Tai Chi, or Supreme Ultimate Boxing, is characterized by its slow, relaxed movements primarily for health but has its roots in martial applications.
Tai Chi traces back to the Wudang Mountains and Daoist monks but secured a position in Chen village through Chen Wangting where it was quietly practiced for several generations until Yang Luchuan trained under Chen Changxing and began to spread the art outside. From there Wu, Hao, and Sun styles were adapted and perfected, securing their own lineages and fundamentals.
Each style has its own identifable characteristics. Chen prefers its coiling methods and fa jing expression of power during certain movemtns. Yang style is slow, steady, level, soft and expansive. Wu has higher, forward leaning stances with small circles and hand techniques to emphasize closer combat situations. Hao style is distinctive with small, subtle movements, highly focused on balance and sensitivity. Sun Style was made famous by Sun Lutang and empahsizes footwork and small circular movements with the hand guided by internal framework.
Sifu Hart instructs Wudang Tai Chi which was practiced on the mountain for generations and passed from the famous Daoist Abbott Xu Ben Shan to GM Pei Xi Rong where he diligently instructed it to his disciples and the public. One starts to learn a series of intricate movements in a slow and relaxed fashion. Through patience and focus one can start to understand the internal principles and see the connection between all the internal arts studied by the Wudang Longmen.