TAI CHI DIFFERENT STYLES

Demonstrators: various.

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

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COMING SOON! VCD#1563 Taiji "San Shou" with Li De Yin

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 non-sensical depending on interpreatation. 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#1143 Tai Chi Wan Sheng

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.

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. Double VCD.

Customer review of this style.

This is the second form of the Spirit Dragon Tai Chi with more complicated movements emphasizing changing from slow to fast, big to small, hard to soft, etc. The performer, Chuang Li, is the 29th inheritor of the system. He is the vice-president of the Yin Zhou WuShu Hui and a member of the Nin Xia WuShu Hui.

VCD#899 Tai Chi Spirit Dragon RINGS
About an hour, see Main VCD for prices, CHINESE ONLY

The so-called "Golden Rings" are instruments of a Taoist God used for self defense. A metal, but non-bladed, weapon it is associated with non-killing movements. The actions are double handed with scarves flying. At present this is the only ring set we have. In some cases we can see these as very useful for practicing large circular movements such as the actions of PiGua. Chuang Li is facile with these weapons.