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The Chen style (陳氏) is considered to be the senior branch of the five main Taijiquan family styles and the third in terms of popularity. Compared to the other main taiji styles, Chen style today is known for its lower stances, Silk reeling, and bursts of power known as fajin. While there are many hundreds of schools teaching Taijiquan around the world, the five family styles are said to go the farthest in maintaining the martial art style of teaching (as opposed to health focus) that has been normative for Taijiquan instruction for most of its history.
History
Historically documented from the 1600s, the Chen family originates in Chen Village in Wen County, Henan Province.(溫縣陳家溝). Their best known teacher was Chen Changxing (陳長興 Chén Chángxīng, Ch'en Chang-hsing, 1771-1853). Chen Changxing started teaching the famous Yang Luchan in 1820. Yang went on to found the Yang style Taijiquan, and from there all the other main styles of the art. Chen Changxing is also traditionally associated with a teacher known as Jiang Fa (蔣發 Jiǎng Fā), although it is no longer clear if their relationship was a teacher/student one (or even who was senior) or if they were colleagues. Some traditions teach that a disciple of Zhang Sanfeng named Wang Zongyue (王宗岳) taught the martial art later to be known as Taijiquan to the Chen family, but this cannot be confirmed. On the other hand, some in the Chen family claim that it was Wang Zongyue who learned Taijiquan from them.
Chen Quan – Chen's fist
For a long time, the Chen family was known for their reputed superior fighting style Chen Quan. This was a Shaolinquan derived style, and the family who practiced it was sometimes called the thunder Chens, due to the ferocity of the style. Shaolin Quan at later stages can be considered semi internal, in the fact that it trains neigong for the body to be able to use internal power. This power was used to better resist damage and hit harder. But it was not internal in the sense that the style heavily employed internal fighting and movement principles, most notable the principle of avoiding to meet force with force.Chen Quan becomes Taijiquan
How Chen Quan became an internal style is not very clear and very disputed. It is largely attributed to Chen Wangting (1600-1680) who created a style he called "The first method". Chen Wangting is said to have incorporated theories from a classic text, Jixiaoxinshu (new book of effective techniques), which described martial arts from 16 different styles. Many scholars also believe that Jiang Fa was a monk from Wudang mountain and came to the Chen village and taught internal fighting practices to the family. Others believe the Taijiquan from Wudang mountain was something created recently and based on the five main Taijiquan styles. It is generally accepted that the Chen family is the first to be known to practice pushing hands - two person drills that teach internal fighting practices. They are believed to originate with Chen Wangting. When the name Taijiquan was first used to describe the Chen style is not very clear, many believe Yang style to be the first to use the name, others believe Taijiquan from Wudang has been using the name for centuries.Today
Chen style has become well recognized internationally in recent years, due mostly to the efforts of Chen Fake (陳發科, Chén Fākē, Ch'en Fa-k'e 1887-1957), who taught for many years in Beijing. Many direct descendants of the Chen family and their students are still teaching Taijiquan around the world. The most well-known in the U.S. today are Chen Fake's grandson, Chen Xiaowang and Feng Zhiqiang. They have helped spread Chen Taijiquan throughout the world.
Variants
Lao Jia – Old frame
Lao Jia is the style taught by Chen Fake in Beijing. It uses slow, large motions interrupted by occasional outbursts of very fast movements. Old style is called that because it was traditionally regarded as being older in origin than Xin Jia, this view is especially very predominant is Western literature, however in China many think they have coexisted as the same style, Xin Jia being a more advanced version not taught in public, which explains why people saw it as a new art when it was revealed by Chen Fake. No literature of Chen style before 1932 mentions anything about new, old, big or small styles. Note: According to Grand Master Zhu Tiancai, Lao Jia has been practiced in Chen Village for generation. Xin Jia was practiced in Chenjiaguo in the 60s when Late Grand Master Chen Zhaokui went back to Chen Village to teach the form started by his father, Chen Fake). - Also Old Frame Cannon Fist, a very difficult and high level from of Chen Style. One of the less known but most powerful forms of Tai JiXin Jia – New frame
This style was first seen practiced by Chen Fake and many regard him as the author of the style. The main difference to Lao Jia is that the movements are smaller and more twisting (chansijin) is employed. In fighting there is less hitting and more manipulation, seizing and grappling (qinna). - Also New frame Cannon Fist, The fastest and hardest to achieve form of Tai Ji and also the most powerfull. A presnt day Chen Village Tai Ji master can perform this entrie form of 72 moves in under 4 minutes!Xiao Jia – Small frame
This style was until recently not publicly known. Although it recently has gotten the term 'small frame' attached to it, both large and small motions are used. Small motions is considered more advanced though. Many claim small frame to be older in origin than old and new frame. In addition to the two main forms Yilu and Erlu, practiced by all Chen Taijiquan variants they also practice an old 108 movements form.Hun Yuan Chen Style Xin Yi Taiji
This style is much like Lao Jia with an influence from Shanxi Xingyi. It was created by Chen Fake's senior student Feng Zhiqiang. The following is an explanation of Master Feng's style in his own words: "Our style of Taiji is called Chen style Hun Yuan Taiji. It belongs in the big frame family. Why is it called Hun Yuan? Hun Yuan symbolizes the orbital path of the sun, the moon, the constellations, the earth; when everything is moving together, it is Hun Yuan. For example, bicycles, it spins; automobiles, the wheels spin; ships, steamboats, airplanes, rockets; it’s just that they have different directions of spin. Airplanes with rotary propellers, they spin like this. Bullets from guns they also spin. When everything is spinning, it’s Hun Yuan. In our own body there is circulation of qi and blood, and they follow particular meridians. For example, up the inner leg and down the outer side. Same thing with the arms, and also around the belt meridian. When everything is circulating and spinning together, this is Hun Yuan. Nothing can leave this basic foundation. Even when we’re walking, there are also curved lines involved. Curved lines are better. Everything moves in the orbit of curved lines."赵堡 Zhao Bao
Some claim this newly discovered style from the Zhao Bao village to be an old version of Chen Taijiquan. No none knows for sure, but its Shaolinquan root is much more evident to observers. It was said to have been created by Chen Qingping.Chen Weapons- There are many Chen weapons forms including sabre, double sabre, spear, sword and big stick the chen style big stick is rarely seen outside of china and the skill to use it is something only passed on to the masters. The techniques are designed to show the wiping coiled like action within the body of a chen tai ji master, that produces a spiraling shockwave thoughtout the flexible yet tough stick
Training
Before teaching the forms, the instructor may have the students do stance training such as standing post and various qigongs such as Silk reeling exercises. These stance training and the qigong exercises are done to condition and strengthen the body to have the correct frame and alignment before moving to the more complicated movements that are in the forms.
There are two empty-hand forms that one might learn when learning Chen style. The First empty hand form is known as "Yi Lu." Yi lu is mostly done slowly, and it's overall purpose is to teach the body to move correctly. The second empty hand form is known as "Er Lu" or "cannon fist." Cannon fist is done faster and is used to train explosive power (fajin). The forms also teach various martial techniques that can be applied using Chen style taiji.
Beside empty hand training, Chen style has several weapons forms such as staff, saber, straight sword, spear and halberd among others.
There also also other methods of training for Chen style using training aids. Some of these aids include taiji ball, taiji ruler, and pole/spear shaking exercises. These are all done to further strengthen to body-- especially the dantien.
In addition to the solo exercises listed above, there are partner exercises known as push hands. Push hands are partner training exercises to help the students maintain the correct body structure when faced with (some) resistance. There are a few push hands patterns that the students may learn before they can move on to a more free-style push hands structure.
External links
- The World of Taijiquan - The World of Taijiquan, website maintain by Jasmine Bu and Chong Sien Long, both disciples of 19th Generation Grand Master Zhu Tian Cai.
- Feng Zhiqiang Chen Style Taijiquan Academy A website with onfo about Xin Yi Hun Yuan Chen style
- Google video of Chen Shitong performing a Chen style form
References
T'ai Chi Ch'uan | Styl čen | Chen-Stil Taijiquan | Chen Taijiquan | 陳氏太極拳
"Chen style Tai Chi Chuan"