太极拳是中华民族的瑰宝，与中华民族的传统文化密不可分，其理与老子的“道”及易理相合，是对身心的一种极高层次的修炼，男女老少皆宜。太极拳不仅是怯病延年的法宝，还能极大地开发人的智慧，在防身御敌方面更以其神奇的效果享誉武林。    太极拳内涵丰富，其完整内容包括静功、动功、套路及推手等，太极拳以其特有的修炼方法使修炼者内气充盈、劲力浑厚、轻盈灵敏、外柔内刚，使人内在的精神世界得以提升，功深者能深深体验到一种独特的气质美：自信、宽容、睿智、无所畏惧、顶天立地、浩然正气长存。

    太极拳具有极高的养生功效，正确地修炼太极拳可使人的免疫功能得到极大的提高，并可在降低能量损耗的前提下起到平衡阴阳、疏通经络、调和气血的作用。太极推手是太极拳修炼中的一项极重要的内容，通过推手练习可使人听劲敏锐，能将强大的外力化于无形，从而达到“四两拨千斤”之效。推手也是检验太极拳架正确与否的试金石。

    陈式太极拳较为古老，其刚柔相济、柔化刚发、窜蹦跳跃等技击特点表现得较为明显，近代的各式太极拳如杨、吴、武、孙等均是在陈式太极拳的基础上演变出来的，风格较为含蓄。各式太极拳虽风格有所不同，但其理为一。

                           太极拳论

                            王宗岳

   太极者，无极而生，动静之机，阴阳之母也。动之则分，静之则合。无过不及，随曲就伸。人刚我柔谓之‘走’，我顺人背谓之‘粘’。动急则急应，动缓则缓随。虽变化万端，而理唯一贯。 由着熟而渐悟懂劲，由懂劲而阶及神明。然非用力之久，不能豁然贯通焉！

    虚领顶劲，气沉丹田，不偏不倚，忽隐忽现。左重则左虚，右重则右杳。仰之则弥高，俯之则愈深。进之则愈长，退之则愈促。一羽不能加，蝇虫不能落。人不知我，我独知人。英雄所向无敌，盖皆由此而及也！

    斯技旁门甚多，虽势有区别，概不外壮欺弱、快欺慢耳！有力打无力，手慢让手快，是皆先天自然之能，非关学力而有为也！察‘四两拨千斤’之句，显非力胜；观耄[mào] 耋[dié]能御众之形，快何能为？

    立如平准，活似车轮。偏沉则随，双重则滞。每见数年纯功，不能运化者，率皆自为人制，双重之病未悟耳！

    欲避此病，须知阴阳；粘即是走，走即是粘；阴不离阳，阳不离阴；阴阳相济，方为懂劲。懂劲后愈练愈精，默识揣摩，渐至从心所欲。

    本是‘舍己从人’，多误‘舍近求远’。所谓‘差之毫厘，谬之千里’，学者不可不详辨焉！是为论。

Taijiquan is one of the Chinese Traditional martial arts. Initially, it functioned as a unique and profound self-defense technique. As an ancient Kongfu, Taiji includes quan, sword, broadsword, spear, push-hand, etc. Especially the push-hand is well known for its tactic and technique, the powerful and aggressive opponent being defeated by a small clever attack or an abrupt explosive power. As an typical artful Chinese Kongfu, hand push has been highly popular with the small and weak people. 

With the cold-weapon-age fading out, the health-care function of Taiji is increasingly gaining the importance, instead of its former role. According to the scientific research, it can improve our immune system, central nervous system, and strengthen the fitness. Because Taijiquan is a practice with a perfect combination of physical movement, deep breath and meditation. Through long years practice, many chronic diseases can be effectively cured or relieved such as neurasthenia, insomnia, neurosis, high blood pressure, stomach and intestines disease, kidney disease, arthritics, diabetes, hypochondria and even the obesity etc. So it clearly illustrates the value of Taijiquan in therapy and disease prevention. 

No matter you are young or aged, male or female, no matter strong or weak, slim or plump, you all can choose Taijiquan as your ideal physical exercise. When practicing it quietly and slowly, you can sense the existing of air and fully enjoy the aerobic bath, meanwhile you can also feel all the movements like the rhythmically uninterrupted waves. Taiji--- the world of Yin and Yang, the world of the nature and relaxation, will become your a whole-new life style in the new millennium.