Tai Chi Chuan (also taijiquan), which may be translated as Supreme Ultimate Fist, is a Chinese martial art that combines self defense with physical and mental fitness. It is practiced today primarily for its health benefits, stress relief, and relaxation, although interest in the martial application of the art is growing. The slow, continuous movements are designed to impart powerful physical skills and to stimulate the flow of energy within the body, with the ultimate goal of improved mind-body connection, and increased longevity. Tai Chi Chuan is excellent for health and balance while preserving its martial aspects which are learned through practice of the empty hand forms, weapon forms, push hands, fighting forms and free-form sparring.
Much of the history of Chinese martial arts was never recorded and many historical documents that did exist were lost during periods of war. The theoretical roots of Tai Chi Chuan, however, may be traced back nearly 3000 years to the introduction of the concept of yin and yang in the Yi Jing (Book of Changes) around 1122 BC1. The evolution of Tai Chi from the time of the Yi Jing to the late 1500's AD is mainly recorded as legends and folk tales.
One popular, and widely believed, story is that legendary figure Zhang, San-Feng, a Daoist monk, combined Yi Jing theory (the dynamics of opposites yin and yang) and Daoist energy cultivation practices (qigong) with Shaolin "kung fu" and his observations of the natural fighting behavior of a crane and a snake to create Tai Chi Chuan2 some time during the period 1200 to 1400 AD. The story of Zhang, San-Feng, however, is disputed by many Tai Chi practitioners, although he is credited with a "classic" writing entitled, "T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ching", that describes Ch'ang Ch'uan (interpreted as Tai Chi Chuan) principles5.
Many historians believe that Tai Chi Chuan was formally created in the Chen Village within the Honan Province of China, although some report that formative techniques came through others including individuals known as Jiang, Fa and Wang, Tsung Yueh. Tai Chi Chuan has been recorded in formal documents since the time of Chen, Wang-Ting (of the Chen Village) in the late 1500's to 1600's AD2. Thus according to written historical records, Tai Chi Chuan was founded by the Chen family.
Chen style Tai Chi Chuan was developed to a very high level within the Chen village and was kept secret for many decades. The first recorded outsider to be taught Tai Chi Chuan was Yang, Lu-Chan (1799 - 1872)3. Yang, Lu-Chan left the Chen Village and established a variation of Tai Chi Chuan that became known as the Yang Style. One of Yang's students, Wu, Chuan-You, eventually established the Wu Style (mid 1800's), the third of the three major styles of Tai Chi Chuan.
The necessity of self preservation through deadly martial skill in ancient times, motivated Tai Chi adepts to carefully guard the secrets of the art for most of it's history. Tai Chi Chuan was not broadly revealed to the Chinese public until 1926 by Yang family descendent, Yang, Cheng-Fu (1883-1936). Tai Chi was introduced to the west in the 1960's by Cheng, Man-Ching1, and, along with Chinese martial arts in general, gained popularity during the early 1970's due to the successful television series "Kung Fu". The proliferation of Tai Chi in the West continued during the 1980's and 90's, particularly due to the recognition of the health benefits of the art. Tai Chi Chuan is now the most widely practiced martial art in the world3.
Diseases Cured
Fatigue
