Chen Tai Chi Chuan

Chen Tai Chi Chuan (Taiji) was created in the 17th century by General Chen Wangting, 9th generation Chen Family member at Chen Village in Honan Province. Chen Village is situated close to the famous Shaolin monastery, credited by some as the origin of Chinese Martial Arts. Colorful stories about Chen Wangting abound, but his defining accomplishment was to synthesize Tai Chi Chuan (sometimes called Peng Boxing) from 1) Ming Military methods, 2) Chen Family Pao Cui (Cannon Fist Boxing), 3) Traditional Chinese Medicine 4) Taoist Philosophy and 5) Taoist Alchemy He is credited with inventing the push hands (Toui Shou) training drills. Chen Wang Ting was also called Guan Yu II because he was famous for his Guan Dao (Kwan Do) usage.

The art of Chen Tai Chi comes to us today through Chen Quanzhong of Xian, China. Known as Uncle Chen to his students, he is the most senior of the 19th generation Chen Tai Chi Grandmasters. Uncle Chen's version of Liao Da Jia Chen Tai Chi Chuan is considered to be the oldest method in existence. Uncle Chen's son, Chen Xili, now teaches alongside his father.

The Chen Curriculum contains two main empty hand forms (Yi Lu and Er Lu, Cannon Fist or Pao Cui) and many weapons forms. Solo exercises, push hands drills, applications, chin na, shuai chiao and San Shou round out the curriculum.

Article about the TCCII Chen Tai Seminar Series May 2007