Traditional Chinese Chen Style
Introduction of the Traditional Chinese Chen Style Taiji Quan Association Water and fire are the elements representing the Taiji concept of Yin and Yang. Derived from which the logo of the Association, characterized by a circle of alternating fire and water, symbolizes the philosophy of “stability of the water and movement of the fire generat ing each other, so that yin and yang can achieve balanced” when balance of yina and yang is achieved everything is in harmony. It also represents the first hexagram named “ Qian ” of the “ Book of Change ” which says: “heaven generates the life cycle, and man must continually persevere” which symbolizes that we should demonstrate a spirit of innovation while preserving our culture heritage. Before the Traditional Chinese Chen style Taiji Quan Association was established, the Miao Kong Chinese Martial Arts Association was installed on April 22, 2000 with the purpose to promote Chinese martial arts and health care. The Chinese word “ Miao ” means “subtle” and the word “ Kong ” means “emptiness”. Hence, the name “ Miao Kong ” represents the subtle emptiness of the mind that happens when yin and yang are in harmony, which also includes the Chinese philosophy and concept of the harmony between man and nature. On December 11th 2003 , the Traditional Chinese Chen Style Taiji Quan Association was established with the goal of preserving and promoting the ancient martial art of Chen style Taijiquan and its effects. This association wants to make the understanding and practice of Taiji more accessible to the community. Chen style Taiji has preserved the heritage and spirit of the ancestors in the movements and theory. Hence, Master Li Zhangren has mastered the Traditional Taiji from the Chen family taught to his by the 1 7 th generation master Du Yuze and has added his own knowledge and wisdom to the techniques and movement to create the Chen Style of Taiji. Please refer to the association's web si te www.kongfu.org to have access to the numerous articles and videos on the history, lineage, forms and application. Modern science and medicine has proven the health benefit of practicing Taiji. It can improve the circulation of qi and blood and can also boost the immunity system. But its benefits are not only seen on the physical body but also on the emotional and mental state. The specialty of the Traditional Chen Style of Taiji Association is to have hard and gentle movements within the forms and emphasizes the flexibility of the whole body. It uses gentle movements and flexibility to promote health and well-being and applies hard and forceful movement to learn the utility of the self defense aspects of the movements. In this balance of these two different types of movement there is harmony and blance of yin and yang, rapid and slow, gentle and forceful which bring notable benefit to the practitioners' mind and body. Traditional Chinese Chen Style Taiji Quan Association has been working to promote health and fitness for the community fo rover 10 years and has also been involved in teaching Taiji for multiple groups throughout the years, such as: Yuan Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, Overseas Chinese Youth Camp team, Japanese Youth Delegation of Martial Arts and Tai Chi and to students around the world to spread the ancient teaching and applications of Chen Style Taijiquan: 1. Educational Institutions Involved: Taijiquan Association at Qinghua University of TCM, Cheng Gong University , Jinan University , Soochow University , Donghai University , Huafan University , Nantai, Zhi Yuan Science and Technology University , Chinese Military Academy , and other tai chi and martial art clubs. 2. Governmental and Businesses: Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Palace Museum, Vectra Electrical Company, Taiyuan Electronical Company, Taiwan Yingcai, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and other technology industries,. 3. Community Center: Taipei Chiang Kai-shek, Song Mountain, Danshui Community College, Taipei Da'an Senior Engineers, Tainan Sheng gong Female Educational Courses, Jiantan Activity Center, Wenshu College, Tainan Educational Center, Tainan School and other community centers. 4. Enterprise Education Seminars: Funlun Association at the Hua'an branch of the family Resource Consultant Limited, EPM Enterprises Association, and other lecturers. Traditional Chinese Chen Style Taiji Quan Association has also taken part in social welfare services, such as the 2001 Guang Shan Mercy Foundation awarded certificates of appreciation to help Tainan promote the abstinence of drug and tobacco addiction counseling, and participate in the Tainan Prison qigong teaching of AIDS prevention and treatment. To sustain the Traditional Chinese Chen Style Taiji Quan Association, we have implemented various forms in the teaching curriculum, such as: Xin jia ( 新架 ), Lao jia ( 老架 ) , Da si tao ( 大四套 ), Pao chui ( 砲捶 ), Fu lei jia ( 忽 雷架 ), Ji jing pao ( 急勁炮 ) and other traditional forms. There are also the weapons form of the liang yi saber ( 兩儀刀 ) Shui yue sword ( 水月劍 ), Ri yan sword ( 日焰劍 ), Chao yan staff ( 朝陽棍 ), Qi xing spear( 奇行槍 ) and other weapons. The curriculum also include some other applicatioin techniques such as push-hands( 推手 ), Fa jing ( 發勁 ), Ji qi ( 技擊 ), Qin na ( 擒拿 ), Shuai jiao ( 摔角 ) and other self defense techniques. All these techniques are available in order to make the people of today enjoy the teaching of our ancestors. The Association understands that there are many time and space limitations in today ' s world, so it continually documents various educational materials to make learning taiji and martial arts efficient and appropriate for our times. For example, the 8 basic movement of Taiji for health cultivation ( 樂活太極養生八式 ), the 13 movement of Chen Taiji Qinghua form ( 古傳陳太精華 13 式 ) and the basic 24 movement form of Chen Taiji ( 陳式太極入門 24 式 ) , so that students can easily get started practicing these simple form and receive the many health benefits. Finally, in ordre to help people learn this health promoting martial arts, the association also teaches Ba Duan Jin ( 八段錦 ) , Yi jin jing ( 易筋經 ) , Wu qin xi ( 五禽戲 ) , Liu zi jue ( 六字訣 ) and their applications. At the same time in 2000 the association joined the Beijing University of Physical Education Center to promote Professor Zhang Guan de's method of promoting health and well-being. In addition, the Association has invited many Chinese medicine doctors and natural medicine therapists study and document various teaching materials, and continue to support and encourage the active teaching professional coaches so that more people have the opportunity to learn these valuable teachings.
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