and refined services in professional gyms."
At the forum, tai chi gyms agree that a way forward is to cooperate with enterprises, not only to train a company's employees, but give tai chi culture and philosophy classes. Promoting tai chi gyms internationally is a must in the future, they also agree.
Rouzhiyi has trained foreign students in local universities, and received students from America, Italy and Britain.
Meanwhile, i-TaiChing is to open a gym in New York next year, and planning another in Hamburg, Germany.
The forum is expected be an annual event and focus on promoting modern tai chi economy and industry.
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