FYI - There are simply 5 recognised styles in China - Chen, Yang, Wu, Hao, and Sun. All others are non recognised, with practical consequences for lacking evidence for comparative health benefits and self-defense.
"There are different styles of Tai Chi practiced in modern society, which can be broadly classified into traditional styles (e.g., Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu, and Sun) according to the General Administration of Sport of China. 2 Chen style Tai Chi is the original style, and all the other styles are developed from traditional Chen style." ref: ScienceDirect & also cited as such on Wikipedia
Chen and Yang are the most popular styles for medical research, hence vitality of teaching given scientific peer-reviewed proven evidence that supports Yang first and Chen secondly across numbers of studies. "Among the popular traditional Tai Chi styles (i.e., Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu/Hao, Sun), Yang style was applied most (487/830, 58.7 %), followed by Chen style (57/830, 6.9 %) and Sun style (19/830, 2.3 %). " ScienceDirect
"Chen style is the oldest of all formal Tai Chi systems and the
one back to which all other contemporary styles can be traced."
-Page 23 of Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi
"Another key figure in Tai Chi’s martial development is Yang Lu-ch’an (1799–1872), who learned
this art in Chen village."
-Page 23 of Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi
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| Master Yang Luchan |
Finally there are the other three China recognised "This Wu style (武, Wǔ) is the third-oldest among the five major styles – Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu (吳, Wú), and Sun – but is the smallest and least well-known of the five, in part because Wu Yuxiang and his family had no need to teach professionally."
Hence there are a number of non-recognised styles bearing next to no evidence of self-defence or having undergone any science-proven research of valid Tai Chi health benefits: examples of unrecognised styles include Wudang Pai, Cheng Man Ching, Li Style, Rose Lea, Lu Hung Bin and many others etc.
