Origin and Development of Tai Chi Chuan-1

This simplified form has gained widespread popularity both in China and abroad. The first English publication appeared in 1980. The 24 Step was devised as an introduction to the art and can be seen as a stepping stone for those wishing to pursue more difficult and strenuous routines. After the simplified 24 Steps the 32 Sword Form was choreographed. Both routines were taken from the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Later the complete Yang Form was presented as the 88 Forms Tai Chi Chuan. Again based on Yang Style, it preserves the order of the traditional Tai Chi Chuan movements, while expressing the character of the Yang Style. Special attention was paid to collecting and assessing these materials which were to be evaluated and verified by a committee of Tai Chi Chuan masters and coaches with Li Tian-Ji as their chairman. Because of the ancient tradition of handing down martial arts from master to pupil in the manner of word of mouth and personal presentation, literary sources and teaching materials are scarce. Much of this information is scattered widespread throughout China. The famous masters of the early 20th century have passed away, leaving a legacy of unrecorded history and facts.
The development in the second half of this century give practitioners a wide choice of traditional forms and more recently recorded, innovative sets to choose from. Moreover the new materials are aptly supported by video technology, photographic and written records to promote and sustain interest. There is no doubt that this progressive movement has fuelled the continuing worldwide interest in the arts of Chinese Wushu.

Origin and Development of Tai Chi Chuan

China was granted host country to the Eleventh Asian Games and for the first time the National Sport of Wushu was to be included. This major sports event took place in 1990 in Beijing, with many hundreds of martial systems existing in China. To present a national competition the previously mentioned Seven Routines were prepared. The Asian Games attracted forty seven countries and is the biggest international competition in th sports calendar, second only to the Olympics.

The first World Wushu Championships took place in Beijing in 1991. Both of these events featured the New Routines. At the Third World Wushu Championships 53 countries attended the venue in Baltimore, USA, 1995. By this time the 42 Combined Tai Chi Chuan was established as the International Compulsory Routine.

In addition to the 42 Routine there is the 48 Combined Form. This was the first set to depart from the formula of the traditional routines, again based on the Yang Style but incorporating features from some other styles. It also includes Yun Shou (Cloud Hands) moving both to the left and right.

And lastly, during the 1980’s, competition forms were prepared for the four major styles. These standardised forms are designed for a duration of six minutes. Traditional forms can last as long and longer than 20 minutes and the time factors made them unsuitable. The interest and participation in competitions has a growth worldwide both in audience and competitors.

Addendum
In 1999 China’s Minister of Sport and president of the Internation Wushu Federation, Mr Wu Shaozu, successfully lobbied the International Oylimpic Committee into recognising Wushu as an Olympic Sport. Wushu, meaning Martial Art, includes Tai Chi and other Chinese Martial Arts, external and internal.

        You should pay a little Patience to read this long article.

         There are many theories as to the origins of tai chi chuan.Many schools believethe founder was the Taoist monk Chan San Feng,who lived in the Sung Dynasty(AD 960-1279).The legend states that Chan San Feng watched a battle between a snake and a bird ten times its size.As the bird lunged at its prey,the wily reptile dodged and weaved,lashing back at its tormentor with relaxed lightning speed.
Eventually the exhausted bird flew off for easier prey.In that instant the art of tai chi was said to have been born.
             Chan San Feng,a master of the hard Shaolin martial arts,applied the principles he had witnessed in the actions of the snake to his martial arts expertise.The snake’s actions exemplified the Taoist principles of softness,relaxation,flexibility and naturalness,allied to the ancient breathing exercises to
stimulate chi development. It is not until the seventeenth century that tai chi can be verified historically.

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Henen Province in northern China was home to the Chen family of tai chi.This family has been credited with developing the Chen style,from which all the major schools-directly or indirectly-have developed.It is generally accepted that this’new’style of martial art was developed from the popular existing arts at the time.The difference was that its movements were soft and it did not contend
with opponents:adapting to the movements and yielding were its hallmark.

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           The legendary story as to the origin of Yang tai chi claims that at the beginning of the nineteenth century,Chen Chan Sheng headed the Chen family tai chi, which at the time was taught secretly to family members only.A young man by the name of Yang Lu Chan wished desperately to learn the art of the Chens’.
         Knowing that he would be refused if he asked to study with them,he became a servant in the household.He watched secretly as they trained at night,and during his free periods he would imitate the techniques he had seen.One fateful evening he was caught spying on the Chens.When he was ordered to vie against the family members,he managed to throw his adversaries to the ground.Chen
Chan Sheng was so impressed that he immediately offered to teach Yang as if he were a family member.
Yang Lu Chan eventually left the Chens and returned home,where he spread the art of tai chi chuan far and wide.Yang’s skill became known to the Imperial Royal Family,who are said to have ordered him to secrecy.He was admonished to teach only the Royal Family the art,and to keep it secret from the commoners.

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     Yang did not do this,but passed on the art to many students in secrecy.
     Yang Lu Chan had two sons-Yang Pan Hou and Yang Chien Hou.
     Yang Pan Hou was the elder.He had an irritable disposition and did not bear fools lightly.His special skill was his apparent ability to’stick’to his opponents,making it almost impossible to shake his light but tenacious hold.Pan Hou was a man of such great skill that he eventually taught the Imperial Guard.
Yang Chien Hou was the exact opposite of his elder brother.Gentle in nature,he would refuse all challenges to fight,not wishing to cause harm to others for personal gain.But that does not mean he could not fight;his tai chi skill was of the highest order,as was his teaching ability.He was said to be virtually unbeatable in the tai chi sport of free-style pushing hands.Even into old age,
young men could not match his immense pushing skill.

           In free-style pushing hands,two people vie against each other and attempt to use their skill to either push the other out of the area,or throw them to the ground.One young master at the time reported going to a free-style pushing hands event where the winner of one contest would stay in the area and take on the next.When he arrived an old man with a long,wispy beard was standing in the middle of the area.One young opponent after another was hurled out of the ring with apparent ease.On seeing this the young man came to the conclusion that the others were apparently not very good and he would have to show them how it was done.After all,this old man did not look much!Within seconds of stepping into the area,the young man was catapulted out with great force.Much chastened,he paid his respects to the old man he now knew was Yang Chien Hou.
          In their youth,Yang Lu Chan was an uncompromising teacher who pushed his two sons hard.Quite often the boys would receive split lips during training.Such were the conditions that Pan Hou ran away;but he was caught and returned home.Chien Hou actually tried to hang himself,but was prevented from doing so by other members of the household.Eventually,Yang Lu Chan relented and slackened his harsh regime.

         Yang Cheng Fu followed in his father Chien Hou’s footsteps by leading the Yang family.Cheng Fu is famous for his modification of the old Yang form into the most widely practised style of tai chi today,taught in this book.All Yang tai chi forms prior to Yang Cheng Fu are now described as’Old’.Cheng Fu removed the explosive strikes and flying kicks,and created the smooth,expansive
movements now associated with the Yang style.Yang Cheng Fu was an extremely large man with prodigious strength,and trained six hours a day. Standing six feet(1.8m)tall and weighing 280lbs(127kg),he was a formidable figure with some of the character traits of his uncle Yang Pan Hou.

         Yang Cheng Fu had three sons,two of whom stayed on in China.The eldest son,Yang Shou Chung,took over his father’s mantle and moved to Hong Kong where he headed the International Tai Chi Chuan Association.After a long and distinguished career teaching many excellent students and spreading the art beyond the Far East,he died at the age of 93.One of his three leading students
was master Chu King Hung.Upon the death of Yang Shou Chung,Chu,along with his two fellow disciples,took up the mantle as leaders of the International Tai Chi Chuan Association.

          Prior to training with Yang Shou Chung,Chu King Hung had studied under master Fu Wing Fei of Canton.Fu Wing Fei was not only famous for his skill in tai chi,but also in the internal arts of hsingyi and pa kua.Allied to his tai chi skill,Chu King Hung also studied with hsing yi/pa kua Grand Master Hon Sing Woon and attained great skill in these arts.Chu King Hung eventually moved to the West where,among others,he passed on his knowledge and skills to the author.

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          During Yang Cheng Fu’s extensive teaching tours,he was assisted by his nephew Fu Jong Wen.Fu was Yang Cheng Fu’s right-hand man,and very gifted in the art of tai chi.He is currently one of the most respected Yang style tai chi masters in China.

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The tutorial video of Tai Chi Chuan basic action

The tutorial video of Tai Chi Chuan basic action

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24 Simplified Tai Chi Chuan tutorial Video1

24 Simplified Tai Chi Chuan tutorial Videos1

tai-chi-chuan

         Tai chi has a large array of kicks,but tends to use them to support the hands in self-defence applications.At close quarters tai chi commands an extensive array of throwing and grappling manoeuvres.

Hsing yi Chuan
        Hsing yi requires that you be relaxed and natural.When both defending and attacking the movement is relaxed until the last instant,when the body stiffens momentarily as the hsing yi Jing is emitted.Hsing yi Jing is like a piece of bamboo, flexible but possessing shocking force.This force is characterised as being heavy like a cannon ball.

hsing-yi-chuan

         Hsing yi fighting strategy is much more assertive than that of tai chi-direct in its actions and preferring to move offensively as a form of defence,instantly countering every attack with one of its own,frequently at the same time.The mind and body move as one with a consistent forward momentum,hence the art’s name’mind fist’.Dodging,slipping and side-stepping are also used at a higher level.The’mind fist’possesses several kicks,but tends to keep them low and blend them with an explosive barrage from the hands. The basic arsenal of the various hsing yi styles encompasses the use of straight and circular punches,palm strikes,elbow,shoulder,head butt,kicking both high and low,and throwing and grappling.

Pa kua chang
           The movements of pa kua are not as forceful as hsing yi or as soft as tai chi. Spiralling and whip-like power emanate from pa kua techniques.Always circular in appearance,its footwork is lightning fast,complex and evasive, patterned on the imaginary movements of a dragon.(The dragon was thought to be as light as a bird,with the elusive quality of a snake.)More defensive than hsing yi,a circular defence is quickly followed by a powerful circular attack with one of a vast array of hand,foot or body attacks,or throws.Pa kua strategy is to move to the side or rear of an opponent and attack the aggressor in their most vulnerable position.Throwing manoeuvres are used extensively,while striking techniques are aimed at vital points.
         Pa kua has many kicking manoeuvres hidden within the pa kua chang form(72 in total).Occasionally kicks are aimed at the head,usually when the attacker least expects it and with lightning speed.

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         Pa kua chang literally means’eight diagrams palm’and is aligned with the ancient Taoist philosophy of the I Ching(Yi Ching)or’Book of Changes’.The basis of this philosophy is the dynamic inter-connections between all things in existence,both animate and inanimate.The basic eight manoeuvres of pa kua chang can be ascribed to the eight core trigrams of the Yi Ching.These eight trigrams are considered as the prime movers in existence,which in turn have eight actions each,making 64 actions.These 64 have also eight actions,and so on.It is a mathematical philosophy of great complexity which attempts to place Man and his actions in context with the cosmos.

What is Chi's meaning-1

           In Chinese medicine and chi kung(chi cultivation arts),chi is designated as a ‘Yin’or insubstantial energy-it can be felt but has no obvious form,whereas the human body has form and is a gross energy that is classified as’Yang’. The ancient philosophy of Taoism divided everything in the universe as either ‘Yin’or’Yang’,and the universal symbol represents that idea(fig.1).Yin is anything which has a female quality—caring,yielding,softness,night,are examples of what may be described as Yin.Its symbolic colour is black.Yang is the exact opposite,representing male qualities of strength,aggression,hardness, day,and whose colour is white.

           When chi is strong,the body is vibrant and active;when weak,the opposite occurs.In order to be strong and healthy,chi must be abundant and flowing smoothly.

           An explanation of how chi circulates is now in order.The body has 12 main channels or’meridians’,which function like rivers distributing chi throughout the body.There are eight extra channels whose function is to store and regulate the energy,and generally act as reservoirs.Each channel is connected to an organ and runs to a foot or hand,ending at the fingers or toes.The energy passes along the channel to nourish and give life to that organ,and on through the channels feeding the other organs.Between every one of the major routes there are a countless number of tiny tributaries or canals.These interconnect all of the main channels and supply chi to the skin.

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             When the chi is low,stagnating or blocked at a point,ill health and weakness will result.At this time one of three options could be used to rebalance the situation.An acupuncturist could diagnose the problem and insert needles at the appropriate points to regulate the energy flow.A herbalist could administer specific combinations of herbs after diagnosis.This would be to readjust the behaviour of the energy within the organ and the smooth flow of energy along the channel.In turn this would affect all of the channels through which the chi passes.The third method would be to practise one of the three internal exercises and martial arts of tai chi-pa kua,hsing yi,or chi kung.The combination of the movements,breathing and calm relaxation could restore the energy back to normal.The use of exercises such as these is usually as a preventive against ill health,rather than a cure.When the malfunction in the body has reached a critical point,medical treatment is usually called for to redress the balance.This is then followed by the exercise therapy to reinforce the treatment and maintain the return to balance.
            The ageing process is also governed by the quality,strength and smooth flow of vital energy in the body.If the organs are not functioning at their peak,the body will never reach its potential,shortening the life-span of the individual.Until the early part of this century there were longevity schools in China,where old masters would train their followers with the aim of a vastly extended life expectancy.To reach the goal the internal martial arts,chi kung exercise,dietary control and the taking of specific herbs and extracts were followed.The results, apparently,could be spectacular,with schools full of centenarians in some instances.The students must have possessed a great deal of dogged determina-tion to follow such a spartan regime,while also being able to afford the extremely expensive herbs and extracts required.

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            In the practice of acquiring chi,certain points of the body are of special interest. At these points chi can be regulated and strengthened.The most prominent is the tan tien,which is situated two inches below the navel.This is the hub of all tai chi activity,and the place where energy circulation starts and finishes.By building up energy at this point,the chi can be made to flow into the main meridians,and strengthen the body.Almost as important as the tan tien is ming men(or the’life gate’)which is situated on the spine in the small of the back.This is sometimes called the’back tan tien’and is a very important point not only in chi kung,but also in acupuncture.

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            The major point in the foot is called yong guan(‘bubbling well’),which is situated on the sole and is the starting point of the kidney meridian.The kidney chi plays a major role in the health of the body;being at the beginning of the channel is of great significance.At the other end of the body you will find the point called bai hui,which can be found on the top of the head.At this junction the energy flow of the head and the onward flow of energy can be controlled.

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          Pushing hands practice for two people increases sensitivity and the ability to cope with changing situations,as the partners perform pre-set movements.The vast array of martial arts techniques at the disposal of the tai chi student gives a lifetime of potential study in this most excellent self-defence system. San shou,or’free hands’two-man fighting exercise,allows the students to combine their techniques into a flowing interchange with a partner,giving flexibility and dexterity in combat applications.Each person has a series of attack and counter-attack manoeuvres to learn,which you could call’side A’and’side B’.When side A and side B have completed their own attack-and-defence series against each other,they immediately move into the other’s technique routine;that is,side A will then begin side B’s series of attack and defence,and vice versa.The san shou then forms a complete loop,with continuous and unbroken activity on both sides.When the san shou is practised alone,sides A and B are strung together in a flowing form.If explosive force is then added to the san shou form,it is described as pao chuan,or’exploding fist’.Chi kung(or vital energy accumulation exercise)is an integral part of traditional tai chi training,resulting in a healthier body,a calmer mind and strong self-defence power.

Yang Cheng Fu - Tai Chi Chuan

Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight.
Returning is the motion of the Tao.
Yielding is the way of the Tao.
What is firmly established cannot be uprooted.
What is firmly grasped cannot slip away.

– Tao Te Ching

T’ai Chi Ch’uan & Chinese Martial Arts

T’ai Chi Ch’uan is a Taoist internal martial art. One account of the history of T’ai Chi Ch’uan credits its development to the Taoist immortal Chang San-feng, who is said to have drawn the inspiration for the art by watching a fight between an snake and an aggressive eagle. Chang San-feng was reportedly a master of Shaolin Kung Fu who reached an extraordinary level of cultivation through Taoist internal practices. Another account of the history of T’ai Chi Ch’uan is that many different Kung Fu masters developed it over a long period of time; as a synthesis of internal meditation and martial technique. Either way, the written history of T’ai Chi Ch’uan goes back about 300 years and it was not until the turn of the 20th century that it was introduced to the general public.

T’ai Chi Ch’uan is a very unique and powerful art, for both internal power and longevity. T’ai Chi Ch’uan is a martial art which embodies Taoist philosophy. When T’ai Chi Ch’uan was developed, the martial arts were very aggressive. One’s proficiency was measured by the strength and aggression of attack, in terms of the Taoist principle of yin and yang this was a purely “yang” conception of martial arts. What was revolutionary about T’ai Chi Ch’uan was the incorporation of the yin element to fighting. In T’ai Chi Ch’uan one uses a balance of yin techniques with yang techniques, a balance between yielding and attacking. It is for this reason that T’ai Chi Ch’uan is described as “a needle hidden in cotton” or “hardness concealed in softness”.

Presently T’ai Chi Ch’uan is rapidly growing in popularity for the tremendous health benefits which come through practice. Clinical studies have shown that T’ai Chi practice can lower blood pressure, reduce nervous tension, and benefit the immune, digestive, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. At this time, over one hundred million people practice T’ai Chi Ch’uan on a regular basis.

2: a certain foundation, will gradually improve the knowledge.
Learn to imitate, reading, read boxing. In this section must be clear about the relationship of unprotected
And the method of silk.
The actual situation relations:
Our hand to hand strength: no, this tent, hand to hand it to sink, for real.
Leg of the heavy burden: for the legs, light is empty.
Hands and feet left unprotected left foot: actually, virtual reality is right, right foot.
Tim: how can waist, hip for for hip.
The silk tie:
Hand over by the outgoing finger: for by the DaZhi, for outward thrust.
Feet: and the hand of the tie wire wrapped.
Rose: leg leg entangled by outward open for the outgoing, by for inverse.

Three: need several essentials
Tents throughout the strength:
Charge will tents, as to the tent, when gas, gas GuDang within reach four message. Like: head
Top to collapse, the broken.
The circular arc is:
During the operation cannot walk in a straight line, go down and go down the fork semicircle arc, semicircle, flat
Round back.
Running round, placement for:
When run, always like holding a sphere, placement of the gas is just point to
A supportive and eight.
Breathing:
USES pectoral type breath and abdominal breathing inverse methods.
Fold:
“There must be a folding reciprocating must convert”. Also is in the opposite direction, play
Taking action.
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