TAI CHI DIFFERENT STYLES

Demonstrators: various.

There are many fine styles of T'ai Chi generally under-represented. Here are such branches as Sun LuTang's (demonstrated by his daughter) and other lesser known branches of the art.

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This inexpensive English/Chinese VCD shows many Tai Chi ball exercises. This VCD shows probably the simplest basic movements with the ball of all our DVD/VCDs. Some of these, demonstrated by the athletic Zheng XiaoFei, would be obvious to anyone using the ball; but others might be more intriguing. Each of these is clear and simple enough, with some basic explanation in English, to be practiced either separately or in a sequence which can be adapted to the student. None of them require much room or a high degree of acrobatic ability. With rare exceptions we consider Tai Chi ball training to be a great and useful addition to any style's training regimen. Nothing better represents the idea of sphericity than touch.

Chen Si Qiong was born in Chen Jia Gou and studied in a Chen Tai Chi environment including instruction from his uncle, Chen Xiao Wong. He has been a many years champion in Push Hands and Tai Chi performances and in delegations to places like Hong Kong and the West. This recent addition to the Chen Tai Chi arsenal is a double short stick set. Highly learnable this short to medium sized form is true to the Chen emphasis on reeling silk energy. The movements are relatively basic but not necessarily simple. There are five main motions: beating, pressing, pounding, blocking and poking. One of the outstanding features of the set is its footwork which bring in stutter steps and other smaller and more precise motions. The entire VCD is done twice with one explanation in Chinese and the other in narrated English. If you have any Chen experience or general Tai Chi training this shouldn't be very difficult, unless you've never touched a weapon.

Teacher Li De Yin studied from both Li Tian Ji (his uncle) and Li Yu Lin (his grandfather). In this he continues the heritage from Sun Lu Tang and Li Jing Lin (the famous swordsman). In this presentation of the classical Yang Taiji two person set he adds an austerity and an imaginative interpretation that enhances a form which can range from graceful and functional to nonsensical depending on interpretation. Not everyone will agree with each section for timing, angle and application but this is a worthwhile contribution by an interpreter who knows what he is doing. His students are numerous and many well known such as Su Zhi Fang, Su Ren Feng, Gao Jia Min and Chen Si Tan.He is the creator of the 48 step Combined Taiji, the 42 step Competition Taiji, the 38 Step Sun Short Taiji and the Taiji Kung Fu Fan. A Double VCD.

VCD#638 Tian Feng Style Tai Chi Fan
Triple VCD, VCD pricing, Chinese Only

Like fan sets? Well this one is pretty good with some martial attitude and presentation. The issue with such sets is not that we think everything should be "street oriented" but that if art and performance is the goal why even pretend? On the other hand if you like the blend of martial and performing this might be a good one for you. Much fan flipping and flicking. Triple VCD. NOTE: There have been some audio problems with this VCD,very loud Chinese. If you don't understand Mandarin then just lower the volume.

Said to have been created by a follower of Taoism and an acupuncturist: Wan Sheng means "10 000 Victories" but may be a typical combination of names of the Wan Song Shan location of the teacher and Ai Sheng the student who began to broadcast the style. It is a medium paced, longish set with definite Shaolin routes and not in the normal structure of either Chen Lao Jia or Yang Long set. On this VCD demonstrator Chen Zhi Jun shows. So what we have here is a completely different Tai Chi set. There are definitely pretenders to the ranks, but we will continue to investigate the background and see what we can find. A Quintuple VCD.

Said to have been created by a follower of Taoism and an acupuncturist: Wan Sheng means "10 000 Victories" but may be a typical combination of names of the Wan Song Shan location of the teacher and Ai Sheng the student who began to broadcast the style. It is a medium paced, longish set with definite Shaolin routes and not in the normal structure of either Chen Lao Jia or Yang Long set. On this VCD demonstrator Chen Zhi Jun shows. This set shows many applications of Tai Chi to fighting situations (the assistant dressed in a safety vest). In application Wan Sheng more resembles other forms of the style. A Double VCD.

SUN JIAN-YUN, the daughter of the very famous martial artist and writer, Sun Lu-Tang leads this demonstration tape of the Sun Style. Though the cover lists Sun T'ai Chi there is more here than that. This is not an instruction VCD but starts with a performance of Sun T'ai Chi by Sun Jian-Yun, herself an "old Shihfu". Other students and family members help demonstrate T'ai Chi, Sun Style Ba Gua Partner Sword practice, Sun Style Hsing Yi Fist Set, and a rather nice Sun style Xing Yi sword. Little talking but a lot about the Sun style for the interested student.

LI family is a famous, though not in the West, form of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. They are known as fine practitioners with a very fluid and elongated style. Though not a T'ai Chi set (see our Tour of T'ai Chi video if you want to sample their T'ai Chi) this form has all the components famous to the style. The moves are fluid and changeable with a decided punctuation of actions that resemble Xing Yi. The form also lies mostly on the vertical axis so it is at least intermediate. The hand motions are particularly good demonstrating the posture and flexibility of the "Five Dragons". The teacher and demonstrator here is the same man: Ma Jin Long.

VCD#897 Tai Chi Spirit Dragon Road #1
A Double VCD, VCD pricing, Chinese Only

This is a loose, flowing style that looks like Shaolin but is performed with Tai Chi's "floating" feeling. There are few moves here that actually look like most Tai Chi postures though some names such as Jin Gang pounds mortar are the same. Movements are mostly soft though some times explosive. Leg actions are light and relaxed. A Double VCD. Customer review of this style.

VCD#898 Tai Chi Spirit Dragon Road #2
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese Only

VCD#899 Tai Chi Spirit Dragon RINGS
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese Only