Tai Chi exercises both for energy and martial arts

Former Sri Lankan athlete Gregory de Silva who excelled in many field events at and became the national champion in long jump and triple jump during his hay days, is back in the Island after a decade's stay in the United States in an endeavour to promote a new Martial Art sport Tai Chi Taijiquan for energy and health which he has been mastering in the USA.

Tai Chi Chuan commonly known as 'Tai Chi" is a slow and gentle exercise , practiced for both it's defence training and it's health benefits . Proper breathing and meditative techniques as well as the use of "CHI" means energy are the keys to maximise the health benefits. Tai Chi is a kind of traditional Chinese shadow boxing , the main branch of the traditional Martial Arts. It is a kind of Chinese boxing that exercises both inside and outside body on the basis comprehensively inheriting and developing various martial arts among the people and army in Ming Dynasty.

Taijiquan is one of the traditional sport in China and welcomed by the people all over the world. It has a long history of and a great variety of forms and routines. The structure of Taijiquan movements is different in types and loads of exercises can be either great or small.

Therefore, , practicing taijiquan has an all-round effect on all organs and systems of the human body. It has been proven that Taijiquan is a kind of very important means of strengthening one's fitness and preventing diseases and has a creative effect on high blood pressure ,neurasthenia, heart diseases, ulcer disease, tuberculosis, bronchitis, stress and other chronic diseases.

In China, Taijiquan exercises combined with medicine have become an important method of treating some diseases in clinical work.

Taijiquan also helps in a gentle way to fight stress. If you are looking for a way to reduce stress consider Tai Chi or Taijiquan. Tai Chi /Taijiquan originally developed for self- defense ,has evolved into a graceful form of exercise that's now used for stress reduction and a variety of other health conditions. Often described as meditation in motion. Tai Chi or Taijiquan promote serenity through gentle, following movements.

The former Richmond College , Galle athlete ran for the Ace Athletic Club in the 1970's. After his track and field career at Ace AC, he became the Vice President of the club and also a Vice-President of the Mercantile Athletic Association and later Vice-President of the Veterans Athletic Association.

Those who are interested to get to know more about Tai Chi or Taiquan could contact Gregory de Silva, 92, Puranappu Raja Mawatha, Moratuwa. Phone. 011- 2646093 (Res.). 077- 5639359.(Mobile).

R.A.