There are five major styles of Tai Chi. Chen style Tai Chi is the oldest practiced today, and is widely acknowledged to be the ancestor of all other practiced styles. It originated in Chenjiagou in Henan province near the town of Dengfeng and was first taught by Chen Wangting in the late 17th century. It is characterized by supple whole-body twining, coiling movements, and occasionally explosive releases of power. There are some vigorous movements that involve jumping, spinning while in the air, and dropping the body low to the ground. Technically, in addition to the explosive strikes and throws, the Chen style contains a great number of Chin Na (joint locking and leverage) techniques. These techniques are a remnant of the original weapons disarms popular on the ancient battlefields, and reflect the warrior background of Chen Wangting.
Tai Chi Major styles
In the early 19th century, Yang Luchan learned Chen style Tai Chi and soon became a highly skilled and enthusiastic practitioner. He developed his own particular Yang style of Tai Chi. By comparison with Chen style, the movements of the Yang style Tai Chi are more even and extended with large frame, less visible coiling and twining, and little or no variation in pace. Yet another style was developed by Wu Chuanyau, a student of Yang Luchan in Beijing. The Wu style emphasizes quietness with moderate postures and deep rooting in steps. Hao/W’u style is another popular Tai Chi practice with simple, quick and short-range movements mostly involving the opening and closing of the arms. Sun style is the youngest among the five major Tai Chi styles, and its founder was Sun Lutang who combined his martial arts background of Xingyi and Bagua with Tai Chi. Sun style is characterized by its compactness of movement, its high, upright posture, and its lively footwork.