One must understand that it is a method that gradually changes the body into a complete working unit. Four very important rules which if followed, produce good Tai Chi. The first is touch. You must touch your opponent to listen to his body with your body. The second is follow. You must follow your opponents movement to hear his body. The Third is empty or lock. When you feel your opponent you can tell if he is on or off balance. If they are off balance they are considered empty or locked. The fourth is hit or throw away. Therefore, you touch your opponent and listen. You follow his energy until he becomes locked or empty. You then hit or throw the opponent using their own force.
Documents of this period indicate the Chen clan settled in Chen Village, Henan province, China, in the 13th century and reveal the defining contribution of Chen Wangting 1600–1680. It is said that he was a sucessful candidate in the imperial military examinations at the provincial level in the late Ming dynasty. He engaged in military expeditions against rebel forces commanded by Li Zicheng in Shandong. Upon the fall of the Ming, his opportunities for advancement ruined by the change of dynasties, he moved to Chen Village. he fused techniques from the teachings of the Ming general Qi JiKuang with traditional medical theory and taoist breathing techniques to form a unique yielding form of martial art.
Chen Style Tai Chi combines many principles of movement along with the cultivation or movement of chi. Chen style uses hard, soft, fast and slow movements to create a motion for offensive and defensive techniques. This is achieved while providing a method of promoting good health, preventing sickness, and reducing stress which provides greater potential for quietness. Chen Style contains strikes, parries, throws, seizing, sinking, rolling, pushing, dodging, jumping, and kicking. Most of the kicking and punching is unique as it involves an explosion that is unitarily connected. All techniques of Chen Style flow together and interact with each other.
Chen style Tai Chi movements are large and stretching, Footwork is brisk and steady, the body is naturally straight, the entire body controlled by internal energy. The exercise requires the close coordination between mind-intent, internal energy and the body. The outer appearance is an arc and the internal energy travels along the path of a spiral, the energy winds around so that the external action appears soft but corresponding internal action is hard.
- Keeping the head upright
- Keeping the body straight
- Drop the shoulders and sink the elbow
- The chest curve inwards and the waist pressed forward.
- Sink the energy to the bottom
- Breath naturally
- Relax the hip and keep the knees bent
- The crotch is arch shaped
- keep the mind pure and clear
- The top and bottom works together
- Adjust hardness and softness
- Alternate fast and slow
- The external shape is curved
- The internal energy travels a spiral path
- The body leads the hand
- The waist is an axis
Form 01 Preparing Form
Form 02 Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar
Form 03 Lazy About Tying Coat
Form 04 Six Sealing And Four Closing
Form 05 Single Whip
Form 06 White Crane Spreads Its Wings
Form 07 Walk Diagonally
Form 08 Brush Knee
Form 09 Three Steps Forward
Form 10 Cover Hands And Strike With Fist
Form 11 High Pat On Horse
Form 12 Kick With The Left Heel
Form 13 Jade Girl Works At Shuttles
Form 14 Wave Hands
Form 15 Turn Body With Double Lotus Kick
Form 16 Cannon Fist Over Head
Form 17 Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar
Form 18 Finishing Form