The history of Tai Chi is as old as the Chinese culture. The root of this martial art traces way back to ancient China. A Taoist monk named Chang San Feng created Tai Chi Chuan, though, nobody was certain if he really exists or he is just a myth. This martial art put emphasis on speed, strength, flexibility, and balance and it has 13 kinds of postures. But as time went by, different styles were developed. From being a fast and aggressive martial art, it evolved into a soft and subtle one.

There are also stories that Tai Chi was founded by Chen Wang Ting, a soldier. Some believed that the art of Tai Chi was based on his fighting experiences and skills. The Tai Chi boxing method, for example, is a collection of various forms of boxing that existed during his lifetime.

There are about a dozen styles of Tai Chi, often carrying trademark postures or attitudes of the families, but only 5 of these are commonly practiced nowadays. These are the Yang, Chen, Wu, Sun, and Woo style. All Tai Chi styles, however, come from the original Chen family style. So it is just fitting to say that Chen Tai Chi is the most original Tai Chi.

Originally, Tai Chi was a secret art taught exclusively within family members but Chen Chang Hsing broke from the tradition to teach Chen Tai Chi to a very talented student named Yang Lu Chan, and from this breach out came the style Yang Tai Chi.

It was said that the Chen Tai Chi got its name from the village where Chiang Fa, the current Tai Chi master, lived. However, some believe that the origin of the name came from the masters that practiced and developed the art who were called "Chen"s.

There are two traditions of Tai Chi that came out from the Chen family. One is the Old Frame Chen Tai Chi which was famous during the early times of China and the New Frame Tai Chi which became famous today. The New Frame was created by Chen You Heng. It can be said that the Old Frame is closely related to the New Frame of Chen Tai Chi. But the Chen Tai Chi has very few similarities to the original Tai Chi of Chang San Feng.

But Chen Tai Chi is not suited to just anyone who wants to study Tai Chi. Only to those who want a more volatile and explosive Tai Chi can learn this style. This is because Chen Tai Chi style is different from the Tai Chi in terms of speed and movements. The Chen style executes its form with sudden increase in movement and speed. It employs more force and quick punches, kicks, rolls and jumps. This is the reason why it is known as the athletic Tai Chi.