In this paper, a new on-line parameter estimation methodology for the general continuous time Takagi-Sugeno(T-5) fuzzy model whose parameters are poorly known or uncertain is presented. An estimator with an appropriate adaptive law for updating the parameters is designed and analyzed based on the Lyapunov theory. The adaptive law is designed so that the estimation model follows the plant parameterized model. By the proposed estimator, the parameters of the T-S fuzzy model can be estimated by observing the behavior of the system and it can be a basis for the indirect adaptive fuzzy control. Based on the derived design method, the parameter estimation for controllable canonical T-S fuzzy model is also Presented.