Editing Tai chi (section)

=== Chinese origin ===
[[File:Eddie Wu Grasp Bird's Tail 1998.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Wu-style tai chi|Wu-style]] master [[Eddie Wu]] demonstrating the form "Grasp the bird's tail" at a tournament in [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada]]

The five major styles of tai chi are named for the Chinese families who originated them:

* [[Chen style]] ({{lang|zh|陳氏}}) of [[Chen Wangting]] (1580–1660)
* [[Yang-style tai chi|Yang style]] ({{lang|zh|楊氏}}) of [[Yang Luchan]] (1799–1872)
* [[Wu (Hao)-style tai chi|Wu/Hao style]] ({{lang|zh|武郝氏}}) of [[Wu Yuxiang]] (1812–1880) and [[Hao Weizhen]] (1842–1920)
* [[Wu-style tai chi|Wu style]] ({{lang|zh|吳氏}}) of [[Wu Quanyou]] (1834–1902) and his son [[Wu Jianquan]] (1870–1942)
* [[Sun-style tai chi|Sun style]] ({{lang|zh|孫氏}}) of [[Sun Lutang]] (1861–1932)

The most popular is Yang, followed by Wu, Chen, Sun, and Wu/Hao.<ref name=":1" /> The styles share underlying theory, but their training differs.

Dozens of new styles, hybrid styles, and offshoots followed, although the family schools are accepted as standard by the international community. Other important styles are [[Zhaobao tai chi]], a close cousin of Chen style, which is recognized by Western practitioners; Fu style, created by [[Fu Zhensong]], which evolved from Chen, Sun and Yang styles, and incorporates movements from ''[[baguazhang]]'';{{Citation needed|date=August 2014}} and [[Cheng Man-ch'ing]] style, which simplifies Yang style.

Around the world in the 20th and 21st centuries, some Chinese emigrants who had learned tai chi in China continued to practice it together in their new communities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-30 |title=This Arcadia tai chi master teaches people how to stretch, fight with ‘kinetic’ style |url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2017/07/30/this-arcadia-tai-chi-master-teaches-people-how-to-stretch-fight-with-kinetic-style/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Pasadena Star News |language=en-US}}</ref>