What types of Tai Chi are there? Who is suitable for practicing Tai Chi?

Tai Chi is a major martial arts style. The name Tai Chi is derived from the fact that the boxing techniques are endless, and the ancient Chinese philosophical theories of "Yin Yang" and "Tai Chi" are used to explain the boxing theory. So, what are the types of Tai Chi? Who is suitable for practicing Tai Chi? Let's take a look at the introduction of Encyclopedia Knowledge Network to answer these questions!

Contents of this article

1. What are the types of Tai Chi?

2. Who is suitable for practicing Tai Chi?

3. What does Tai Chi mean?

What are the types of Tai Chi?

1. Chen-style Tai Chi. Chen-style Tai Chi is the least like Tai Chi among all the Tai Chi styles. It is an adaptation of the Sanfeng Tai Chi and Chen-style Pao Chui taught by Jiang Fa by Chen Wangting. Chen Changxing, the fourteenth generation of the Chen family, passed the secret Sanfeng original Tai Chi to Yang Luchan. Later, Tai Chi was divided into five major schools: Yang, Wu, Wu, Sun, and Zhaobao.

2. Yang Style Tai Chi. Yang Style Tai Chi is a martial art with a long history and one of the important schools of Tai Chi. It was developed and created by Yang Luchan, a native of Yongnian, Handan City, Hebei Province, and his sons Yang Banhou and Yang Jianhou, and his grandsons Yang Shaohou and Yang Chengfu. Because Yang Style Tai Chi has plain and simple postures and is easy to practice, it is deeply loved by the masses and is the most widely spread.

3. Sun-style Tai Chi. Sun-style Tai Chi is a traditional martial art, one of the Tai Chi schools, created by Sun Lutang (1860-1933), a native of Wan County (now Shunping County), Hebei Province, in the late Qing Dynasty. It was created on the basis of Wu-style Tai Chi, absorbing the footwork of Xingyiquan that must follow when advancing and retreat when retreating, the agile body movement of Baguazhang, and the techniques of the two martial arts.

4. Wu Style Tai Chi. Wu Style Tai Chi is one of the traditional Chinese martial arts. It is known for its softness, with a slanted posture that is upright, relaxed and natural, and of moderate size. When pushing hands, one should stay still and not move rashly, and is known for its ability to transform. Wu Style Tai Chi is divided into two schools, the southern and the northern. The southern school is inherited by Grandmaster Wu Jianquan, and its main descendants include Wu Gongzao, Wu Gongyi, Wu Yinghua, Ma Yueliang, Xu Zhiyi, etc.

5. Wu style Tai Chi. Wu style Tai Chi is one of the five major schools of traditional Chinese Tai Chi. Its theories and principles are rich, complete, profound and delicate. It "focuses on seeking the inner form of Tai Chi, uses internal strength, moves qi with intention, and practices the unity of essence, qi and spirit".

Who is suitable for practicing Tai Chi?

First, people who are interested in Tai Chi

As long as you have no physical problems, as long as you can complete the Tai Chi movements, as long as you are interested in Tai Chi, you can practice Tai Chi. It is best to have someone teach you, otherwise you won’t even know if your movements are not standard.

Second, the elderly

Why is it more suitable for the elderly? On the one hand, Tai Chi requires long-term practice. On the other hand, Tai Chi requires knowledge of Tai Chi. Generally, the elderly have plenty of time and can study Tai Chi in depth, so it is very suitable for the elderly.

Third, people who pay attention to health preservation

In addition to strengthening the body, the most important thing about Tai Chi is that it can maintain health. Therefore, for those who pay more attention to health, practicing Tai Chi is a good choice.

4. People with perseverance

Practicing Tai Chi is definitely not something that can be achieved overnight. It requires long-term practice, and the daily practice time is not insufficient, otherwise the effect will not be achieved. It requires perseverance.

What is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi, a national intangible cultural heritage, is based on the Tai Chi and Yin-Yang dialectical concepts of traditional Chinese Confucian and Taoist philosophy. It integrates multiple functions such as nourishing temperament, strengthening the body, and martial arts confrontation. It combines the changes of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements in Yijing, Chinese medicine meridian theory, and ancient guiding techniques and breathing techniques to form a traditional Han boxing that cultivates both inside and outside, and is soft, slow, light, and a combination of hardness and flexibility.

After 1949, it was uniformly adapted by the State Sports Commission for gymnastics, performances, and sports competitions to strengthen the body. After China's reform and opening up, some of its original forms were restored; thus, it was further divided into Tai Chi for competitions, Tai Chi exercises for gymnastics, and Tai Chi push hands.

There are many traditional Tai Chi schools. Common Tai Chi schools include Chen style, Yang style, Wu style, Wu style, Sun style, and Japanese style. Each school has a heritage relationship and learns from each other. They also have their own characteristics, showing a state of flourishing. Since Tai Chi is a modern martial arts style with many schools and a broad mass base, it has become a very vital branch of Chinese martial arts.