Tai Chi

Classes are offered in
Yang and Chen Styles of Tai Chi

Tai Chi Chuan is translated as "supreme ultimate fist," tai chi being the name for the symbol of yin and yang and chuan meaning fist. Today Tai Chi Chuan is regarded as the most prominent of the three major chinese internal styles (Tai Chi Chuan, Ba Gua, and Hsing Yi.) Popular legend credits the developement of Tai Chi Chuan to a man named Chang San Feng (a former Shaolin monk,) who is also considered to be the founder of the famous Wu Tang temple in ancient China.

Tai Chi Chuan was developed as a "softer", more internal approach towards martial arts training than the more externally rigorous Shaolin kung fu. Movements in Tai Chi Chuan are performed in a slower, more relaxed manner accented by sudden bursts of power (fa jing.) Tai Chi Chuan is suitable for all ages of practictioners and brings enormous health benefits as well as martial prowess.

The Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan was developed by a man named Yang Cheng Fu who succeeded in learning Chen style Tai Chi from his grandfather Yang Lu Chan, who learnt from the Chen village elders. Yang Cheng Fu adapted the Chen style to be softer and removed some of the difficult movements of Chen style to make it more accessible to the old and infirm so that all could benefit from it's health benefits and martial techniques. Today the Yang style is the most popular style of Tai Chi Chuan because of it's accessibility.

The Chen family style of Tai Chi Chuan is believed to be the oldest and "original" style of Tai Chi Chuan taught by Chang San Feng to members of the Chen family village and kept a closely guarded secret for generations. The Chen style is distinguished by lower stances, explosive movements, jumping, and more rigorous forms. It is the style of Tai Chi that most closely resembles Shaolin kung fu.

Lee's Academy of Chinese Martial Arts
2200 Broadway Suite N
Vancouver, WA
(360) 699-6195