The peaceful martial arts: Using the Art of War to create peace
The health benefits of Aikido, Tai Chi and Qigong
By Jennie Hastings
Have you ever seen an advertisement for an Aikido school but had no idea what one might do there? If your friend invited you to Taijiquan or Qigong would that leave you asking, “What does that even mean?” If your answer is yes, have no fear. You’re in the perfect place.
The peaceful martial arts, including Aikido, Taijiquan, and Qigong, are a blend of martial studies, philosophy, and spirituality created to achieve harmony in body, mind, and spirit. These movement-based practices descend from the ancient warrior cultures of Japan and China and have been transformed over time to focus on improving the individual and bringing about a better world.
Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed in the early 20th century and is often translated as “the way of unifying with life energy.” Through this union the Aikido practitioner is able to defend himself or herself by redirecting the motion of an attack in a way that hurts neither them nor his or her attacker.
Aikido includes use of the sword, staff, and body martial arts. A typical beginner class would begin with an introduction to the material being taught, a ceremonial “bow-in” where participants agree to respect and protect each other, and a thorough warm-up, followed by partner practice guided by the teacher. Participants wear a uniform provided by their school and are taught how to fall and keep themselves safe. At its core, Aikido is a path of self-development helping individuals learn about themselves and become their very best.
The origin story for Taijiquan (often shortened to tai chi) differs depending on who you talk to, though most accounts trace it to the era of the Ming Dynasty in the 17th century. At that time, a Chinese general purportedly combined his martial training with Taoist philosophy and the internal energy work of the ancient practice of Qigong.
Qigong translates as “life energy cultivation” and has been a part of Chinese culture for more than 4,000 years. Practiced both to improve health and to relax and recreate, Qigong combines slow, flowing movements, with deep breathing, and stillness to help the practitioner attain higher states of awareness and activate human potential.
Photo courtesy of Aikido of Maine.
While martial training is part of the history of Taijiquan, at least in this country, Taijiquan is best known for its health benefits. A beginner class would start with focus on body alignment, quieting the mind through breath and meditation, and finding a sense of calm rootedness before commencing with the choreographed “forms” of movement. With experience, Taijiquan becomes a very personal practice, and with the right teacher and curriculum anybody—regardless of age or physical ability—can benefit.
Speaking of benefits, Aikido is known to increase physical fitness (especially core strength), decrease stress, build a sense of community and spiritual awareness, increase mental clarity, and provide a foundation for self-defense. Taijiquan helps improve quality of sleep, general immune function, range of motion, core strength, fall prevention, and induces feelings of tranquility while supporting cognitive function.
It may seem counterintuitive that martial arts designed to attack and defend could evolve into a peaceful path of creating harmony, health, and well-being. The peaceful martial arts are a perfect example that the motivation behind our every action has the power to both create and destroy. If you feel inspired to cultivate your own inner and outer harmony, make sure to check out some of the great offerings of the peaceful martial arts in Maine.
The following is a partial list of martial arts centers in Maine that offer Aikido, Taijiquan (Tai Chi) & Qigong
Maine Center for Taijiquan & Qigong, Portland
www.mainetaiji.com
(207) 780-9581
Aikido of Maine, Portland
www.aikidoofmaine.com
(207) 879-9207
Tai Chi Maine, Bridgton
www.taichiinmaine.com
(207) 452-2239
Maine Coast Taijiquan, Freeport / Brunswick
www.mainecoasttaichi.com
(207) 712-6264
Portland Aikido, Portland
www.portlandaikido.org
(207) 772-1524
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Green & Healthy Maine is published by TheSunriseGuide, LLC. This article originally ran in the 2015 SunriseGuide.