Tai Chi is one of the best known martial arts of the Internal systems from ancient China. Based on Qigong and martial art techniques from thousands of years ago, Chen Wangting developed the Chen Style Tai Chi around 1670. It is characterized by contrasting and complimentary movements-slow and soft versus fast and hard. It contains explosive power and low stances. Chen style is more difficult and physically demanding than Sun style; thus it is not the best style to start with if you have arthritis.
Yang Lu-chan learned Tai Chi from the Chen village. He later modified it with higher stances, gentle and slow movements, making it much more suitable for more people.
From Yang and Chen style, three other major styles developed – Wu, Hao, and Sun. Each of these styles share similar essential principles, but contain different features and characteristics. Sun, the latest style, is most suitable for people with arthritis.
Introduction
Tai Chi, also known as Shadow Boxing, is one of the major branches of the traditional Chinese martial arts. Its name is derived from the philosophical term, “Tai Chi,” the first known written reference of which appeared in the Book of Changes over 3000 years ago during the Zhou Dynasty (1100-1221 BC). In this book it says that “in all changes exists Tai Chi, which causes the two opposites in everything.” Tai Chi means the ultimate of ultimate, often used to describe the vastness of the universe.
The essential principles of Tai Chi are based on the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism, which stresses the natural balance in all things and the need for living in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature. According to this philosophy, everything is composed of two opposite, but entirely complementary, elements of yin and yang, working in a relationship which is in perpetual balance. Tai Chi consists of exercises equally balanced between yin and yang, which is why it is so remarkably effective.
Yin and yang are polar opposites and are found in all things in life. In nature, everything tends toward a natural state of harmony. Likewise, yin and yang are always in total balance. Concepts such as soft, pliant, yielding and feminine are associated with yin, while concepts such as hard, rigid and masculine are associated with yang. Both sides complement each other completely and together form a perfect whole. Things which are perfectly balanced and in harmony are at peace; being at peace leads naturally to longevity. A perfectly harmonized person will show this balance and completeness by his or her tranquillity and peacefulness of mind.
The Beginning
It is almost impossible to separate Chinese martial art history from legend. Legends hold interesting and useful messages; thus, I will share some with you.The real origins of Tai Chi are obscure. The more romantic and mystical accounts date back as far as the 15th, 12th or even the 8th century. One legendary figure, Zhang Shanfeng, was a famous Taoist priest in the 15th century. He was believed to possess super-human ability and immense internal power.
Less romantic, but more reliably sourced, accounts of Tai Chi, date back to Chen Wangting, a 16th century Royal Guard of the Chen village in Wenxian County, Henan Province. After retiring from the army, he was drawn to the teachings of Taoism, which led him to a simple life of farming, studying and teaching martial arts.
Yang Style
Yang Style is the most popular tai chi style. Yang Lu-chan (1799-1872) created it in the early 19th century. As a youth, Yang loved martial arts and studied with many famous masters. One day, he sparred with and was soundly defeated by a descendent from the Chen village. He was fascinated by his opponent’s unusual manner: His soft, curve-like, but powerful movements were totally unlike the predominantly hard styles of martial art at the time. Yang was so eager to learn the art, he pretended to be a beggar in starvation and fainted in the front door of the Chen’s village elder. He was rescued and accepted as a servant in the Chen household. Yang woke up at night to learn the art through a crack in the wall while others practiced. He soon became a highly skilled practitioner. Later, when Yang was discovered, he could have been legally executed for is behavior in those days, but the village elder was so impressed with Yang’s skill, he formally took him up as a student.
Yang later left the village, traveling around China, to teach the art. He gained a great reputation and was named, “Yang the Invincible.” Yang eventually developed his own style, which he taught to a great number of people, including members of the Imperial Court. Yang style is characterized by gentle, graceful and slow movements, which are easier to learn and promote health. Yang style has become quite popular in modern times.
Tai Chi Introduction
What began as an obscure martial arts system has blossomed in recent years to become a worldwide exercise phenomenon. Tai Chi Chuan classes are now found in community centers, senior centers, parks and recreation programs and health education classes in many countries.
Let’s examine the nature of Tai Chi to understand why this exercise appeals to so many people worldwide. Tai Chi is a series of movements, based on offensive and defensive martial techniques, performed as a sequenced set. Some early observers call this Chinese “shadow boxing,” as some punches and kicks were recognizable. It is the slow, deliberate pace of these motions during practice that is so special.
Recent scientific research indicates that many of the health benefits of practicing Tai Chi can be traced to this slowness and attention to physical detail. The steps are graceful; the body’s motion is circular, fluid and relaxed. There is elegance, a sense of ease and balance in the movements and an ineffable calm expressed by the players. There is serenity in the exercises that can be seen by even the most casual observer.
Tai Chi is an exercise that can be practiced well into one’s eighties, nineties and beyond. It has become one of China’s most recognizable cultural art forms, and has deep roots in traditional Chinese philosophy and self-cultivation exercises.
Tai Chi Origins
(Note: Tai Chi Chuan “Grand Ultimate Fist” has more recently dropped “Chuan” in its name as most do Tai Chi for health rather than as a martial art.)
The origins of Tai Chi are obscured by history and legend. One legend has it that the semi-mythical Chinese Taoist priest Zhang Sanfeng, said to have been born either in 960, 1247 or in 1279, created the concept of internal martial arts, and created Tai Chi Chuan (“Grand UltimateFist”. According to legend, he observed a crane attacking a snake on Wudang Mountain and was greatly inspired by the snake’s defensive tactics. The snake remained still and alert in face of the crane’s onslaught until it made a lunge and fatally bit its attacker. This inspired him to create a 72-movement Tai Chi Chuan set.
The Taoist philosophy and teachings of Wudang Mountain were passed down through many generations. No verifiable historical records can be found until about 300 years ago. These earliest records indicate that Tai Chi Chuan can be traced to Chenjiagou, a small village in Henan Province, home of the Chen clan. Since that time, 19 generations of Chen style players have maintained their strict training and high standards. Until the end of the 19th century, this was a closely held family technique.
In the 1820’s Yang Luchan began studying Chen style, and did so for over 10 years. His fighting skills earned him the nickname, “Yang the Invincible,” eventually land him a job in the Forbidden City teaching the Manchu Imperial Guard. He developed Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan, which began to attract the attention of the aristocracy and as a result he and Wu Yuxiang began to slow the motions down, making them more evenly paced and reserved, suitable for more contemplative players.
From the 1840’s, the Yang Family began to teach publicly, hoping that the daily practice of Tai Chi could restore the health and downtrodden spirits of their fellow citizens. In the 1950’s, the Chinese government created the popular Simplified Yang Style Tai Chi 24 Form and propagated it widely to the masses as a health exercise. Today, estimates of Tai Chi Chuan players worldwide range in the tens of millions. Traditional Tai Chi Chuan has 5 basic styles: Chen Style is the most martial, with explosive strikes and coiling sinuous motions. Yang Style is the most widely practiced, with large open postures and slow, evenly paced motions. Two other styles developed from the early Yang style: one developed by Wu Yuxiang and Li Yiyu and spread by Hao Weizhen; the other created by Quan You and Wu Jianquan. They are known as the Wu/Hao style and the Wu style, respectively. Finally, Sun Lutang combined his experience in Baguazhang and Xingyiquan with Tai Chi Chuan to create the Sun style.
— Text from; International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association Instructor Study Guide—https://yangfamilytaichi.com/index.php/history-culture/
Tai Chi Love has had the honor of working with individuals with direct lineage to the Yang Family.
Sifu Qiao Lianchang, guest taught traditional Yang style 24, 28, 42, 85 with Tai Chi Love.
She is 5th generation official Yang Family, disciple of Master Li De Run, 4th generation Yang Master
via 2nd generation, Yang Jian Hou.
Sifu Qiao also studied with Fu Sheng Yuan, son of Fu Zhong Wen, sharing the deep power of this lineage to us through the 28 Form.
Karla Groesbeck now carries on these Traditional Yang forms in specific classes and seminars.
