The Chinese have many rich cultures that have been passed from generation to generation. And Tai Chi is one of these colorful heritages that has been preserved up to this day. It created a big impact, being the forerunner of martial arts and giving importance to the different parts of human thinking, developing of the Qi and the Yin and Yang. 

The Yang Tai Chi is the one of the prevalent styles, and many recent manifestations are offshoots of this form, like the Wu style. The Yang style of Tai Chi was first developed by Yang Lu Chan circa 1800 from its Chen origins. Yang Lu Chan was originally a Chen style Tai Chi practitioner, but he became very proficient in the art. Eventually he became famous and later would be called as “Yang the Invincible”. 

Yang Lu Chan passed down his knowledge to his two sons, Yang Pan-Hou and Yang Chien-Hou. His sons, in turn, taught their sons. Yang Cheng Fu, Chien-Hou’s third son was the one responsible for standardizing the art. He is, in large measure, responsible for the promulgation of the teachings to the eastern and western world, where it gained much publicity, and the teachings were later known as Yang Tai Chi. 

Yang Tai Chi Chuan is a complete system of martial arts, and more refined, since it was an adaptation of an old system and molded into a newer one. The Yang Tai Chi Long Form consists of a series of 108 movements, which are characterized by an even tempo and slow graceful movements.

Yang Tai Chi also utilizes weapons, which consists of saber, sword, and spear, the movements of which are practiced with alternate tempos of slow and fast movements. Posture is still observed, in fact the Wushu (art form that involves using a chien, a sword) is one of the aesthetic movements found in the Yang style Tai Chi. There are also various single and two-person training exercises to complement the system.

Today, the Yang Tai Chi Chuan is widely taught and more people are into this type of martial arts. With its health benefits, meditation, and self-defense, taking up classes in Tai Chi, especially the Yang Tai Chi, is never a bad idea to begin with. You can reap many positive results by doing this kind of martial art, which will prove beneficial to you.