What is Traditional Tai Chi Chuan?
The 5 styles which can legitimately be regarded as traditional Tai Chi Chuan, together with their popularly known sub-styles are listed below:-
1) Yang Style
a) Yang Cheng Fu style
b) Yong Nian style (as practised in Yong Nian county)
c) Cheng Man Ching style
d) Tung Ying Chieh style
2) Wu Jian Chian style
a) Wu Family lineage
b) Cheng Wing Kwong lineage (very close to Wu Family lineage)
c) Wang Pei Shen style
d) Wudan style (Cheng Tin Hung)
3) Chen Style
a) Old Frame
b) New Frame
4) Sun Style
5) Wu (Yu Xiang) style
a) Li style
b) Hao style
Traditional Tai Chi Chuan differ from modern Tai Chi Chuan in the following aspects:-
· Traditional Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art. This means it is an art of personal combat. Health, relaxation, recreation are only fringe benefits. Modern Tai Chi styles stress health, relaxation and recreation as the principal aims of Tai Chi Chuan.
· Proficiency in traditional Tai Chi Chuan is generally measured by one’s skill in Pushing Hands contest and combat application. Proficiency in modern tai Chi Chuan is generally either not emphasised, but if emphasised and measured, is judged by one’s artistic flow and expression.
· Some theories and requirements of traditional Tai Chi Chuan differ from modern Tai Chi Chuan. For example:-
· There is a general rule in traditional Tai Chi Chuan to keep the level of the body constant, except for the “Snake Creeps Down Posture”. This important rule is not adhered to in the modern Wu Shu styles. Most movements require the practitioner to bob up and down.
· Another advice in traditional Tai Chi Chuan is not to kick above the waist. Modern Tai Chi Chuan, however, because of its emphasis as a performance art, seems to consider high kicks a virtue.
· Traditional tai Chi Chuan stresses either a 100% full weight on one foot, or 70% to 30%. The postures of modern styles which are derived from their traditional counterparts have a 60% to 40% weighting.
· Because of the 100% weight on 1 foot principle, most traditional Tai Chi Chuan turns the back foot by the heel. Modern Tai Chi Chuan does not adhere to this rule.
· There are at least 8 divisions within traditional Tai Chi Chuan. Modern Tai Chi Chuan styles usually have about 3 divisions. The divisions are (only the first three are included in modern tai Chi Chuan):-
1) Basic exercise routine
2) Pushing Hands
3) Sword
4) Sabre (some traditional styles have double swords as well)
5) Spear (some traditional styles have the halberd and crescent pike as well)
6) Da Lu
7) Boxing
8) Nei Gong (internal Qi development for invulnerability)
9) Kicking (missing in some styles)
10) Pushing Leg (missing in some styles)
· Time spent in learning: Because there are at least 8 divisions in traditional Tai Chi Chuan, and because experience is a very important part of the learning process, traditional Tai Chi Chuan can not be learnt within such a short period such as a 5 year or 3 year course, much less a 6 months, 3 months, 2 months or 1 month course. Only a small part of Tai Chi Chuan, such a the basic exercise routine, can be taught within a short period, such 1 year. Modern Tai Chi Chuan can be learnt within 2 weeks with daily lessons.
·
The average time just to learn the traditional
basic exercise routine usually takes about 9 months, with a 3 two hour lessons a week -
ie. about 220 hours. This is merely learning, and it takes years of practice to be
proficient. Many modern Tai Chi Chuan
courses in
Styles that are the creation of individuals, or the government agencies (eg. Education department) of the people’s
Republic of
Certain styles have attempted to gain recognition as traditional styles by merely teaching the form routine of the traditional counterpart. For example, teachers of modern Tai Chi styles start learning the so-called 108 or 88 movement routine of traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, and attempted to defraud the ignorant public that they are teaching traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. This is a gross misunderstanding that the 108 or 88 posture basic exercise routine is traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. This is completely wrong as it is only the first and most basic division in traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. In addition, and perhaps most important of all, the theories and requisites are still those of modern (Wu Shu) Tai Chi. The 108 / 88 postures are performed with the theory and requisites of modern Tai Chi, which, as previously explained, are different from those of traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Therefore, such 108 / 88 posture Tai Chi basic routine can not be classified as traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan.
Note:-
Easy Tai Chi is based on traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan in the sense that its theories and requisites are from traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. However, it is not traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. It is not one of the 5 traditional forms of traditional Tai Chi Chuan, and therefore, it is not traditional Tai Chi Chuan
Refer also to my article:-
You are invited to visit our related sites:-
Tao of Tai Chi Chuan Institute – traditional & authentic Tai Chi Chuan
Kalis Ilustrisimo (Australia) -
Filipino martial art of arnis / eskrima
Chi Kung – various Qi Gong methods
Meditation – various meditation methods
Yellow Bamboo – Balinese mysticism, healing, physical and psychic protection
Healing - various healing methods
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Spiritual Realms –articles on spiritual matters
Written by John Chow, a TCM practitioner, masseur, healer, martial arts and spiritual teacher.
@2000