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Chen Style

What is Chen Style?‍

Chen Style is the oldest and one of the most traditional styles of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan), originating from the Chen Village (Chenjiagou) in Henan Province, China. It was founded by Chen Wangting (1580–1660), a 9th generation member of the Chen family. Chen Style Tai Chi is known for its unique combination of slow, meditative movements and fast, explosive actions, making it distinct from other Tai Chi styles.

Key characteristics of Chen Style Tai Chi include:

  1. Silk Reeling (Chan Si Jing): This refers to the spiraling, circular movements that are a hallmark of Chen Style. These movements help to develop internal energy (qi) and improve coordination and fluidity.
  2. Alternating Speed and Power: Unlike other Tai Chi styles that maintain a consistent slow pace, Chen Style incorporates sudden bursts of speed and power (fa jin) within its forms. These explosive movements are used to develop martial power and agility.
  3. Low Stances and Large Postures: Practitioners often use low stances and large, expansive postures, which help to build strength, flexibility, and stability.
  4. Emphasis on Martial Applications: Chen Style retains a strong focus on its martial roots, with many movements designed for practical self-defense applications. This includes techniques such as strikes, kicks, joint locks, and throws.
  5. Complex Forms: The forms in Chen Style can be quite complex and physically demanding, often requiring a high level of coordination and strength. The most well-known forms are the Old Frame (Laojia) and the New Frame (Xinjia).
  6. Integration of Breathing and Movement: Proper breathing techniques are integrated with the movements to enhance the flow of qi and improve overall health.

Chen Style Tai Chi is practiced both for its health benefits and its effectiveness as a martial art. It is known to improve balance, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health, while also promoting relaxation and mental clarity. Because of its complexity and physical demands, it is often recommended for those who have some experience with Tai Chi or other martial arts, although beginners can also learn it with proper instruction and dedication.

Related Article: The Graceful Power of Tai Chi: Exploring the Ancient Chinese Martial Art

There is a difference between working out and training. So far, you just work out. You sweat a little and get a good amount of exercise. Yes, you do get a little better, a little stronger and a little smarter, but mostly your skills are derived from your natural abilities. Training is very different. When you train, you have to push your body and your fighting spirit to the point of breaking every time. When you train, you have to go right up to the limits where your physical being and your spiritual self scream ‘no more.’ And at that barrier, which naturally evolved throughout your lifetime as protection against possible physical harm and mental anguish, you must force through or be forced through into a world of seemingly unreasonable pain in order to glimpse and then realize another level beyond your current abilities. This must happen over and over again in order to truly progress on this journey. And of course, the cruelty of all this is that the next level itself is illusory, as is the one after that, and the successive barriers you must force your way through will seem boundless.” “Even for the strongest person, training extracts a heavy and oftentimes damaging toll on your body and on your psychic health, which is why I rarely push my students that hard,” he continued. “The harmful effects of such hard training is also why you need a trustworthy guide and teacher, someone who can catalyze your training but, more importantly, someone who can pull you from the abyss and show you that the white hot pressure to advance and constantly surpass your previous achievements is also an illusion in and of itself.
Kathryn Yang

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