Has anyone learned Tai Chi?

[ImFiddY]

Many years ago I studied the Yang 24 short form movement of Tai Chi and was up to about the 16 movement of the 24. I really enjoyed it.

I signed up for a Tai Chi class but it's Chen style and after the 1st lesson I'm not like'n it as much as the Yang style.

Has anyone else done Tai Chi and studied both styles?? What is the main difference between the styles? I asked the instructor and he just laughed and said Chen is the *real* thing. And yes, I'm not thrilled with the instructor.

 

[hiitdogs]

I started out with Tai Chi but ended up practicing QiGong several times a week.

My Tai Chi instructor explained the Chen style as a series of coiling moves and fast transitions in speed between slow and very fast together with stamping moves and explosive releases of power and Yang style being more evenly paced flowing moves, many QiGong moves are similar to Tai Chi Yang style.

My understanding also is that Chen style is more martial arts oriented than Yang which is more meditation based.

If you were happy with the Yang style I'd probably stick with it, on the other hand, maybe it is just the instructor that you cannot relate to. Chen style is not the "real" thing, it's just a different style. Yang style is actually more popular and widely practiced but it really doesn't matter what's more popular. What matters is what you are comfortable with or what you prefer. And if you don't care much for your instructor you most likely won't warm up to his style.

HTH