Tai chi chuan is dead.
We give it life.
If we do not discover what the founders of the art discovered, it is all
dead.
(Ron
Sieh)
Yang style
There are a few different
styles of
tai chi but 'Yang style' is perhaps the most common.
It was founded by Yang Lu-chan.
Yang style is characterised by large, open, rounded postures and slow motion
movement during
form
practice.
Under the heading of 'Yang style' many variations and
interpretations
can be found, but despite any differences, the
postures should look pretty similar to
the ones pictured above.
Our
school practices the
Yang Cheng Fu style, which is quite
martial in
nature but very good for health.
It is sometimes called New Yang, Classical Yang, Traditional Yang, 88 or 108
step.
The version we teach is consistent with the
form taught by
Yang Sau Chung, Yang Zhengduo and Chu
King-hung.
This is not the form taught by Cheng Man Ching or
Beijing/Peking schools.
Please remember that there is much more to the system than just form.
Neigong
Within the Yang Cheng Fu style is
neigong - the
inner strength.
This is one of the things that makes tai chi unlike a typical martial art
such as karate or wing chun.
Neigong allows the body to have
strength and
power without using muscular tension or
conventional strength.
Martial art
Yang Cheng Fu style tai chi is a
martial art,
designed for
self defence.
It uses
fa jing to deliver
power.
Self defence is not 'fighting' - it is the ability to escape unharmed from a
realistic attack.
What makes tai chi different from
other martial
arts is that your
health must come
foremost at all times, even during self defence practice.
Mirror the form
The Yang Cheng Fu form is largely asymmetrical. It does not provide
an even stretch on both sides of the body.
The form was designed to favour a right-handed person.
Experienced students must mirror the entire Yang Cheng Fu form.
Doing this will ensure that your body receives a balanced workout.
It is also a good perceptual challenge.
Page created 18 May 1998