British Chen Style Tai Chi College
ChenTai Chi | Master Liu Yong | Sue Johnson | China Trip 2001

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ChenTai Chi

History of Chen Tai Chi

There is no historical evidence to support claims that Tai Chi has been practised in China earlier than the 1660's. There is documented proof that Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan was developed in Chenjiagou, Henan and handed down through the generations of the Chen family to the current generation.
 
Myths supporting the idea that Tai Chi was created by Zhang San Feng have no historical substance to support them. Whilst the true origin of Tai Chi Chuan may not be clear, we do know that all the major styles of Tai Chi have evolved from the Chen Form.
 
If you practise Yang Style, Wu Style, Hao Style or Sun Style then the origins of your form lie in the Chen Style of Tai Chi.


Today Tai Chi is practised all over the world.
Many westerners only view Tai Chi as a health exercise and do not appriciate its powerful martial origins. Every movement practised in a Tai Chi form has an application for self-defence.  If the self-defence and the health benefits are seperated out, then that is like trying to seperate yin from yang. The Tao Te Ching states that "Yin alone cannot survive, yang alone cannot grow..."
 
The name "Tai Chi Chuan" indicates the martial origin, as "chuan" (quan) is the Chinese word for "Fist". When practising the Form you are practising techniques on an immaginary opponant, which led to Tai Chi being known as "Shadow Boxing".
Whilst many practitioners ony want to develop the health benefits, an understanding of the applications enables the practitioner to put him/herself iinto the correct body alignment in each posture.