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Historical Background of the World Tai-Chi Federation
The World Tai-Chi Federation (the former The Int’l Tai-Chi Chuan Federation), was established during 1980 in Taiwan, Republic of China. Shih Jwei acted as the first chairman, and Hwang Shin-Shih, Ho Wei-zou, Siou Zu-ming, Wang Yen-nien had taken the duties of vice chairmen.
To promote Tai Chi Chuan activities into the world, the Federation held an International Tai Chi Chuan Competition Exhibition during the October 17 and 18th weekend in 1981 at gymnasium of National Taiwan Sport University. Participants were invited from The United States, The Great Britain, France, Holland, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong; totaling 9 countries and 11 teams. Including the hosting team, there were 1957 participants joining this event. After the competition, a Membership Convention of The Tai-Chi International Federation was held in Communication Hotel, Pei Tao, Taipei. Mr.龍清剛 from Japan was acquired as the vice chairman and Mr.Wang Yen-nien has become the acting chairman.
Through efforts of decades, after Mr. Teh-Sheh Tseng taking the Chairman of the Federation, in order to further extend Tai Chi Chuan influence to the world, he held an event of “16000 People Practicing Tai Chi Chuan” in 2003. This event successfully challenged the Guinness World Records. In helping Tai Chi Chuan becoming the Individual International Sports Item, Mr. Tseng had proposed to modify the name of The International Tai Chi Chuan Federation to World Tai Chi Chuan Federation. In 2006 he also held the First Tai-Chi Chuan World Cup Championship which had more than 10,000 participants, the largest number in the world. The spectacular result has allowed the Annual Convention that year to pass the decision to maintain the 2008 The Second Tai-Chi Chuan World Cup Championship to be held in Taiwan.
Future Expectations
There are two most important roles of Tai Chi Chuan in the 21st century. 1. Assist the World Health Organization in promoting exercising habit. Help bringing personal health and welfare into each family. 2. Persuade the International Olympic Committee to recognize The World Tai-Chi Chuan Federation as the official association of Tai Chi Chuan to help Tai Chi Chuan become a world class sport.
Although Tai Chi Chuan is derived from eastern culture, the aspect of health effects and theory on martial art in Tai Chi Chuan gives no difference with that in the western world. In recent years westerner has gradually picked up the essences of Tai Chi Chuan thus Tai Chi Chuan has become more popularized in the world. As the increases of country members, we are to put more efforts on professionalizing Tai Chi Chuan as a sport in the world arena, then Tai Chi Chuan will soon been recognized as an official sport.
Conclusion
International social progress is generated from professionalization and the developing of individual sports is the main stream of the world sports. Tai Chi Chuan is able to become a world-wide sport through the sharing, exchanging and interaction among country members of the World Tai Chi Chuan Federation. It also will give contributions to the WHO in achieving the goal of improving individual health and family welfare. |
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