ARC Wiki

“Chen Style” loosely refers to the martial arts which arose, was developed, and was passed down in the Chen family at Chenjiagou in China. For insight into specific forms, try Chen Style Forms.

• Xinjia Yi Lu
• Chen Style Lineage – part of the Taijiquan Lineage Project.
• Chen Family Ancestral Law (Men Gui)
• Small Frame
• Silk Reeling

This page discusses the origin of Chen style from the perspective of Chen Style. It is not intended to be a historically accurate picture of the formation of Tai Chi, however it may be. Please see Origin Theories for more information.

Chen Tai Chi was essentially created out of the martial arts experience of General Chen Wang-Ting (1600-1680). It seems to have been created and taught to the public (the people around G. Chen, the people of Chen Village) out of response to the invasion of the Ming Dynasty by the Qings (the Mongols). It is thus somewhat unlikely that he invented a completely new martial art skill class per-se and instead taught existing arts under a new name or system in order to fight the Qings. In any case it appears that certain types of Kung Fu were revealed, or at least specialized and refined, in Chen Style for the first time.

The art was not passed down in any exact format from generation to generation. Instead, the basic skills and method of training was changed in order to fit the times and the people who learned it. Thus, at different points in time different forms or styles appear to emerge. However, it is important to understand that we are discussing the same basic art. This art is loosely classified as “Chen Style” because it follows the traditions of the Chen Family and that the Chen Family was responsible for holding this lineage.

• Re: How do you test/develop Taijiquan skills and techniques?
• Post by twocircles13 on Sat Aug 03, 2024 4:18 pm

The complete Chen Taijiquan training system since about the 1810s until the present looked like this. For those interested, records indicate that this modern revision of the curricula was made by Chen Youben, the primary Chen Village teacher, although many credit his contemporary, Chen Changxing, the renowned teacher of Yang Luchan.

• The First Road (Yilu)
• Thirteen Postures form
• Foundation exercises
• Training method: Push hands
• Rudimentary Cannon Fist form
• (Other less known forms)

• The Second Road (Erlu)
• All empty-hand forms, in-depth
• Sanshou
• Training method: Cut hand
• Weapons forms and usage (Jian, Dao, Long Pole and Spear and variations)

This is all still available, if you know where to look.

So to your questions:

• johnwang wrote:
• - Does a Taiji guy “develop” punching/kicking/locking/throwing skill? How?
• - Do you only “test” your Taiji skill against another Taiji guy, or do you test your Taiji skill in general against people from other MA system (such as a boxer)?

Yes, basics are taught in the form. Movements from the form are taken out and practiced individually on both sides. I think there are twelve different kicks taught in the form. nearly every movement can be a throw although there are specific, dedicated throws. Advanced push hands teaches throws and locks and later breaks. Strikes are targeted and performed with palms for hard targets and fists for soft targets, also elbows, shoulders and knees are also used to strike.

Taiji training has its own adapted method of sanshou.

However, Taijiquan is not boxing, nor is it “fair” fighting. It is set up to be prepare for military training and self-defense. It can be adapted, as shown, to sports. Last edited by twocircles13 on Sat Aug 03, 2024 4:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Chen Zhang-Xing learned from Chen Bing-Wang and was responsible for teaching Chen Geng-Yun and Yang Lu-Chan. Out of this relationship arose Yang Style.

Chen Qing-Ping learned from Chen Xi-Lu and Chen You-Ben and was responsible for teaching Chen He-Yang as well as many other people, including people in neighboring villages. He is thus linked to the creation of a multitude of minor styles such as the Wu/Hao Style of Wu Yu-Xiang, the Hulei Style of Li Jing-Yan, and of course the Zhaobao Style of Taijiquan via his teacher Zhang Yan.

Chen Fa-Ke was the contemporary of Chen Zhao-Pei and is credited with creating Xinjia (New Frame) in today's vernacular. In contrast Chen Zhao-Pei passed down Laojia or “Old Frame”.

For a talk on the history of pre-modern (1800's and early 1900's) please see Pre-Modern Chen Style, translated from a Zhu Tian-Cai lecture. Notable players in pre-modern Chen style and the modern developments will include Chen Bu, Chen Wang-Ting, Chen Bu-Fu, Chen You-Ben, Chen Zhang-Xing and Chen Qing-Ping – at least, these are the names that seem to come up most often. Especially check out our new entry on Chen Bu-Fu.

Notable differences in Chen Style (besides the visually obvious) are, for example, how some styles teach (or do not teach), emphasize (or do not emphasize) things like zhedie or Silkworm Power.

In Chen style, the notion of Thirteen Postures is somewhat different than in Yang-derived styles. In Chen style the 13 postures are given as three groups of four techniques, plus a final technique. The names of these techniques is very difficult to translate. Unfortunately you may just have to memorize the Chinese. Here is a approximate translation to help with the memorizing process.

How to neutralize and shadow your opponent

• Peng (Support)
• Lu (Pull)
• Ji (Squash)
• An (Press down)

How to press home an advantage

• Cai (Grab)
• Lie (Twist)
• Zhao (Elbow)
• Kao (Shoulder)

More dynamic techniques

• Teng (Rise)
• Shang (Flash)
• Zhe (Break)
• Kong (Empty)

Final bit of advice!

• Huo (Change)