Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan is the most practiced in the United States today.  The type of Yang Tai Chi that we offer is called The Yang Secret Family Long Form.  This style comes from mainland China and is very authentic and true to its roots.

General Chen was an 11th century Kung Fu Master.  He developed Chen Tai Chi which is the “Bridge” between Kung Fu and what we would consider Tai Chi today.  He took in an injured man named Yang who recovered under his hospitality and when he was well became a Chen family servant.  He requested training in General Chen’s form, but was refused because all families had their own self-defense secrets and guarded them carefully.  Yang silently observed and practiced and made changes to the Chen form and developed the “Silk Reeling” slow moving technique that is classic in Yang Style today.

The Yang Long Form consists of a series of 108 movements taught along with exercises that enhance and improve balance, coordination, hip flexibility, large muscle strength and has an overall positive effect on health and well-being.  It’s thought that the waist turning movements may be especially beneficial because they mimic the DNA spiral and the body identifies well with this. The acupuncture meridians are stimulated by properly executed Tai Chi movement and Tai Chi can be thought of as Feng Shui for the body.  It is practiced in a circular motion which accesses every compass direction.

Tai Chi has no opening aggressive moves, but if practiced for a long time, is the “Supreme Ultimate” form of Martial Art Self Defense.  All the gentle and soft movements have martial applications and use technique rather than personal strength.

Finally, Tai Chi changes the mind.  Flexibility extends to the thought process and a Tai Chi Player develops “Roundness in Thinking and Squareness in Conduct”.  For relaxation and meditation thru’ movement Tai Chi can’t be beat.