Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Perform advanced postures to demonstrate a deeper connection to the Tai Chi form and movements.
• Apply advanced breathing and relaxation techniques with Tai Chi form and movements.
• Employ Tai Chi theory and techniques to enhance daily living and to help maintain lifetime fitness.

• Continued improvement of overall physical conditioning through Tai Chi
• Perform safe and effective Tai Chi techniques
• Develop life-long fitness, health and wellness

• Learned new forms, skills, and techniques
• Improvement on basic and previously learned skills
• Application of prior skills/techniques
• Attendance
• Participate in, and contribute to, class discussions and activities
• Skill assessment through demonstration.
• Practical exams.
• Open to learn new concepts

• Correct alignment
• Footwork patterns
• Body positions
• Leg and arm positions
• Warm-up, cool-down
• Kinesthetic memory
• Coordination of legs, arms, body
• Breath awareness
• Continuous flow of movement
• Mind-body connection
• Principles of safety in movement
• Tai Chi vocabulary
• Short Form
COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
• Demonstrate correct technique in beginning Tai Chi steps and postures with the following elements
o Leg, arm and body positions
o Attention to intent
o Incorporation of visualization
o Steps in relationship to breath rhythm
o Awareness of combative applications
o Stretches
o Level changes
o Weight changes
o Directional changes
o Connecting steps
• Repeat Tai Chi steps and postures
• Identify steps, positions, and postures visually and aurally
• Examine and discuss Tai Chi principles