Tai Chi is a great low impact exercise that can improve your strength and balance, as well as help to maintain your cardiovascular health. Rooted in the martial arts, tai chi is classified as a soft or internal part of the Neijia branch of Chinese martial arts. Like many movements that started in the distant past, the history of tai chi is shrouded in mystery and legend.
Tai Chi History
Some trace the origins of tai chi to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, also called Laozi or Lao Tse. Loa Tzu may or may not have been just one person, may or may not have lived in the the 6th or 4th century BC and may or may not have written the Tao Te Ching, or Daodehing. These writings are the basis of the philosophical approach and foundations of Tai Chi.
Skip forward to somewhere between 1279 and1459 AD. Chang San-feng, another historically disputed figure, may have been a Shaolin monk and is credited with developing Tai Chi's movements. Chang San-feng is also called Zhang Sanfeng. The story goes that one day, he either saw or had a vision about a crane attacking a snake. Every time the bird stabbed at the snake with its beak, the snake would circle and twist away. The snake would then strike the crane's neck with its tail. The crane should have been able to kill the snake easily, but the snake continued to evade the bird's attack. In other versions, the bird was a hawk or a magpie. From this vision, Chang learned that brute force could be countered with movements, which on the surface, seem yielding. Chang is said to have developed the 13 classic tai chi postures.
During the Ming Dynasty, from 1368 to 1644 AD, Wang Tsung-yueh, or Wang Zongyue, may have been the next person who had an impact on the history of tai chi. Again, historians are uncertain as to whether Wang actually lived. Wang is said to have been the first person to call the art "tai chi chuan" and to have developed the choreography between the original 13 postures.
Modern Tai Chi
Tai chi as it is practiced today can be traced back to five families. Each family developed their own form of tai chi, keeping their individual forms secret from outsiders. Today's styles are derived from the original family forms, the Chen style, the Yang style, the Sun style, the Wu Hao style of Wu Yu-hsiang and the Wu style of Wu Ch'uan-yu and Wu Chien-ch'uan. The most popular form of modern tai chi is derived from the Yang style.
 | Learning tai chi movements can improve your strength, balance and flexibility as well as helping to minimize the stress levels in your life. |
 | Tai chi is derived from martial arts forms. However, tai chi exercises themselves are fluid, smooth and soothing, making practicing tai chi for seniors a perfect addition to their daily routines. |
 | Tai chi chih is an increasingly popular form of tai chi that promotes wellbeing, health and even the possibility of sleeping better at night. |
The object of practicing Chinese qi gong, or qigong, is to focus and enhance your life energy. If you practice qi gong, you will reap many benefits along the way. |
The benefits of tai chi go beyond just the beauty of the art. |
