Tai Chi Styles
Not all tai chi looks the same, and understanding the different tai chi styles is the fastest way to find a practice that actually suits your body and goals. From the explosive silk-reeling of Chen style to the gentle, evenly-paced 24 form taught in parks worldwide, each of the five major tai chi styles shares the same roots but expresses them in strikingly different ways. See also our overview of tai chi.
Chen Style: The Original Tai Chi
Chen style is the oldest of the major tai chi styles, developed in Chenjiagou village, Henan province, during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It is the direct ancestor of every other style on this list, and it still carries the clearest martial signature.
Its hallmark is fajin, a sudden release of power that alternates with slow, coiling movement. Practitioners spiral the body through low, wide stances in a technique called silk-reeling (chan si jin), building the whip-like energy that erupts in short bursts. Chen forms mix soft and hard, fast and slow, within the same sequence, which makes them physically demanding but fascinating to watch.
Yang Style: The Most Widely Practiced
Yang style tai chi is the version most people picture when they think of tai chi: broad, even, unhurried movements performed in an upright posture with a relaxed, continuous flow. It was developed by Yang Luchan in the 19th century after he trained in Chen village, then softened and simplified the choreography while keeping the internal structure.
Because Yang style removed the overt jumps and stomps of Chen style, it became far more accessible, and it is now the basis for most standardized forms, including the popular 24 form (Beijing Simplified Form) created in 1956 to make tai chi teachable to the public in a short amount of time.
- Traditional Yang long form: 85-108 postures
- 24 form: a condensed, beginner-friendly sequence drawn from Yang movements
- Large, open frame with full weight shifts
Wu Style: Compact and Forward-Leaning
Wu style tai chi (sometimes written Wu/Hao to distinguish it from the other Wu family style below) descends from Yang style through Wu Quanyou, a student of Yang Luchan, and was refined by his son Wu Jianquan. It is recognizable by its slightly forward-leaning posture and smaller, more compact movements than Yang style.
Wu style places heavy emphasis on subtle balance shifts and precise hand positioning rather than large postural changes, which appeals to practitioners who prefer a more introspective, technically detailed practice over expansive gross-motor movement.
Sun Style: Agile and Upright
Sun style tai chi is the youngest of the five major branches, created in the early 20th century by Sun Lutang, who was already a master of xingyiquan and baguazhang before he studied tai chi under Hao Weizhen. He blended elements of all three arts into a single system.
Sun style tai chi is easy to spot: it uses higher stances than Chen or Yang style, agile footwork with frequent stepping together and apart, and flowing hand movements that connect one posture smoothly to the next. This makes it noticeably lighter on the joints, which is why it is often recommended for older students or anyone returning to movement after time away from exercise.
Hao Style: The Rare, Internal Branch
Hao style, also called Wu (Hao) style in some lineages, traces back to Wu Yuxiang and was passed down through Li Yiyu and Hao Weizhen. It is the least common of the five major tai chi styles outside China, taught in smaller circles that prioritize internal refinement over external display.
Movements are small, slow, and highly precise, with minimal visible muscular effort. Hao style is considered one of the more demanding styles to learn well because progress depends on internal sensation and body alignment rather than obvious physical cues, so it is rarely a first style for beginners.
Which Tai Chi Style Should a Beginner Choose?
Among all the tai chi styles, Yang style and its derivative, the 24 form, are consistently the best entry points. The movements are large and clearly defined, which makes them easy to observe and correct, and the pace is gentle enough to build coordination and balance without early frustration.
Sun style is a strong alternative for anyone who wants very light joint loading from the outset. Chen style rewards students who want a visible martial and athletic challenge but is generally easier to learn after building the postural habits of Yang style first. Wu and Hao styles are best approached once you already understand the basic principles of weight shifting, rooting, and relaxed alignment.
Read more in our main guide to tai chi, or explore tai chi for beginners and history of tai chi.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest tai chi style for beginners?
Yang style, and specifically the 24 form, is widely considered the easiest entry point. Its movements are large, evenly paced, and performed in an upright stance, which makes them easy to see, copy, and correct. Most beginner classes worldwide are built around this style or a form directly derived from it.
What is the difference between Chen and Yang style tai chi?
Chen style keeps the original alternation of slow, coiling movement and sudden explosive release (fajin), performed in low, wide stances. Yang style, developed later from Chen, removed the sudden bursts and jumps in favor of continuous, even-paced movement at a consistent height, making it gentler and more accessible.
Are all tai chi styles related to each other?
Yes. Chen style is the original system, and Yang, Wu, Sun, and Hao styles all developed from it or from each other through direct teacher-student lineages over the 19th and 20th centuries. Each style reinterprets the same core principles of rooting, relaxation, and whole-body coordination differently.