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 The concern in the Eastern way of life around the world goes
forward. The traditional Chinese martial arts, as one more cultural element causes
great interest along with a cuisine, cinema and fashion of China. However, what
is used around the world to consider military practice, in fact is nothing but
a philosophy, subordinated to body movements, concentration of thought and
special breathing techniques. All this is the part of the larger tendency to
make that is called the Chinese gymnastics.
Orientalism
In many recreational areas of Chinese cities there are
groups of people of all ages developing the exercises reminiscent of familiar
to Western male karate. Herewith the technique now called the Chinese gymnastics,
previously used it in mainly military aspects. And only now, when all over the
world centers to study on the eastern system are opened, it becomes clear to
many people that the physical movement is only the superficial component of
these disciplines.
Chinese gymnastics has as a foundation on the deep faith in
balance and harmony between physical and spiritual condition. This can be
achieved by means of combining a complex of exercises, a certain direction of
thoughts and proper breathing. In China, there are many systems that help to
achieve spiritual harmony and improve the health condition, but the most common
are three of them, in particular they are: wushu, qigong and tai chi.
Wushu
Wushu is a system utmost close to the military art. Wushu includes
about 130 styles, each of which is subject to a clear structure.
To obtain a positive result in the form of rehabilitation,
development of movements coordination (that is the reason they turn to wushu),
it is necessary to comply with a clear sequence - from simple to complex. The
first (preparatory) stage is the study of exercises, the second is to master
the universal basis, the third is a combination of basic exercises, which
should take place in a certain sequence.
Wushu has two directions: external and internal. The
external, which is called Wai Tsa, represents a fistfight. The internal or Nei
Jia is a system of techniques, aimed at bringing spirit and body in a harmony.
And if the latter goes with the maximum relaxation and peace of spirit and
body, the exercises, representing a fistfight are rather sharp and intensive.
Wushu is the most concentrated out of the three types of
gymnastics.
Qigong
This is another popular system that represents the Chinese
philosophy of matching the body and spirit, but this time it refers to the technique
of breathing. «Qi» stands for breath, and «gong» means - to work with it. As
far as it is known, the Eastern philosophy pays a great importance to proper
breathing and balance of vital energy flow through the meridians. It is
believed that the exercises, included in Qigong, saturate the internal organs
with the energy of «chi», confronting the emergence of diseases, healing the
existing ones and strengthening the immunity system on the whole.
Qigong helps to relieve the nervous tension, stress, and to
get rid of depression.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese gymnastics, where the
movements are very smooth and measured. The advantage of tai chi is its
accessibility to people of all ages and physical state. If Wushu mostly applies
military tactics, the tai chi is mostly a dance, coupled with the development
of physical endurance and overall health improvement.
In this type of gymnastics the body works together with the
thoughts, the feelings are visualized, and the mind is maximally concentrated.
Continuity and smoothness of movements, a tension and springiness of positions
are the main indicators of tai chi technique. This system is typically employed
to bring the nervous system in balance and also it is used for weight loss.
Specific recommendations
When discussing overall application of the Chinese
gymnastics it is worth bearing in mind that the contraindications do exist, but
they are rather individual. So, in case you have varicose veins, you have to
abandon the exercises with a long static poses. If there are negative
manifestations of the cardiovascular system, it is recommended the intensive
Wushu fist fight be replaced with quieter methods.
The Chinese gymnastics, regardless of the techniques preferred,
do obviously stimulate the endurance, tolerance, strengthen the immune system,
help to resist stresses, improve muscle tone and commit the stretch, balance
the blood circulation and help to recover from injuries within short time.
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