A taoist internal martial art, and is a synthesis of internal meditation and martial technique. The foundation of the art is a single form. The moves are performed slowly but a very difficut and strenuous.
The written records of Tai Chi (pronounced tie-chee) go back 300 years but its origin is shrouded in mystery and dates back to 11th Century China. A popular story is that a Shaolin master called Chang San-feng watched a fight between a snake and an eagle and was inspired to create Tai Chi Ch'uan ("Grand Ultimate Fist"). Another, more likely, account is that it was developed over many years by many different Shoalin masters.
Tai Chi Chu'an was only introduced to the public at the beginning of the 20th century but has rapidly become very popular, particularly in China. It is estimated that over 100 million people practice it on a regular basis. Today the predominant styles are Yang, Sun, Wu, Chen and Ch'ang.
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