What is Chen Tai Chi?
Tai Chi was created in the mid 1600’s by retired military general Chen Wanting. It was designed as a Kung Fu, or fighting, style. It contains martial application in its movements and can be used for self defense, but it also has great physical therapy benefits and helps with the flow of Chi (Qi) in the body leading to better health. It originated in Chen Village and was only taught to members of the Chen family from Chen village. The first outsider to be taught was Yang LuChan, who created Yang style Tai Chi. Chen style is known for its spiral movements and fajin, or issuing power. It is considered a very high level of Tai Chi. Classes are structured so that new students can join at any time, and material is broken down in a cohesive way to make it easier for everyone to learn. The term Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) translates to “Great Polarity Fist” and is a reference to the concept of Yin and Yang.
Laojia Yilu - Old Frame First Form
In the Level 1 class students learn the Old Frame First form. This form is 74 movements long and teaches the framework for Chen Style. The first form is considered the Yin side of the curriculum with 80% of the movements being soft, and 20% with issuing power (fajin).
Classes begin with Silk Reeling Spiral exercises (chan ssu gong). These are unique to Chen Tai Chi and teach the fundamental principles of movement. Silk reeling refers to the spiral movements a silk worm uses to wind itself into a cocoon as well as the physical reeling up of the silk thread. Silk thread is very delicate so movements need to be fluid and smooth so no to “break the thread”. Next we do a Post Standing (zhan zhuang) exercise form the style I Chuan to listen inward and strengthen inner structure.
Next we go through the form as a class, then we focus on one movement per week to help students are better able to practice independently. Concepts discussed include Tai Chi Principles and Methods, Martial Application, and Whole Body Spiral Mechanics. This is our Chen Tai Chi Level 1 class so movements aren’t yet broken down into great detail, but if students have higher level questions they will still be answered.
Towards the end of class students work on 2 person exercises called Push Hands (tuishou). Push hands exercises in this class focus on gentle listening movements teaching sensitivity, or listening (ting jin) and teach the concepts of Ward Off (peng), Roll Back (lu), Pressing (ji), and Pushing (an).
Class is concluded with a short Tao philosophy reading as well as a sitting meditation.
Chen Tai Chi Level 1 is taught Monday Evenings from 7-8:15, as well as Mondays and Thursdays from 1 - 2:15 by Aaron
Laojia Erlu - Old Frame Second Form, or Pao Choi
Pao Choi is the combat side of Chen Tai Chi. While the first form teaches softness, energy cultivation, and whole body spiral mechanics, Pao Choi teaches how to use all this with martial application. Most people envision Tai Chi as people moving very slowly in the park. This is Yang Style Tai Chi, which is also very good Tai Chi, but with the martial side removed so as to focus on the healing benefits.
The form taught in this class is Chen Style Tai Chi Old Frame Second Form, also known as Pao Choi (Laojia Erlu). Pao Choi teaches Fajin, or issuing explosive power. The other main focus of this class is Push Hands exercises (tui shou) and partner work with application. Push Hands is much like grappling and is a game played with Tai Chi to teach the 8 methods and to develop strong rooting. This is the class where we start to learn how to apply Tai Chi in a martial sense, students practice movements on each other in a safe way so that they can understand how the movements in the forms operate, and how to use them effectively on another person.
We start the class with stretching and then going through half of the first form to warm up. Next we go through the Pao Choi form as a group and one movement per week is broken down so that students can achieve proficiency. Students practice application from the movement that is practiced with a partner. Then is Push Hands drills and free sparring. Class concludes with a Tao philosophy reading and sitting meditation.
Chen Tai Chi Level 2 is taught Wednesday evenings from 5:40 - 6:40 by Aaron
Chen Tai Chi Weapons
The movements of Chen Tai Chi were based off of the movement of the Guandao, or Spring and Autumn Broadsword. Weapons work is essential in developing higher level Tai Chi skills. Part of the benefits comes from strength training. Weapons have weight to them, and moving them with the whole body from the core helps to develop core strength as well as speed and agility. The weapons also require a higher level of focus and will show you when your movements are incorrect. Through weapons training we are better able to refine our empty hand movements so that we have better Kung Fu.
The weapons taught in the class are the Straight Sword (jian), Broadsword (dao), Spear (qiang), and Guandao.