Tai chi was for
housewives unless you found an authentic teacher,
when it became the deadliest art.
(Robert Twigger)
Frame and circle
Frame refers to the size of the structure and can be
measured in terms of large, medium and small.
Circle refers to the size of the waist/torso movement and again can be
considered in terms of large, medium and small.
Tai chi students typically move from large to small as the
neigong develops
and the movements become subtle.
Bearing
Miyamoto Musashi provided expert advice on
how a person should carry themselves in martial arts movement.
Pace
Generally tai chi is performed at a slow constant pace.
This gives the student time to focus thoroughly upon the difficult movements
and benefit from the calm that comes with moving slowly.
Dynamic Balancing Tai Chi produces an unusual
rhythm - the body undulates like water as you move.
This is called 'reeling silk'.
Main tai chi styles
Chen
Yang
Wu
Sun
Cheng Man Ching
People's Republic tai chi
Chen
The Chen family claim to have
created the first formal system of tai chi.
With ties to the Shaolin Temple, Chen style looks quite like
Shaolin kung fu in
appearance.
It remains martial.
Chen is physically demanding to
perform.
Very low stances, stamping and leaping moves may make this style unsuitable for students with
health problems.
Yang
Yang Lu-chan changed Chen style
and created his own style of tai chi.
The stances were more upright and less external in appearance. It was
designed for the imperial courts rather than the battlefields.
Yang style is practised equally for health and
self defence.
The system was simplified by
Yang Cheng Fu in
order to increase the health benefits. It became slower, more circular and
accessible.
Yang is the most practised style on the planet.
The term 'Yang' encompasses a variety of derivative styles.
Wu
Reputed to be good for back
problems, Wu style is rarely found in the West.
Bruce Frantzis
is a known exponent of this style.
Sun
Sun style is a combination of
tai chi, hsing i and bagwa.
Cheng Man Ching
Cheng Man Ching was asked to teach tai chi to soldiers and had a limited
time in which to do it.
He simplified the Yang Cheng Fu system and
developed his own style.
Wolfe Lowenthal's book
There Are No Secrets
is a wonderful account of his
experiences as a student of Cheng Man Ching.
Nigel Sutton has written excellent material concerning
Cheng Man Ching tai chi.
People's Republic tai chi
In order to promote health, the People's Republic of China created new forms
of tai chi.
Lacking neigong and the martial component - they could be learned quickly
and easily.
Many of these forms combine elements from Chen, Yang and Sun style
tai chi.
The new forms were designed as performance art and are popular in
competitions and exhibitions e.g. Peking 24 step.
Page created 5 March 1998