An Introduction to the Chen-style Tai Chi Quan

2009-2-6 10:31:00

Today tai chi chuan is typically practised for a number of widely varying reasons like health, external/internal martial art skills. There are five traditional family styles that tend to retain the original martial applicability of tai chi teaching methods.

The Chen family style is the oldest and parent form of the five main tai chi chuan styles. It ranks the third in terms of world-wide popularity, compared to the other main taijiquan styles. Chen style is characterized by its lower stances, more explicit Silk reeling and bursts of power. With jumps, leaps and explosions of strength, the performance follows a circular path.

It falls into two categories - the old and new frames. The old frame was created by Chen Wangling himself. It had five routines which were also known as ihe 13 move Chuan. Chen Wangling also developed a long-style Chuan routine of 108 moves and a cannon Chuan rouline. It was then handed down to Chen Changxing and Chen Youben, boxers in the Chenjia Valley who were all proficient in ihe old frame. The present-day Chen-style boasts of the old routine, the cannon routine and the new routine.