Taijiquan(Grand/Ultimate/Fist) has a reputed history of 1200 years or more behind it because it was originally Shaolin Lohanquan. The man who supposedly reinvented Shaolin into a more internal form of marital arts was none other then Chang San Fong. Over the centuries various other forms and styles where invented and introduced. Chen style for example which consists orginally of 83 movements was later on changed into 108 by Chen Chan Ching. More over Yang Lu Shan who learned Chen style Taijiquan then later adopted it into his own and it became know as Yong style Taijiquan.

Anyways Taijiquan is a martial art not a dance if a person wishes to derive all the benefits they have to practice as a martial art. How do you expect to gain the benefits of something if you only practice the body movements? You might get some level of balance or co-ordination but never the true vitality and essence one can gain by practicing it is a martial art. It would not be referred to as Taijiquan if it was not a martial art in the first place.

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