1、 the Chinese Traditional martial arts1.Overview 2.History and styles 3.Health benefits 4.Modern Tai chi Overview Taijiquan is one of the Chinese Traditional martial arts.Initially,it functioned as a unique and profound self-defense technique.As an ancient Kongfu,Taiji includes quan,sword,broadsword,
2、spear,push-hand,etc.Especially the push-hand is well known for its tactic and technique,the powerful and aggressive opponent being defeated by a small clever attack or an abrupt explosive power.As an typical artful Chinese Kongfu,hand push has been highly popular with the small and weak people.Histo
3、ry and stylesHistoryTaijiquan has its origin in Chenjiagou Village,Henan Province.Chen Wang Ting devised the Chen family-style of tai chi.It is nearly 400 years so far.stylesThere are five major styles of tai chi chuan,each named after the Chinese family from which it originated.The major family sty
4、les share much underlying theory,but differ in their approaches to training.Chen-style(陳氏)of Chen Wangting(15801660)Yang-style(楊氏)of Yang Lu-chan(17991872)Wu-or Wu/Hao-style(武氏)of Wu Yu-hsiang(18121880)Wu-style(吳氏)of Wu Chuan-yu(18341902)and his son Wu Chien-chuan(18701942)Sun-style(孫氏)of Sun Lu-tan
5、g(18611932)The Chen family-style(陳家、陳氏 or 陳式 太極拳)is the oldest and parent form of the five traditional family styles.Chen-styleYang-styleYang family-style is the most popular and widely practised style in the world today and the second in terms of seniority among the primary five family styles of ta
6、i chi chuan.Wu-or Wu/Hao-styleThe Wu or Wu(Hao)style of tai chi chuan of Wu Yu-hsiang(武禹襄,1813-1880),is a separate family style from the more popular Wu-style(吳氏)of Wu Chien-chan.Wu Yu-hsiangs style was third among the five tai chi chuan families in seniority and is fifth in terms of popularity.Wu-s
7、tyleThe Wu family-style tai chi chuan(taijiquan)of Wu Chuan-yu(Wu Quanyou)and Wu Chien-chuan(Wu Jianquan)is the second most popular form of tai chi chuan in the world today,after the Yang style,and fourth in terms of family seniority.Sun-styleThe Sun style(孫氏)tai chi chuan was developed by Sun Lutan
8、g(孫祿堂,1861-1932),who was considered expert in two other internal martial arts styles:xingyiquan and baguazhang before he came to study tai chi chuan.Today,Sun style ranks fourth in popularity and fifth in terms of seniority among the five family styles of tai chi chuan.According to various popular o
9、ral traditions Taijiquan was created by Zhang Sanfeng at Wudang mountain but there is no evidence in the written historical records to connect Zhang Sanfeng to Taijiquan.However,Wudang style Taijiquan is becoming more widespread in modern China.Wudang Style There are now dozens of new styles,hybrid
10、styles,and offshoots of the main styles,but the five family schools are the groups recognized by the international community as being the orthodox styles.Other important styles are Zhaobao tai chi chuan,a close cousin of Chen-style,which has been newly recognized by Western practitioners as a distin
11、ct style,and the Fu style,created by Fu Chen Sung,which evolved from Chen,Sun and Yang styles,and also incorporates movements from Baguazhang(Pa Kua Chang).New stylesHealth benefits Experts say,the benefits of Taijiquan,on the one hand,can exercise the muscle,collaterals;On the other hand can adjust
12、 the breathing,massage,and internal organs to enjoy the fitness function.In addition to the physiological benefits,the benefits of Taijiquan is also in the spirit of aftercare.The expert points out,tai chi requirements do keep calm,spirit,the spirit of people is very helpful in mental health.The ben
13、efits of Taijiquan covers many aspects of physical and mental,to keep the physical and mental health,prevention and cure all kinds of disease is very favorable.Therefore,in here special remind neurasthenia,besides should insist on patients with necessary treatment outside,appropriate practice taijiq
14、uan,for neurasthenia recovery will play a big role.Modern Tai chi With purely a health emphasis,tai chi classes have become popular in hospitals,clinics,and community and senior centers in the last twenty years or so,as baby boomers age and the arts reputation as a low-stress training for seniors became better known.
