This very powerful form of internal martial art with its duel aspects for health, relaxation, fitness and defence, was a closely guarded secret and only passed down and developed through generations of the Chen family and their close associates in the Chenjiagou village, located in Henan province (not too far from the Songshang Shaolin Temple). The Chen family style of Tai Ji was only revealed publicly at the beginning of the 20th century in Beijing. The more familiar Yang style evolved from the Chen style by Yang Luchan (1799-1871), who was the first outsider to be taught the Chen family skills.

Chen Tai Ji differs from other styles of Tai Ji with it’s unique 'chansi gong' silk reeling (twining and spiraling) exercises, use of a full range of stances from high to demandingly low and by the use of explosive energy releases known as ‘fajin’ that accompany punches and kicks. The practice contains both bare hand and a variety of weapons forms, 'San Shou' and 'Tui Shou' or pushing hands training which tests the practioner's reactions with an opponent and takes many years to master. For cultivation of energy and deep relaxation is Wuji Zhuang, the standing stake, a static meditative exercise that strengthens the body while also quietening the body and mind with the focus on the dantian and the energy building and circulating within.

The Chen traditional forms have martial applications concealed within their apparent softness and grace. They can be practiced either slowly, or more vigorously with a lower stance and fajin and with the applications of the martial techniques contained within the movement.

There are a range of Chen forms available to practice with the Tai Ji Circle, from the beginner's 4 direction form, 19 and 18 part forms (Level 2), to Laojia Yi Lu, the traditional oldest first Chen routine, from which many of the shorter forms and other tai ji styles (Yang) derive. Laojia Er Lu is the advanced 2nd traditional routine known as Cannon Fist (as it is full of energetic fajin), the Chen 56 Competition form (a combination of the old and new frame Chen forms) and Chen Sword, and Chen 72 part Spear Form and Double Sabres.

Health and Tai Ji Quan

The body systems of circulation, breathing and digestion benefit from tai ji practice, the muscles and ligaments gain flexibility and bones are strengthened; balance and coordination also improves with the varied pace and rhythms of forms and the spiralling exercises.  It is recognised that slow regulated breathing and exercise can de-stress the body and enhance health and well being. Tai Ji offers all these great benefits to health.

During Tai Ji practice the body stays relaxed and the movements natural, the training is a holistic system with coordinated breathing and movements combined with strong mental concentration which makes it an exercise system suitable for everyone and people of all ages. The forms can be practiced either slowly to gain energy when tired, or more vigorously for fitness, hard training and martial techniques.

There is a full range of Chen Tai Ji Quan classes at all our venues – see timetable

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Chen Family Rules and Commandments – Men Gui

The Chen family Tai Ji Quan has it's own set of rules and ethics that have been passed down through the generations. There are 3 areas considered to be important for development of martial skill and spiritual growth. These are:

The Twelve Characters
1. Duan: Dignified manners
2. Zheng: Honesty and decency
3. Hoa: Noble, broad-minded
4. Xin: Good faith, trustworthy
5. Jing: Respect for teachers and elders
6. Ren: Benevolent, kindness
7. Yong: Courageous, fight for just cause
8. Cheng: Sincere
9. Gong: Fair, impartial
10. Yi: Just, righteous
11. Zhong: Loyalty
12. De: Morality, ethics

The Twenty Prohibitions
Do not be a bully
Do not fear the strong and bully the weak
Do not be a coward, help those in danger
Do not commit unlawful acts
Do not use skill for immoral acts
Do not become arrogant
Do not sell/exhibit skill indiscriminately
Do not join illicit gangs, set up cliques
Do not waste time in idleness
Do not be conceited and boastful
Do not compete with the arrogent
Do not argue with the ignorant
Do not covet worldly possessions
Do not seek undeserved wealth
Do not indulge in alchol and prostitution
Do not be in public or personal debt
Do not use public office for personal ends
Do not hunger for power and position
Do not be a traitor
Do not neglect your training or waste your skill

The Twelve Vices, (negative character traits)
1. Xie: Immoral practices
2. Fan: Commit crimes
3. Diao: Artfulness, rascally
4: Hua: Cunning, tricky
5. She: Wasteful, Free-spending behaviour
6. Zha: Duplicity, cheating
7. Feng: Violent behaviour
8. Bei: Immorality, baseness
9. Jian: Treacherous, fraudulence, hypocricy
10. Huang: Dishonesty
11. Kuang: Overbearing, arrogance
12. Jianxian: Malicious, treacherous

“The good and upright person learns the ‘Taijiquan’ in order to keep his body healthy and strong and to defend himself – this is the core teaching of the Chen family.”

“The deviant, unscrupulous person learns the ‘Taijiquan’ in order to intimidate and harm others – this is absolutely forbidden by the Chen family”

Recommended reading

The information on Chen Tai Ji Quan was taken from several recommended sources:

Chen Syle Taijiquan – The Source of Taiji Boxing

by Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim and David Gaffney

published by North Atlantic Books

Chen Style Taijiquan, Sword and Broadsword

by Chen Zhenglei

Tai Chi for Health

by Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei and Master Liming Yue

published by Chen Style Tai Chi Centre in Manchester

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Martial Virtue for all Wushu training – Wu De

Chinese notions of wushu etiquette and morals derive from the ideas of Confucius (6th BC) they are; scholarly virtue, loyalty, benevolence and gentleness, and from Sun Zi's Art of War, containing 5 morals of; wisdom, loyalty, benevolence, courage and integrity. Chinese Wushu is a system of skills and theories: it is ‘philosophic boxing’ with martial ethics. The code of conduct is for social life, for combat and to promote health and temperament, man to man and man to society. Martial ethics and it's code of behaviour is integral to wushu training.

Respect for human life
Wushu took birth to protect and maintain human life

Emphasis on moral principles
Promotes stability between man and society

Emphasis on moral conduct and manners
Qualities, sense of justice, diligence, persistence, honesty and hard work

Respect for the teacher and care for each other
Learn hard and treasure friendship

Modesty and eagerness
keep improving skills, refrain from arrogance and belittling others. We should learn from each other

Freedom from personal grudges
Learning wushu, aim at self defence, but should not use be used for bullying. Should be taken up to uphold justice and truth

Persistance and perserverance
Hard task needs arduous effort, should try to understand essentials and inner meaning of each routine

ETIQUETTE
Salute or greeting before routine:

Bowing
Stand upright, looking forward, bend over bow head and stand up

Palms joining
Hands together in front of chest and bend forward, indicates sincerity

Fist holding standard wushu greeting

Official greeting
For competition, training and performance.

Make fist with right hand, place against centre of left palm, 4 fingers kept straight, thumb bent in. Push hands forward, keep relaxed and confident.

Meaning: The bent left thumb indicates lack of arrogance/ego, 4 left straight fingers indicates integrity and being noble-minded. The right fist indicates valour and vigour, the fist is stopped by the left palm, means being brave, but not making trouble or breaking the rules.

From Essentials of Chinese Wushu - Beijing Foreign Language Press

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