chen taiji

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 4:33 pm

Introduction to Chen Taiji

Chen Taiji is the oldest and parent form of the five traditional family styles (Chen style 1580-1660, Yang style 1799-1872, Wu or Wu/Hao style 1812-1880, Wu style 1870-1942 and Sun style 1861-1932). Today although there are different forms of taiji exercises which were developed by different martial artists and gurus, all of these were derived from the principles of the oldest and original chen taiji.

Chen taiji practice is famous for its health benefits, mind relaxation, honing of internal and external martial arts skills, and athletic purposes. Chen taiji’s teacher incorporates movements that emphasizes one or more of these benefits during training. Chen taiji exercises promote in balancing the flow of qi in our body, philosophers identify qi as the most important element in maintaining a strong and healthy mind and body.

Chen Taiji is a martial art system which involves the balancing, experiencing and exploring of opposing energies “yin and yang”. Examples are transition from fast and slow movements, tensed to relaxed muscles, expanded then contracted, opening and closing and soft to hard.

Chen Taiji: Silk Reeling for Begginners

chen taiji

Silk reeling chen taiji exercises help to increase the mobility of joints and wider range of motions. It is composed of spiral movements that puts emphasis on waist connection, knee alignment, kua sinking, opening and closing of joints and the dantian rotation. It was believed that these chen taiji exercises will train the 18 major joints of the body starting from our head to our ankles.

Here are some of the basic chen taiji movements for beginners:

For the joints in the head: turning the head and revolving the neck.

For the joints of trunk and upper extremities: revolving the shoulders, striking the shoulders from front to rear, left and right arm chan si, left and right arm spiraling chan si, double arms spiral chan si, double arms shun ni chan si, double arm diagonal opening and closing chan si, double arm straight spiral up chan si, double arm straight spiral down chan si, double arm straight spiral forward chan si, double arm straight spiral horizontal chan si, left and right elbow shun ni chan si, twisting the wrist left and right, double twisting wrists, left and right spiral punch, rotating the abdomen and kidneys, rotating the waist and spiraling the waist.

For the joints of lower extremities: left and right knee spiral, double knee spiral, left and right chan si side kick, twisting the foot left and right and Golden Cock shakes its wings.

Chen Taiji: Safety Precautions

Wear something that you’re comfortable with. You can wear those sexy body fitting garments as long as its not to tight or constrictive so that blood can flow naturally with your body. It would be nice if you would wear something loose so that you could move freely.
Avoid unnecessary exercise regimen such as over stretching before starting chen taiji exercises. Some individuals believe that it is ideal to over stretch the neck, joints in our thighs and arms, etc before a work out. These are false and often lead to injuries.
If you’re in a class, don’t be hesitant to ask questions to your chen taiji instructor. If you’re at home and you felt pain or discomfort discontinue and rest. If the problem still persists its best that you seek medical attention.