Tai Chi

The martial art of Tai Chi Chuan came about centuries ago in China as a system of maintaining health and combat readiness. Where Kung Fu is seen as a "hard" or "external" art, one that concentrates on developing the body's muscular system, Tai Chi is seen as a system that concentrates on developing the entire body at once, the muscular and skeletal systems as well as the respitory system, immune system, and so on.

Historically, Tai Chi Chuan is attributed to a martial artist known as Chen Wang Ting, a descendent of the well known Chen family of Chen Jia Gou (Chen Family Village) in Henan Province, in the early Qing dynasty (around 1600-1680). Generally considered as the original school from which other styles are derived from, the Chen Chia Taichi Chuan (Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan) is believed to have been created from old shaolin forms using the principles of Toaism.

The Taoists felt that stagnation was the cause of disease and aging. Nature moves unceasingly, and movement prevents stagnation. Because the whole body moves as one, Tai Chi cultivates the link between mind and body, enhancing balance, coordination and health.