Tai chi chuan

Tai chi chuan

Tai chi chuan (traditional Chinese: 太極拳; simplified Chinese: 太极拳; pinyin: tàijíquán; Wade-Giles: t'ai4 chi2 ch'üan2) is classified as Wudangquan or an internal Chinese martial art. Tai chi is typically practised for a variety of reasons: its soft martial techniques, demonstration competitions, health and longevity. Consequently, there exist a multitude of training forms, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims. Some of Tai chi chuan's training forms are well known to Westerners as the slow motion routines that groups of people practice together every morning in parks around the world, particularly in China.


Today, tai chi has spread worldwide. Most modern styles of tai chi trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu and Sun. Who actually created tai chi is a subject of much argument and speculation. However, the oldest documented tradition is that of the Chen family from the 1820s

Contents

1 Overview
2 History and styles
2.1 Family tree
2.2 Notes to Family tree table
3 Philosophy
4 Training and techniques
5 Modern tai chi
5.1 Tai chi as sport
6 Health benefits
7 Tai chi chuan in fiction
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
10.1 Videos of the major family styles