Taichi
The Origin and Style of Taichi (Taiji)
In it’s earliest form, Taiji fist was called “Long Fist? “Cotton Fist? ?3 Positions? and “Soft Hand? During the years of Qian Long emperor in Qing Dynasty, it was firstly called “Taiji Fist?in written form by Wang Zongyue who lived in Shanxi province. The word of “Taiji?comes from , and it means “supreme, absolute, unique?
There are many versions of the origins of Taiji fist. Most Taiji Fist practitioners recognize Chen Wangting as the creator of the Art. Generally, the origin of Taiji Fist absorbed the essence of the artists in the Ming Dynasty, especially the 32 Form Long Fist of Qi jiguang, and coordinated ancient guidance in the techniques of inhalation and exhalation, the theory of Chinese medicine, and the ancient theory of Yin Yang Five Elements. Using the philosophical theories of Taoism and Zhouyi Bagua, Taiji Fist contains Chinese traditional culture and traditional philosophical thought. Firstly, the movements are very continuous shown throughout the entire Fist form. At the same time, Taiji Fist can show contradiction of movement and the unity of opposites. There are several contradictions including hard and soft, empty and full, peace and movement, fast and slow, stretch and curl.
During practice, it demands the practitioners keep calm, the movements are guided by consciousness, movements are coordinated with breathing and breathing is smooth, even and natural. The movements are soft, slow, natural, continuous and flowing. At the same time, the waist acts as an axis and the upper and lower parts of body are coordinated with each other, making all parts of the body work in unity. It looks soft but is, in fact, very powerful.
Taiji fist has developed into many branches, for example Chenshi Taiji (Chen style taichi), Yangshi Taiji (Yang style taichi), Sunshi Taiji (Sun style taichi), and two forms of Wushi taiji (Wu style taichi). Together these are commonly referred to as "The Five Styles Of Taiji?
Yang style is a derivative of Chen style. Yang Lu Chan, the creator of Yang style, studied Chen style Taiji from the Chen family in Chen Jia Gou. When he returned to Beijing, many people wanted to study Yang Lu Chan’s new form of Kung Fu, i.e. Chen style Taiji, however many of the movements in Chen style were too difficult for the people who wanted to study. Therefore Yang Lu Chan simplified Chen style Taiji to make it accessible to more people. For some people, Yang style is a good way to start their Taiji training, especially the 24 forms which you can often see being practiced in parks around China. Yangshi sect Taiji was taught secretly by Yang Lu Chan in the emperors garden, it is therefore closer to the original styles than those you can usually see practiced today.
Taichi forms we teach here:
| Form name in Pinyin | English translation |
| 88shi yangshi funei taijijian | Old Imperial Yang Taiji Fist 88 |
| Wudang qigong taiji quan | Wudang Qigong TaiJi Fist |
| taiji shisan jian | Taiji Thirteen Straightsword |
| taiji da gan | Taiji Big Pole |
| yangshi ershisi shi | Yang 24 form |
| yangshi sishier shi | Yang 42 form |
| chenshi wushiliu shi | Chen 56 form |
| yangshi sishier shi taijijian | Yang 42 sword form |