Taiji Zen Online Academy

Founded by Jet Li himself, Taiji Zen is an online academy for learning tai ji (or tai chi). I'm proud to say that I had the opportunity to beta test it myself and just a few days back, Taiji Zen has officially opened its doors for everyone. So if you want to learn tai ji, but don't have the time to go to weekly classes, look no further. Taiji Zen might just help you get started!

Jet Li has been promoting healthcare for a while now because he understands that in this busy life we live, we have little time for our self. And while we forget to take care of our self, our body and mind suffers. Taiji Zen is a new systematic online academy for those who seek mastery over their body and mind. Starting from the first basics to advanced techniques. I believe that anyone can learn from this coarse, whether you're a beginner or a more intermediate practitioner.

Taiji Zen has made a very clear structure to learn tai ji. It consits of 9 levels, which consist of several sub lessons. For example, in the first level you'll learn some key principles such as how you should position your back and neck, you'll learn the first 4 kinetic concepts peng, lu, ji and an. These are 4 techniques that you'll find in any tai ji routine. You'll learn the application of those moves, a little form based on these techniques and it provides you with a two-person game so you can build some leg strength. It also has a trance-mode in which you'll be able to completely do the techniques by yourself while being audio guided. When you complete all these lessons and understand them, you can take an exam. You record your moves on video and send it to the online academy. It is then examined by a Taiji Zen instructor. When you pass, you may continue to level 2, follow all those lessons, take another exam and continue till you complete the level 9 exam. You are then an official Taiji Zen instructor!

(left) David-Dorian Ross, (right) Master Wang in action

You'll be taught by David-Dorian Ross. An American tai ji practitioner with a very enjoyable charisma. He explained very well and makes you feel comfortable while listening to him. You'll learn application from master Wang. A profound Chen tai ji teacher from the Chen village in China.

For those interested, Taiji Zen focusses on Chen-style tai ji. Tai ji is divided in several family styles. Chen is a very old style that is practiced by only a few people. Well there are many people who practice it, but compared to the Yang style, which is practiced all over the world for it is easier to learn, there are few. The more reason in my opinion to join the Taiji Zen Academy. Chen tai ji is very broad and consists of many exercises for relaxing and softening your body and mind, but also many exercises for learning the power it can generate as a martial art. While many tai ji teacher only focus on its health benifits, tai ji can be used for fighting purposes and you'll learn just that with Tai Ji Zen. Of coarse, as the name implies, you'll learn some Zen as well, so you'll be able to relax in stressing moments.

Furthermore, Tai Ji Zen is working on expanding. There is a mobile app in the pipeline, in which you can see all the moves motion captured by a professional tai ji practitioner. You'll be able to turn a full 360 degrees around the person so you won't miss a single detail. Very looking forward to this one.

If you are a taiji enthousiast, I'd definitely take a look at what Jet Li and his Tai Ji Zen has to offer. Visit them at http://www.taijizen.com and sign up!