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Martial Arts: Tai Chi Chuan

Traditional Chinese martial arts styles can be described as Internal or External; Northern or Southern; Hard or Soft. Tai Chi Chuan is considered to be a soft southern style with an emphasis on slow soft movements. These movements are carried out while concentrating on breathing technique and balance.

Tai Chi Chuan is practiced worldwide for its health benefits and improved concentration. It is widely practised for the reduction of stress and tension - not as a combat martial art.

Origin of Tai Chi Chuan: China

37 Responses to “Tai Chi Chuan”

  1. Andrew Brown Says:

    Your current description of Tai Chi Chuan leaves out some important information. First, Tai Chi Chuan translates as “The Grand Ultimate Fist”. This na […] more

  2. Nathan Guannan Zhang Says:

    Taijiquan is what it is called, not Tai Chi Chuan. If you want to be insipid, call it Tai Chi. However if you want to embrace Chinese culture, call it […] more

  3. Rob Johnson Says:

    i have been a longtime practitioner of hsing-i and chen style tai chi. both arts use the same techniques in different ways. a only a fool would or s […] more

  4. Nate the Great Says:

    I just found another error with what you call Taijiquan. Taijiquan, historically, was a SHAOLIN, NORTHERN art created by General CHen Wangting of the […] more

  5. Greg Says:

    To Nathan Guannan Zhang it is either tai chi chaun or taijiquan for i have studied it in china for more than 8 years now

  6. M.D. Werner Says:

    Tai Chi Chuan is considered to be an internal art. What references did you find this Shaolin origin for the 24, Chen and Yang in? wudang.20m.com gr […] more

  7. J-Byrd Says:

    I myself practice Tai Ch’i, but I’m not so specific about the style and origin. I try to look at it from a scientific perspective, applying what I kno […] more

  8. J-Byrd Says:

    Another note for the site admin. It might please the viewers more if you simplified this topic to just “Tai Ch’i” instead of “Tai Ch’i Chuan”. In the […] more

  9. lee auty Says:

    Most peoples encounters with this art are from a load of elderly people practicing slow movements for health benefits. However in its full form, these […] more

  10. Yang Lu Shen Says:

    Taijiquan(Grand/Ultimate/Fist) has a reputed history of 1200 years or more behind it because it was originally Shaolin Lohanquan. The man who suppose […] more

  11. Sunno Says:

    Okay everyone I will set this straight and be done with it. Tai Chi- Martial Art AND Meditational Technique. Tai Chi Chuan- A Dirived Martial Art […] more

  12. Tobias Says:

    Tai Chi Chuan and Taijiquan are just different ways of writing the same chinese words with the latin alphabet. Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) is a martial […] more

  13. jerry walker Says:

    Yang Lu Shan did not learn Tai chi form in the Chen village it was a rummer spread by the chen family. The chen Family studied Shaolin Kung fu and Ya […] more

  14. Bart Says:

    QUESTION! NEED AN ANSWER PLEASE!! IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIGHT OTHER WITH TAI CHI?

  15. Azza Says:

    Bart, Old style Taiji is a martial art, you just need to find an instructor. Most Taiji taught these days is “new” … meaning modified/simplified.

  16. Bobert Says:

    Check out Shaolin-do.com if you want to learn the real deal Tai Chi (complete with meditation and fighting forms) as well as Shaolin-do. Check out the […] more

  17. Repulse monkey Says:

    I have a few comments for this page, firstly, I believe Tai Chi to be to amazing to have such a short description! Secondly, I would like to voice tha […] more

  18. Tashi James Says:

    It is highly probable that taijiquan, is an algamation of a number of arts, with so many influences {including philisophical influences} it is hard to […] more

  19. Joe Says:

    Tai Chi is an extremelly dangerous martial art if it is trained in that way.

  20. Noctros Says:

    they do have dojos for Tai Chi, for combat

  21. terence barnes Says:

    When it comes down to it, it is the principles or what I call the internal levels of taijichuan that count and if you can obay these in your practice […] more

  22. Hiroshi-Kendushima Says:

    Cool… But I think the site could use a little more martial arts in it.

  23. Jordan Says:

    I am truly curious as to where you have obtained your information regarding Tai Chi Ch’uan and its practice by Shaolin?

  24. L Says:

    Read carefully. The author said, It is WIDELY PRACTICED for the reduction of stress and tension - not as a combat martial art. It is practiced by m […] more

  25. Joe Says:

    Can anyone lead me to a Tai Chi instructor in Egypt. I have been searching for months now ith no luck at all.. Please help me..

  26. martial arts expert Says:

    L, tai chi chuan is still a martial art, even in combat, however, it does take years to learn it defensively and perfect it, and even then it can be a […] more

  27. Nick Bradshaw Says:

    Where can I learn more, other than the two sites listed? I really want to learn the true Tai Chi, not the pansied down “health” version, but I don’t k […] more

  28. steve Says:

    please, refrain from personal attacks. Only those who are unable to effectively communicate would use personal attacks. If you claim to know taiji, […] more

  29. Steve Says:

    Dear Sunno, I don’t know if you know chinese, but the way we pronounce it is Tai4 ji3 chuan2. there are 4 tones in mandarin- 1st is high flat tone, […] more

  30. Ian Sinclair Says:

    The words Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan (太极拳) are two different spellings of the same word. The pronunciation is the same - “Tai” (like a bow “tie” […] more

  31. Ian Sinclair Says:

    There are many excellent Tai Chi teachers out there. But no teacher is right for every student, and not every student is right for every teacher. It […] more

  32. Benny Says:

    This is one of the few places where people are arguing specifically about the origin of the martial art. Might be a big fight considering T’ai Chi an […] more

  33. WangiraAAmbrose Says:

    My name is Wangira Ambrose, from Uganda E.Africa. i have much love for learning Tai Chi Chuan, but un fortunatly we do not have any Tai chi academy in […] more

  34. eijnujnil Says:

    Taichi is meant to be a martial art. The one you see in modern society nowadays is just the yang style, which was adapted from the energetic and fast- […] more

  35. john may Says:

    hello there, am looking on taking up, some form of martial art, but to be honest, i do not know the first thing and do not know which form to go for a […] more

  36. Omar Briones Says:

    You definatly have to check out a video on youtube called tai chi chen vs. phsycic. It will show you the true power of tai chi chen.

  37. Joshinmaster Says:

    Taijiquan/Taichichuan(Grand Supreme Fist) has three prinicipals healh development 1.Neigong 2. Fajing ( power application) 3. Wugongshi( warrior skil […] more

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If you are an exponent of Tai Chi Chuan (or should we have by accident or ignorance omitted your martial arts style elsewhere on this site), we invite you to send us a little paragraph or two that highlight certain aspects of Tai Chi Chuan, including history, current grand-masters, special features or techniques, strengths and weaknesses, and similarities and differences to related martial arts. Please contribute by using the form below.