top of page

Tai Chi Stilleri

There are five main styles of Tai Chi (Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu Hao, and Sun), named after their founding families, and three additional popular styles (Zhao Bao, Cheng Man Ching, and Wudang) practiced around the world. Sharing the same initial lineage and each combining meditation and martial arts, these styles are distinguished by some minor differences.

Developed in the 1600s, Chen is the oldest (and therefore most original) form of Tai Chi. It was developed by the Chen family of Chen Village and is characterised by a combination of slow movements followed by explosive, fast movements, including jumping, kicking and striking.

Chen also uses a move called "silk wrapping," which is essentially a spiral-like, flowing movement that starts at the feet and moves down to the hands and is the basis of Chen-style Tai Chi.

Yang is generally considered the most popular form of Tai Chi and is the most widely practiced worldwide today. It was founded by Yang Lu-Ch'an in the mid-1800s and developed from the original Chen style.

The difference is that it focuses more on developing flexibility through large, sweeping movements performed in a slow, graceful motion. Because it doesn't use Chen's fast-paced movements, it is considered more accessible and ideal for all ages and fitness levels, which is why it has become so popular.

The third of the Tai Chi styles, Wu/Hao, was founded by Wu Yuxiang. The style was expanded and shared worldwide by Wu's student Hao Weizhen, and thus today it bears both names. Wu/Hao is considered the least popular of the styles, largely because it is quite detailed and requires a more advanced level of skill. This form places a strong emphasis on "controlling the movement of Qi". It seeks the perfect harmony of soft and hard movements.

The second most popular style of Tai Chi in the world after the Jang style, Wu was developed by Wu Ch'uan-yu, who trained under Yang. What sets this style of Tai Chi apart from others is that it focuses on lengthening the body by bending forward and backward, rather than standing. In this sense, it focuses a lot on developing balance.

The Sun style of Tai Chi was developed by Sun Lutang, a Confucian and Taoist scholar who was also an expert in various forms of Chinese martial arts.

This style focuses more on the feet than the others, paired with soft and silky spiral hand movements. It resembles a beautifully choreographed dance as you watch.

Zhao Bao Style is a lesser known form of Tai Chi consisting of major (108 movements) and minor (75 movements) frames performed at different heights. It is a branch of Chen Tai Chi and takes its name from the village where it is practiced.

The Cheng Man Ch'ing style was brought to the west in the 1960s and became popular in Taiwan, the United States, Europe, and parts of South America such as Argentina.

Cheng Man Ch'ing studied medicine, calligraphy, painting, and poetry, and learned the Yang Style in Beijing in 1932, teaching Tai Chi at the military academy and creating a shorter, simpler form of the Yang 108 forms with 37 moves. After the communist takeover, he fled China to Taiwan and moved to the United States in 1964. He established himself as a great teacher and produced many outstanding students.

The Wudang style originates from the Taoist Monasteries in the Wudang Mountains. It traces its lineage to the original founder of Tai Chi Zhang Sanfeng. It is the style most closely associated with philosophy and is also unique in that practitioners typically practice Kung Fu.

Related Articles

bottom of page