Chen Style Tai Chi
(18,36, 74)
Newer students are often surprised to
think of Chen as a Tai Chi form as it looks dramatically different from the Yang
styles. Chen features low stances, slow and quick tempo changes, and the
explosive power called Fa Jing. In spite of the visible differences
between it and Yang forms, Chen Style uses the same qualities of relaxation and
mindfulness found in all internal arts. Chen is actually considered to be the
original Tai Chi style.
Chen Style Tai Chi Sword
The Chen Sword set has the same stances
and pacing as the Chen hand routine. This sword form advances the student's
understanding of dynamic waist movement and further develops the concept of
Fa Jing.
Yang Style Tai Chi
Quan (also referred
to as Tai Chi Chuan)
The simplified 24 movement form is
characterized by slow, relaxed, and evenly paced movement. This particular form
is probably the most widely practiced type of Tai Chi. This course is
recommended as an introduction to the internal program, providing the principles
that will be found through out the other forms.
Yang Style Tai Chi
Sword
As a compliment to Yang Style Tai
Chi,
this weapon form emphasizes the use of dynamic thought and its extension through
the body and sword. Requiring the extra level of controlling a blade and
featuring more single-leg stances, Yang Tai Chi Sword is the next progressive
step in the Internal Program.
Combined Tai Chi 42
Movement
This form
combines four prominent styles of Tai Chi today - Chen, Yang, Wu and Sun. Each
style features different aspects of Tai Chi that are introduced in this set.
This form is used in the People's Republic of China as a competition set.
Combined Tai Chi
42 Sword
Like the hand form, this is another
competition routine that draws from the primary Tai Chi styles. These Combined
forms are meant to serve as an even playing field for practitioners and judges
alike in tournaments.
The goal of Chen Tai Chi practice is to have every movement of the body combined
as one entity - an integrated body working in unison.
During the practice of Chen Tai Chi while self-defense ability is developed
through the system of the movement, the body is required to adjust itself in
order to maintain balance. The heart of the system of Chen for self-defense is
the cannon fist usually performed at the second half of the long form. Its main
purpose is designed to give you the maximum amount of force in an instant at a
very close combat range by teaching you how to use the entire body for full
contact. In other words, the Chen Style practitioner uses the legs to stop,
control, and damage the opponent's legs during an attack, while at the same time
using his arms to crush the opponents' arms, and then be able to deliver a blow
to the head and chest simultaneously.
The
characteristics of Chen-style Taichiquan are liberal and stretching postures,
firm and graceful footwork, internal energy controling the whole body with
twining strength being the core, the waist being the axle and continous movement
in a frame. Once moved or stopped, the whole body moves or stops immediately,
just like floating clouds and flowing water; inducing energy like an eagle
gliding, diving and seizing its prey.
Requirements in practicing Taichi: stand proper with your shoulders relaxed and
arms natrually down, straighten your back down to your waist, relax your mind
and breathe naturally. Then loosen your hips, crook your knees, half circle your
hipbones, mix vigorous, soft, quick and slow movement together. External energy
being an arc line and internal energy a spiral line, let the body lead the
hands, the waist becomes the axle, then an extremly heavy and flexible internal
energy is gradually generated by twining and winding just like wraping iron with
cotton ------ soft outside and hard inside. There is no stiff straight line, no
interuption, no convex and no concave, no jerk or tear in the whole process of
boxing. Let the revolving waist lead the shoulder and hips, and the revolving
ankles lead the knees. Fold your chest to form a continous spacial movement from
your head to your feet.
Relaxation, softness and slowness are the unique ways and manner of practicing
Taichi. The final objective is to smooth Jingluo (main and collateral energy
channels in the body). Through relaxation, softness and slowness, you can make
internal energy and external figure become an organic whole. With your mind
leading internal energy which in turn leads your body, it’s based on internal
energy to move or stop, and gradually make it full, strong and energetic. That
is to say, your internal energy controlled by the diaphragm becomes substantial,
just as the old Chinese saying goes “ The small streams rise when the main
stream is high”. Channel your internal energy to all the limbs and bones, and
let it move in endless cycles. Only through the above way can you get the real
foundation of health building and self-defence. The most important point is that
Taichiquan persues the innate and natural internal energy, not an acquired
energy. TOP
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