FAQ

1) Is it Taijiquan or Tai Chi Chuan, and how is it pronounced?

‘Taijiquan’, or simply ‘Taiji’, is the current and proper spelling. This spelling is based on pinyin, a romanization system developed in China. ‘Tai Chi Chuan’ comes from the Wade-Giles romanization system invented in the 19th century by western scholars and is now considered archaic. ‘Tai’ is pronounced as tie, as in tie your shoe;  ‘ji’ is pronounced gee, as in gee whiz; ‘quan’ is pronounced trend, but without the d sound.

2) What is the age of the target group?

Any age group is welcome in our organization. Most children, however, find Taijiquan boring because of the slow pace of the movements.

3) What is the preferred attire for the class?

Loose clothing so you have freedom of movement. Flat, soft soled shoes. No hard dress shoes or shoes with high heels. Avoid athletic shoes (running shoes) that have thick support under the heels. They throw the body weight forward and can affect your balance when standing on one leg.

4) What is the practice schedule?

We offer several classes throughout the week. Check our schedule here.

5) What are the class and practice sessions like?

Class sessions are structured, with each session begining with warm up exercises (15 to 20 min minutes) led by different members. Next, Gary Yuen or another instructor will lead the group in exercises to develop fundamental movements and explain self-defense applications. New movements or variations are featured each week. In the later part of the class session, the featured movements are incorporated into a choreography, or form, that the class is currently learning. On occasion, we practice push-hands techniques.

Sunday outdoor sessions are informal and intended primarily as form practice sessions. The forms are chosen according to the interests of members who attend and any member might lead the practice. The forms may be any hand or weapon form that members have learned, including the paired form. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to follow along, but typically there is no formal beginning-level instruction.

6) How much are the fees for the class?

The classes are free.

7) Can students start at any time, or is it a block or a series of classes?

Students can start at any time. Think of this class being the start of a life-long learning experience.

8) Are there any experiences requested for the class?

No, members at all levels of experience with Taijiquan are welcome. Members with prior experience are encouraged to share their knowledge.

9) What are the different forms?

Common forms we practice include: