About Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a form of martial art that goes back many hundreds of years. Unlike other martial arts, such as karate or Kung-fu, Tai Chi is practiced in a slow and deliberate manner.

Whilst Tai Chi is a martial art, it is not taught with any particuar emphasis on the martial aspects. That said, the martial applications of the various forms are explained to help the student visualise the activity.

Many people, in the West, at least, practice Tai Chi for reaons other than the martial aspects. These include stress relief, increased fitness and the simple pleasure of learning something new.

There are many indicators that exercises such as those performed in Tai Chi can have a number of health benefits. The External Resources page has links to press releases and news from such sources as the 'Journal of Advanced Nursing' and 'The British Heart Foundation'.

The form of tai chi taught at the Yuang Chi School of Tai Chi is the Yang Style.

Yang style tai chi traces its roots back to 1799 and the birth of its founder Yang Luchan and over the years, particularly over the last 50 years or so, it has become - according to some commentators - one of the most commonly taught forms of the art, in the West at least. You can find out more about Yang Luchan, his decendents and about Yang style Tai Chi by looking at our wiki pages.