CHEN TAIJIQUAN (Chen style Tai Chi)
What is Taijiquan?
Taijiquan (also written 'Tai Chi Chuan') is a Chinese martial art which is good for
both self-defence and health. It combines movement and breathing into a sequence of
forms that help to build health, strength and longevity. Taijiquan is practised by
people all over the world as an enjoyable way to stay flexible,
strong, stress free and healthy.
Taijiquan was created over 360 years ago in Chen village (Chenjiagou), Henan province. It combines fighting techniques from General Qi Jiguang's 'The Canons of Boxing' with Chinese medical knowledge, Qigong, and the Daoist philosophy of yin and yang.
Much of today’s Chen teachings are attributed to Grandmaster Chen Fa Ke
(17th generation) who died
in 1957. The current head of the Chen family is his grandson Chen Xiao
Wang (19th generation).
Practicing Chen Taijiquan is very good for health, but it is also a very
powerful martial art that involves both external movement and internal training.
Every movement contains spiralenergy (Chan Si Jin); the energy starts
from your dantian (centre), twists through your waist, muscles, bones and
joints to the tips of your fingers. This is what makes Chen Taijiquan both
healthy and powerful.
In the form sometimes you move quickly, sometimes slowly,
sometimes in a high posture, sometimes in a low posture – this is one of the
principles of Taijiquan, balance of Yin and Yang.
Taijiquan can help many health problems such as, neuralgia, heart disease, high blood pressure,
arthritis etc. as it has a strong positive effect on the circulation, muscles and
bones. Regular practice develops internal strength, awareness, inner calm, and a powerful self-defense capability.
Peter Andersen has been one of Master Tse's students since 1998 and is authorised to teach Chen Taijiquan.
