West Norfolk Tai Chi

T'ai Chi Ch'uan - Supreme Art of the Fist

Today many styles of Tai Chi exist and in the West it is practiced commonly for it's health benefits. Learning the slow, flowing movements of the form combined with the appropriate mental training can be a very relaxing and rewarding experience. It should be remembered that Tai Chi is a martial art, the movements in the form being derived from fighting techniques developed by great martial artists over the centuries. The health benefits are gained through diligent practice of Tai Chi, you may or may not want to concern yourself with the combat side of it, but if you are interested, there is a vast amount of Tai Chi combat training that good teachers can impart. Needless to say Tai Chi is a very old art, with roots that trace back to Shaolin Kung Fu practiced by Taoist priests at the Purple Summit Temple on Wudang Mountain.

Tai Chi Family Tree

The following family tree follows the development of Tai Chi from the Taoist priest and martial arts master Zhang San Feng (Chang San Foong) who lived in the 13th century. He is attributed to be the founder of the internal martial arts and thus Tai Chi Chuan. We are interested in the Yang Family Style, so for simplification, some styles of Tai Chi such as 'Sun' and 'Wu Yu Xiang' have been omitted.