Small groups of tai chi chuan enthusiasts gathered around the world Saturday to practice their art in honor of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day. Countries including Italy and Malta, as well as states across America, saw public demonstrations of the widely practiced Chinese internal martial art whose origins date to at least the 17th century.

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The origins of the global gathering are somewhat more recent going back to 1998 when a public demonstration of tai chi in Kansas City, Mo. received national coverage on CNN. Interest in holding coordinated, mass, public practices spread internationally with the last Saturday in April becoming the recognized day for tai chi to be celebrated worldwide.