TAI CHI CHUAN: “SUPREME ULTIMATE FIST”

Tai Chi Chuan (太极拳), or “Supreme Ultimate Fist” is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced for for a variety of reasons: cultivation of health and longevity, its hard and soft martial techniques, and form demonstration in competitions. It is based on the Doaist and Confucinist belief of Yin and Yang, and our eternal quest to bring these into balance, or “Tai Chi” ([). The “Chuan” part of the name therefore refers to these principles put into “fist”, or martial form.

Tai Chi Chuan training first and foremost involves learning solo routines, known as forms (套路 taolu). While the image of Tai Chi Chuan in popular culture is typified by exceedingly slow movement, many Tai Chi Chuan styles (including the three most popular, Chen,Yang and Wu) have secondary forms of a faster pace. Some traditional schools of Tai Chi Chuan teach partner exercises known as pushing hands
(推手 tui shou), alongside martial applications of the postures in the form.

The Tai Chi Chuan styles taught by J.S. Fletcher are the Beijing 12 (Guang Bo) Movement Combined Form and the Chen Style Xinyi Hunyuan 24 Form and 32 Cannon Fists Form.

CHEN STYLE XINYI HUNYUAN TAI CHI CHUAN

The Chen family style is the oldest and parent form of the five main Tai Chi Chuan styles. Historically documented from the 1600s, Chen Family Village was the birthplace of Tai Chi Chuan, with 9th generation Chen Wangting (陳王廷) being credited with performing the first formal codification of Chen family martial art practice there. In recent decades Chen style Tai Chi Chuan has come to be recognized as a major style of martial art within China. In Western countries the Chen style is rapidly growing in popularity for both it’s martial and health benefits, as it is characterized by low stances, explicit Silk Reeling (chan si jin) and bursts of power (fa jin).

In the late 1920s 17th generation Grandmaster Chen Fake (陳發科, 1887-1957) broke with Chen family tradition and began openly teaching the Chen style, providing public classes in Beijing for many years. One of his disciples was Feng Zhiqiang (馮志強, 1928- present), who later went on to develop Xinyi Hunyuan Tai Chi Chuan. This is much like the traditional Chen style, with additional influences from Liu He Xin Yi Chuan (another Chinese internal martial art) and Chi Gong (Doaist meditation techniques), which Feng was taught by Grandmaster Hu Yaozhen (1897-1973).

"Hunyuan" refers to the strong emphasis on circular, "orbital" or spiraling internal principles which are at the heart of this evolved Chen tradition. While such principles already exist in mainstream Chen style the Hunyuan tradition develops the theme further. Its teaching system pays attention to spiraling techniques in both body and limbs and how they may be harmoniously coordinated together. Whilst the Hunyuan style is for both health and self defence, the emphasis is on health, slow movement and relaxation. As a student progresses, however, more time is spent cultivating the martial aspects.

BEIJING 12 (GUANG BO) MOVEMENT FORM

Also known as Guang Bo, the Beijing 12 was devised in 1984 by Professor Zhang Wen Guang in answer to the demand for a simplified form which could be practiced over a short time span, in a minimum of space, and would be suitable for people of all ages.

Professor Zhang, former Vice Chairman of the Chinese Wushu and Tai Chi Association and head of the Wushu Department of the Beijing Sport University, drew on his experience of more than 70 years, and the assistance of other Tai Chi Masters, to devise an innovative form based principally on the Yang but also including elements of the Chen and Wu styles.

The form was immediately embraced by the Chinese people and became popular throughout China following its introduction as an instructional course on national television. It is now practiced in homes, offices and workplaces throughout the world.

The characteristics of the form are those of standard Tai Chi forms but without limitations of time and space and with the benefits of being capable of performance in a very small area, ease of learning, remembering and practicing.The form is symmetrical (of benefit to both sides of the body) and may be performed with expansive, or large movements, typical of the popular and beneficial Yang and Chen styles.

The form can be extended both by repetition of individual movements and of the complete set. The Beijing 12 is a holistic body exercise due to the expansive movements of trunk and limbs combined with deep natural breathing, resulting in mental and physical relaxation associated with demonstrable physical benefits.