Taiji Study Circle: Exploring Principles

Taiji Study Circle

Exploring Chinese martial arts theory and philosophy

This study circle is a space for engaging with the theoretical foundations of Taijiquan through reading, discussion, and shared exploration. It is open to practitioners of all styles, though the selected texts will likely reflect a certain emphasis on materials relevant to our Chen Taiji lineage.

We will work with selected texts, concepts, and training ideas from Chinese martial arts traditions and place them in the context of actual practice. Rather than treating theory as something abstract, the aim is to understand how it informs movement, structure, and method. There will be a small amount of preparation before each class so everyone can join the discussion with a shared basis.

Sessions are interactive and open. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, share perspectives, and relate the material to their own training experience.

No prior academic background is required—only a genuine interest in understanding Taijiquan more deeply.

Format:

• Reading and discussing selected material
• Exploring key principles and terminology
• Connecting theory to practice
• Open exchange and questions

Focus:

• Principles of Chen-Style Taijiquan
• Classical concepts in a modern training context
• The relationship between understanding and doing

Read · Discuss · Practice

Usually practice and training are in the foreground, but everything develops in relation. Our practice comes from a cultural understanding that gave rise to the concrete methods we train. This course is about taking some time to look at that layer beneath our practice and letting ourselves be inspired by the insights hidden within.

If we find the format useful we can turn it into a regular class.