Tai Chi Chuan - Origin, Name and Versatility

The monk Zhang San Feng (pronounced: Chang San Fung) lived in the 13th century. He is often considered the first patriarch of Tai Chi Chuan.

What is Tai Chi Chuan?

You probably have heard of Tai Chi Chuan, also spelled Taijiquan or Tai Chi, but do you know what it is?

Said simply it is an 800 years old, holistic martial art from China, that combines physical movement, relaxation, training of energy, self-defense and mediation. Tai Chi Chuan improves your health and vitality. It teaches you the skill of beeing relaxed and focused at the same time, and it develops mental strength and clarity. At the highest level it is path of meditation and spiritual cultivation.

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Cosmos Kungfu

The name "Tai Chi Chuan" or "Tàijíquán" is a short version for Tàijí Quán Fǎ.

"Tàijí" means the Grand Ultimate or Cosmos. It is often represented by the Yin-Yang symbol bellow, which is also called Taijitu.

"Quánfǎ" meanst "fist technique" or martial art. It is an older term for what we call today "Kungfu" or "Wushu". Thus Tai Chi Chuan means litteraly: Cosmos Fist Techniques or Cosmos Kungfu.

The Versatility of Tai Chi Chuan

There are many different styles of Tai Chi Chuan. The most famous ones today are the Yang and Chen styles. Other known styles are the older and the newer Wu Style, the Sun style and Wudang Tai Chi Chuan. Our Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan includes forms from all these styles and offers advanced students the opportunity to learn specialized sets.

Tai Chi Chuan is very versatile. It includes hand techniques, kicks, grips and throws. There are also a number of weapons. The most famous ones are the Chinese sword (Jian), the saber (Dao) and the staff.

As varied as the art are the reasons why people learn it. Some would like to improve their health and are fascinated by the gracious movements. Others are looking for a gentle, yet effective martial art.Still others are fascinated by the holistic aspect of the training that includes body, Qi and mind.

It was similar during the long history of Tai Chi Chuan. While the art was first practiced by Taoist monks who where interested in spiritual cultivation, it became later the main defensive art of the Chen Family village. Even later it was used to improve the Emperor's health with Yang style Tai Chi Chuan. Today we can benefit from all these aspects. And thus Tai Chi Chuan has become a holistic art, precious in modern times.