In the 19th century, Wu-Style Taiji, founded by Wu Yuxiang and Wu Qianquan, emerged. In the 20th century, another Wu Style, developed by Wu Quanyou, surfaced. In the late 20th century, Sun Style, created by Sun Lutang appeared.

Although other branches of Taiji were developed since the original conception, the five styles, Chen, Yang, Wu-Hao, Wu, and Sun, are best known, and still taught today. Of the five, Yang is the most popular and practiced style.

Chen Style Taiji is unquestionably the origin of all Taiji styles. Since its conception, it has been secretly passed down amongst Chen family members in Chen Village at Wen County of Henan Province. It wasn't until the late 1920's that Chen Taiji was opened to the public. Chen Fa-Ke taught it publicly in Beijing. Later, his youngest son, Chen Zhaokui, who lived until 1981, also taught publicly in Beijing.

Today, the Chen descendents and disciples continue to teach Taiji privately and publicly in Chen Village, other parts of China, and overseas.

Taiji Principles
The various styles of Taiji are practiced by millions around the world. The general principles of all Taiji styles are the same. They are based on the Taoist philosophy of Yin and Yang--the study of natural harmony. Yin and Yang is a study of opposites: heaven and earth, man and nature, male and female, mind and body, internal and external forces, positive and negative forces, hardness and softness, and etc.

Balance or harmony is the key word in the study of Yin and Yang, Taiji, and all martial arts.

Taiji draws from the principles of Yin and Yang. In order for man to stay balanced on earth, he needs to be well-grounded. His posture must be correctly aligned with heaven and earth. His upper spine must stretch to the heavens, and his lower spine must stretch down to the earth. His mind must be calm and alert; not lethargic or tense. He must control the movements of internal energy, and coordinate with the physical. He must counter hard forces with soft, and soft with hard, in a harmonious way. He must know when to yield and when to push. He must constantly change to maintain balance.

In order to maintain calmness and balance, a Taiji practitioner must control his breathing. Harmonious breathing with physical actions renders calmness. Breathing must be controlled from the lower diaphragm to feed, store, disburse and recirculate energy to and fro the Dantian (one of the centers of human body, according to Chinese anatomy study).

In order to maintain structural balance and strength, a Taiji practitioner must link and coordinate his shoulder and pelvic points; elbows and knees; hands and feet. They must move and energize together in a harmonious way.

In the 19th century, some pages were found in Chen Village, which is now referred to as the Taiji Classics. The Classics outlines 15 main principles of Taiji physical and energy movements management.

The Five physical-movements management are as follows:
1. Stable Forward Stepping Movement
2. Stable Backward Stepping Movement
3. Focusing with Intention to Move Left
4. Focusing with Intention to Move Right
5. Focusing on Center Equilibrium

The Eight energy-movements management are as follows:
1. Peng: Warding off upward in an expansive manner.
2. Lu: Roll backward in an absorbing and yielding manner.
3. Ji: Press forward in a straight manner.
4. An: Press downward in a pressurizing manner.
5. Cai (Pick): Pull gently in an absorbing and pressing manner.
6. Lie: Split apart from one point towards two opposite directions.
7. Zhou: Use elbow (or knees) with energetic force.
8. Kao: Use Shoulder (or body) for bumping.

The principles outlined above sum up the core of Taiji; however, it is the methodology and practice of these principles that differentiate the various styles of Taiji.

Styles
Yang Style is the most practiced Taiji styled worldwide. It is perhaps so because the originator was the first to openly teach his style publicly. He had simplified the Chen Style, which is generally known to be harder and longer to learn. It is said that he also took much of the pugilistic aspects from it because of his assignment as a martial arts teacher for the Manchu/Qing army, which ruled over his people, Han (native) Chinese, during his period. This made Yang Style less deadly.

With less focus on pugilism, Yang Style attracts a wider market. Many now learn it for health and exercise value, with little interest in the pugilism.

Yang Style movements are slow, stable, and even in tempo. The movements and postures are executed in a slightly lower-than-natural standing-height.

Wu (Qianquan) Style is second to Yang in popularity. It is known for its compact and precise movements; small circles, and natural standing-height postures.

Sun Style is a collaboration of Taiji styles, Bagua Style, and Xingyi Style. It stands fourth in popularity.

Wu (Yuxiang) Style, third in seniority amongst the Taiji styles, fifth in popularity, emphasizes on internal training and grounding, with less emphases on jumping and kicking.

Chen Style, the original Taiji style, is third in popularity. It's a holistic style that involves internal and external training; Silk Reeling and Fajin power training; slow and fast movements; soft and hard movements; medium, low, and extremely low stances; uneven tempo, rising and sinking movements; springing and twisting movements; straight, circular and spiral movements; grounding and jumping movements; grappling and striking movements; pulling and pushing movements; forward and backward movements; with emphases on martial applications.

All Taiji styles have exercise, health, meditative and martial value. Emphasis on any aspect is dependent on a teacher or a student. Practicing Taiji develops internal and external strenghts; develops coordination; exercises internal organs; exercises the mind; relaxes the mind and body; can be used for self-defense; proven to cure diabetes, arthritis, and heart diseases; and proven to prolong life.

Taiji is interesting and enjoyable to learn and practice. It is suitable for both sexes, and for all ages.

Chen Forms
Because of the length of time that Chen-Style Taiji has been around, and because of the number of patriarchs who had represented the style, it went through several transformations. With each generation came changes and lineages. Some began to split and categorize the Chen style. They began to refer Taiji taught at the Chen Village as the Old School Forms, and all other teachings as the New School Forms. Within the Old and New Schools, some characterized the forms as Large Frame and Small Frame. Regardless of old or new, large or small, the forms are taught in two manners: First Path (Yilu) and Second Path (Erlu).

The First Path is taught to beginners and intermediates. The beginners practice the forms slowly, at even tempo, performing large movements and expelling power (Fajin) intermittently. At intermediate level, practitioners lower their stances, move at uneven tempo, and perform smaller movements with more energy expulsions.

The Second Path is for advance practitioners. The forms are done faster, with more emphases on power and martial techniques.

There are many Chen-Style forms taught by different lineages. In the last couple of decades, new short forms were created for the new and fast lifestyles of people worldwide, and for competitive exhibitions. The following are the traditional forms:
48-Postures
72-Postures
75-Postures
83-Postures
108-Postures
118-Postures (Click the 118-Postures link to view a 18-MB clip of the 118-Postures Form performed by Master Hu Linmao.)

The following are newer forms:
4-Postures (repeated 4 times in 4 directions)
13-Postures
18-Postures
19-Postures
38-Postures
56-Postures

Other Chen Taiji Trainings
Push-Hands
Weapons
*49-Posture Straight Sword
*13-Posture Broadsword
*Spear
*Staff
*Broadspear
Standing Meditation
Qigong

At 3-Dimensional Martial Arts Academy, all Chen Taiji forms, paths, push-hands, weapons, standing-meditation, and Qigong are available as full or customized courses.

Click the Faculty link to learn about the Academy teachers.

Click the 3DMAA link to learn about other courses offered by 3-Dimensional Martial Arts Academy.