There are many different family styles of tai chi. They all share the same origin and their fundamental principles are pretty much the same. However, each style has its own unique characteristics and emphasizes a particular aspect of movement or principle. To that end, let’s explore the current main family styles of tai chi.
Chen Style Tai Chi
Around the 17th century, the Chen family of the Chen Village in the Henan province of China were practising their own unique form of martial arts which became the Chen family style of tai chi. Chen Style Tai Chi is the oldest and the original tai chi form. All other forms of tai chi like Yang style, Wu style, Sun and Hao styles were all derived from Chen style tai chi. Within Chen style, there are two forms that are being taught: Chen style first routine and Chen style second routine (a.k.a. Cannon Fist).
It is the most dynamic of all the styles with a combination of soft and power movements, a tempo with varying speeds of slow, fast and very fast, and techniques that include kicks, punches and jumps. The required stances are wide and low, and movements are big and spiral-like. The low and wide stances strengthens the lower body, the intricate spiral movements improves coordination, the varied pace and explosive moves builds core and upper body strength. Overall it provides the most cardio and physical workout among all the styles.
Movements in the Chen style first routine are focused more on softness with the occasional mix of explosive force. Students should first learn the first routine before learning the more difficult second routine or Cannon Fist. The Cannon Fist form places more emphasis on speed and explosive power, with more jumps, punches and kicks. It is important to learn softness first through the first routine to allow one to better achieve the co-existent of softness and power.
Yang Style Tai Chi
Yang Style Tai Chi is the most widely practiced style of tai chi in the world today. It was created by Yang Luchan on the basis of Chen Style Tai Chi. The style stretches and flows, and is mainly soft, slow and fluid. Expansion and convergence, large opening and closing of the internal body are its key characteristics. With its elegant, soft and hidden internal opening and closing movements, the whole body feels like the ocean waves surging and retreating without any pause or discontinuity. Leading the body with the mind and spirit, it gives a sense of comfort to the mind and body, like willow branches rippling in the summer breeze.
Yang Style Tai Chi is simple and easy to learn. Stances can be adapted to be either high or low, suitable for men, women and children. Beginners can adjust kinematics based on their own conditions. It is suitable for regardless of your fitness level, hence Yang style is the most widely practiced form of tai chi in the world today.
Wu Style Tai Chi
Wu Style Tai Chi is derived and innovated from Yang Style Tai Chi. Wu style is famous for its softness, exquisiteness and elegance. Its agile movements, extended postures, unique footwork, oblique centralization, and requirements for internal body movement (internal strength) have attracted many practitioners all over the world.
The footwork of Wu style Tai Chi is narrow and the feet are pointed in a parallel direction. Wu style is often described with the phrase “Parallel stance, seeking centre from slant”. The entire routine is relatively small and compact. There is a “tilt but stretch” feature in Wu style, and the practitioner needs to intentionally maintain the overall stretch from the top of the head to the heel. Wu Style Tai Chi is very important to keep the lower body stable and the upper body soft and stretched. Only on the basis of complete relaxation and stability, can the upper body tension be offset. When practicing Wu style, the body stretches forward and swings backward. Due to the special requirements of internal movement and limbs, it has a good effect on strengthening of the waist and kidney.
Sun Style Tai Chi
The founder of Sun style tai chi had in-depth knowledge of Xingyiquan and Baguazhang before integrating the essence of the 3 schools and creating Sun style tai chi.
Sun style tai chi moves are quick and natural, forward step must be followed and backward step must retreat. When practicing, it is like moving clouds and flowing water, continuous without breaking. Every change includes an “open” and “close” combination, hence it is nicknamed “Open Close Active Step Tai Chi”. Sun style Tai Chi has a taller frame and small movements. It is suitable for people of all ages and different body types.
Hao Style Tai Chi
Hao style tai chi is small and compact, simple and unpretentious. It has a strong focus on using intention (yi) and internal pressure (qi) to drive all movements, emphasizing on the transformation of internal strength to lift the spirit, whole body acting as one, open and close, clear distinction between substantial and unsubstantial, and immense presence.
Raise, carry, open and close are the key points in every move. Soft on the outside, strong on the inside, harmony between inside and outside, achieving cohesion of the mind and body.
Because Hao Style Tai Chi has a high degree of focus on internal strength, practitioners need to study and experience it intently and patiently.
Yang Style Tai Chi
Yang Style Tai Chi is the most widely practiced style of tai chi in the world today. It ranks second in terms of seniority after Chen Style. The required stances are wide and low, however individuals can adjust to a higher, narrower stance based on their own ability. Movements are big and mostly linear, and the pace is consistently slow throughout the entire form. The soft, graceful, and fluid movements of the style is why tai chi is commonly referred to as “Moving Meditation”.
The power of Yang Style Tai Chi is hidden within and not expressed externally like in Chen Style. But all tai chi movements, regardless of fast or slow, must be driven by the centre core (“dantien”), and this requires concentration of the mind and body. Hence calling it moving meditation is a very apt term.
Yang Style Tai Chi is suitable for many people, for example:
- You are a complete beginner and want to start learning tai chi
- You have an injury and need a slow, low impact exercise to help the recovery
- You want to meditate to calm your mind but cannot do it sitting quietly
- You want to improve your balance to prevent falls
- You want an exercise that does not require lying on the ground, equipment or special attire, so you can do it anywhere, anytime
It takes 3 terms of training courses (Yang Level 1, Yang Level 2, Yang Level 3) to complete learning all 85 moves of the form. After that students progress to the Yang Advance training course.
Chen Style Tai Chi
Chen Style Tai Chi is the oldest and the original tai chi form. It is the most dynamic of all the styles with a combination of soft and power movements, a tempo with varying speeds of slow, fast and very fast, and techniques that include kicks, punches and jumps. The required stances are wide and low, and movements are big and spiral-like. The low and wide stances strengthens the lower body, the intricate spiral movements improves coordination, the varied pace and explosive moves builds core and upper body strength. Overall it provides the most cardio and physical workout among all the styles.
Chen Style Tai Chi is suitable for those who have already learned Yang Style Tai Chi, or are interested in the martial arts aspect of tai chi. It is also suitable for someone looking for a more energetic and challenging form of tai chi. Chen Style Tai Chi makes an excellent complement to other martial arts or sports.
The Chen Style First Routine is challenging to learn and will require 4 terms of training courses (Chen Level 1, Chen Level 2, Chen Level 3 & Chen Level 4) to complete learning all 83 moves of the form. After that students progress to the Chen Advance training course.
Wu Style Tai Chi
Wu Style Tai Chi is the second most popular style of tai chi practiced in the world today. It uses a medium stance, and its movements are smaller and more compact than those used in Yang style.
Wu style tai chi is unique in its emphasis on the extension of the body by leaning forward and backward rather than remaining centered, as one does in the other styles of tai chi. The back leg serves as a counterbalance, allowing for added extension without losing balance. The unique posture and stance is especially good for strengthening the lower back and core.
It takes 3 terms of training courses (Wu Level 1, Wu Level 2 & Wu Level 3) to complete learning all 89 moves of the form. After that students progress to the Wu Advance training course.
Sun Style Tai Chi
Sun style tai chi is the second least popular of the five styles. The style incorporates unique footwork and gentle, flowing, circular hand movements. With its smooth, fluid movements and swift steps, Sun style tai chi mimics a graceful dance.
Classes for Sun style tai chi are only offered when there is sufficient requests for it.
Hao Style Tai Chi
Practised by few—even in China—Hao is the least popular of the five styles. This style puts a strong emphasis on internal qi. Practitioners learn to focus internally and make significant internal movements to trigger subtle outer movements. Externally, the movements may look quite similar.
Hao is a more advanced style of tai chi. With a strong focus on controlling the movement of qi (internal force) this style is not recommended for beginners.
Cannon Fist
Cannon Fist is another tai chi form from the Chen family style. It is also referred to as the Chen Style Second Routine to differentiate it from the Chen Style First Routine. It has the same unique combination of soft vs power movements and varying speeds just like the First Routine. However it has more emphasis on speed and power, techniques are more direct and simpler, with more jumps, punches and kicks. It provides even more cardio and physical workout than the First Routine.
We recommend learning Cannon Fist after you have completed learning Chen Style First Routine and have attended at least one term of Chen Advance classes.