t'ai chi ch'uan
/ˌtʌɪ tʃiː ˈtʃwɑːn
/(also t'ai chi /ˌtʌɪ ˈtʃiː/)
noun [mass noun]
1A Chinese martial art and system of callisthenics, consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements.The soft arts, judo, jujutsu, aikijujutsu, aikido, hapkido and t'ai chi chuan, use a theory of redirection of an attacker's force to deal with an assault instead of the harder arts, which meet force with greater force....
- During the next seven years I did mainly judo and jodo, and a number of other martial arts such as aikido, iaido, karate, and t'ai chi ch'uan.
- Along with your breathing, repetitive movement like walking, jogging, swimming or t'ai chi can be used to induce a meditative state.
2(In Chinese philosophy) the ultimate source and limit of reality, from which spring yin and yang and all of creation.She specialises in t'ai chi and teaching people with high-pressure lives to connect with their body, instead of simply living in their heads, and explores how physical movement can deepen spiritual awareness....
- As she investigates astrology, t'ai chi and hypnotism, she travels from sceptic to true believer.
Origin
Chinese, literally 'great ultimate boxing', from tái 'extreme' + ji 'limit' + quán 'fist, boxing'.