Some history ...

T’ai Chi originated in China and myth attributes its creation to a Taoist Alchemist named Chang San Feng. Around the Thirteenth to Fourteenth Century, Chang was a monk and student in a Shaolin temple located in the Henan province in Northern China. As legend has it, Chang was one day awakened by the sounds of a snake and a crane engaged in combat. As he watched, Chang became fascinated by the movements of these animals while in battle. The snake, moving smooth and gracefully to avoid the cranes snappy strikes, then striking back herself without losing that smooth circular movement. The crane, even with her hard, linear movements, would use her wings in a flowing circular motion to keep the snake at bay. Both animals were using the hard and soft movements of their bodies to stay in battle. Chang was particularly intrigued by how the snake used the flowing, circular, and energy-conserving movements to overcome the hard, linear strikes of the crane. This is when he realized that humans can also benefit from the style and form of these animals. So he devised a system of self-defense based on this type of battle. Thus, T’ai Chi was born as a movement and martial arts for humans.

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