One of our missions is to conduct research, publish results, and provide consultation services to the academic community for the purpose of investigating and documenting the mechanisms and benefits of Taiji and qigong practice. Although the perception of Taijiquan as a "mysterious oriental practice" will always yield a baseline of interest, we believe that only when the benefits and mechanisms of Taiji practice are thoroughly examined and documented in Western scientific terms will Taiji be acceptable to the medical community and therefore mainstream Western culture. (At the same time, we remain committed to the view that that many valuable aspects of the art form are not quantifiable, and that understanding the philosophical, cultural, spiritual, and creative components of the art of Taiji are equally important to good practice.) Of immediate concern, the common misconception of Taiji as simply a "slow movement exercise" is prevalent in the scientific literature. Of the 90 or so studies published in scientific journals since 1980, not a single article has mentioned the sitting and standing qigong meditation exercises that are a foundation of not only Taijiquan, but of all of the internal martial arts of China. As Yang Laoshi points out in his book, the martial arts of China were long veiled in a tradition of secrecy. While the slow form practice that is most commonly recognized as Taijiquan is certainly a cornerstone of Taiji training, it is only one aspect of the art. Sitting and standing qigong meditation, and other essential Taiji training exercises, were often omitted from public teaching and were known only to the masters of the various styles and their closest disciples. A very famous saying from the oral tradition of Taijiquan illustrates the traditional secrecy of the art:"I will teach you quan (external form movements or technique), but not gong (the essential foundation)." The standing meditation exercises are now an "open secret," but little information has been disseminated as to how or why the sitting and standing meditation exercises are an essential foundation of all internal martial arts systems. Traditionally, form movement performed without the foundation afforded by sitting and standing meditation was often referred to as "external" or "empty" movement. It is likely that any reasonable exercise can measurably improve the health of the more sedentary or "at risk" populations that commonly comprise academic study groups. It is also true that the slow movements of a choreographed Taiji form may be particularly suited to certain populations. However, it is traditionally recognized that the benefits of correct practice of all Taiji curricula are exceedingly greater than what may be obtained from any narrow, incomplete understanding of the art. A discussion of the interrelatedness and interdependency of various Taiji exercises, as well as hypotheses of mechanisms that afford the benefits of Taiji practice, is provided in Yang Yang's recent book. Following are links that summarize Yang Laoshi's current research, and select references for academic articles published about Taiji exercise or meditation. Taiji Research in the Kinesiology Department at the University of Illinois. Taiji Research at the Human Dynamics and Controls Lab (HDCL) of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois. Select Research Studies on Health Benefits of Taiji Practice - bibliographic references in APA format of approximately 40 select Taiji studies. Includes a table summary of the study design, subjects, and results for each study referenced. Select Research Studies on Health Benefits of Meditation - bibliographic references in APA format.
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