
In parks and communities, some people practice both Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin during morning exercises, thinking that the essence of the latter is more beneficial to the body. Some people who do not know the truth think that “Health Qigong Ba Duan Jin” is also one of the many routines of Tai Chi! In fact, there are essential differences between the two sports of “Tai Chi” and “Ba Duan Jin”.
Tai Chi originated from ancient martial arts. Since it is called “fist”, it has the attribute of hitting people. Therefore, the characteristics of opposites and unity, such as hardness and softness, opening and closing, movement and stillness, reality and emptiness, speed and slowness, looseness and tightness, are all prepared for attack and defense. The benefit of fitness is only one of its many functions.
And “Health Qigong Ba Duan Jin” regulates the body and mind through movements such as “stretching tendons and pulling bones” from beginning to end. Therefore, all its movements are limited to its own body, such as breathing, psychological adjustment, etc., emphasizing the integration of three adjustments, that is, adjusting the body, adjusting the breath and adjusting the mind.
Although both of them have incorporated a certain amount of ancient guiding techniques in principle and can promote the circulation of qi and blood in the human body, the forward and backward movements of Tai Chi are continuous and highly coherent. The eight movements of Ba Duan Jin are independent and discontinuous, but are just put together. The so-called “Jin” means a collection of brocade, which is a collection without fusion. The eight movements are entered and exited separately, without any connection or continuity.
The most obvious thing is that the movement trajectory of Tai Chi is an arc and circles everywhere. Even the movements of bending the knees and dropping the elbows are always seeking straightness from the curve. Many movements of Ba Duan Jin are straight lines. For example, in the third form of Ba Duan Jin, “To regulate the spleen and stomach, you must raise one arm”, both arms are required to be straight.
From the perspective of movement characteristics, Tai Chi’s movements are relatively gentle, focusing on the coordination and stability of the body, and can also cultivate inner spiritual strength and external momentum, and improve one’s overall quality. For those who seek deep physical and mental cultivation, Tai Chi alone is enough to study for a lifetime. Practicing Tai Chi well can actually achieve the effect of exercising the body and mind. If you have spare time, you can strive for perfection in specific moves, which will be more effective.
Ba Duan Jin is a targeted single-item targeted exercise, such as a special lung Qi exercise, which is a convenient way for people with not much free time to benefit their health, while Tai Chi is a systematic exercise that can take into account all aspects and levels of the body, and it will take a relatively long time. In other words, many of the effects of Ba Duan Jin are already included in Tai Chi. Therefore, if you have enough time, it is better to focus on Tai Chi. Of course, if one aspect needs to be strengthened, it is also possible to use Ba Duan Jin’s moves for targeted training, but it is best to have a certain time interval between the two.