Why are they wearing them? It is not a uniform. Does wearing them make their Tai Chi more authentic?
Not at all!
I always find it odd that certain people who practice Tai Chi often learn to speak and read Chinese, eat (a lot!) of Chinese food, and basically try and pretend they are Chinese. Why? It doesn't (as far as I can tell) make your Tai Chi any better.
Just because Tai Chi was developed in ancient China doesn't mean we have to wear ancient Chinese clothing to practice it. At the time, that was contemporary Chinese dress, that is all. If Tai Chi was invented in a UK inner city today would we all be wearing shell suits to practice it in a few hundred tears time? Probably (sadly)...
Do you see the irony? All those silk pyjama things are, are the ancient Chinese equivalent of the sweat pants and hoodie. They wore them to practice Tai Chi because they were comfy, that is all. But nowadays we seem to have this attitude that to do "authentic" Tai Chi we have to be wearing the right gear (ie the silk pyjama thingy's).
I have never owned a pair of those pyjama's (they can be very expensive you know!), I practice Tai Chi in whatever I am wearing at the time, often a baggy pair of jeans and a hoodie. Wearing loose fitting, comfy clothing can make it easier, but it is not necessary. Does that make my Tai Chi any less authentic (or, more importantly, effective, that someone who does?).
Matt
www.thetaichiguy.co.uk
Tai Chi and Chi Kung Classes in Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, UK
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Thank you so much for such an article that is full of interesting and helpful information.
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