Tai Chi Forms

Chen Style Tai Chi Xin Jia (New Frame) is attributed to Chen Fake. The Xin Jia was mainly adapted from classic old frame. Comparing to 'old' frame, the new frame focuses on the coordinated opening and closing of back and chest along with a type of rippling wave (folding) running vertically up and down the dantian/waist area, connected to twisting of the waist/torso. The stances in Xin Jia tend to be more compact in the goal of better mobility for fighting applications, while they still remain quite low. Also the new frame tends to emphasise on manipulation, seizing and grappling as well as on spiral winding for both long and shorter range striking.
In addition, the New Frame also focuses on the gathering and discharge of force from internal to external, therefore the Fajing ("shaking" energy), the silk-reeling energy and the stamping so characteristic of Chen style are more clearly manifest and visible.
Form One has simple movements, more softness and less hardness. Ward off, roll back, press, and push (the four directions) are emphasized, elbow, split, pull down, and shoulder strike (the four corners) are secondary. It also features with frequent shifts from vigorous to soft and helps train transitions between yin and yang. Form Two (Pao Chui) has more complicated movements, more hardness, and less softness. Elbow, split, pull down, and shoulder strike (the four corners) are emphasized, ward off, roll back, press, and push (the four directions) are secondary. There are many methods of fajing in this from.

Tai Chi Weapon

Tai Chi, like most Chinese martial arts, has a lot of different weapons. Chen style Tai Chi has single and double sword, single double and big broadsword, spear, staff, long pole and two sectioned staff. However, the staff, known as the white ape staff, does not have a practice sequence by its self, as all the techniques are included in the spear practice sequence. The actual practice sequences are:
● Single Sword (Dan Jian)
● Single Broadsword (Dan Dao)
● Pear Blossom Spear - White Ape Staff (Li Hua Qiang - Bai Yuan Gun)
● Spring and Autumn Big Broadsword (Chun Qiu Dadao/Guandao)
● Double Sword (Shuang Jian)
● Double Broadsword (Shuang Dao)
● Double Hooks (Shuang Gou)
● Double Mace (Shuang Jian)
● 13 Long pole (Shi San Gan)
● Two sectioned pole (Saozi Gan)
According to Tai Chi Documentary, the sword, broadsword, spear and big broadsword are examples of military weapons, while the pole and staff are more like folk weapons. Tai Chi leans towards military weapons as Tai Chi's heritage comes from the north of China, where the main concern is fighting off invaders from outside. Consequently it doesn't have the kind of self defense weapons found in some other styles.

Tai Chi Push Hand

Tai Chi Push Hand is a two-person training method practiced in Tai Chi and is used to acquaint practitioners with the principles of Eight gates, Eight steps, Zhan, Nian, Lian, Sui, Yin Jin Luo Kong and so on. It is also a gateway to experientially understand the martial aspects of Tai Chi including balance, leverage, reflex, sensitivity, timing, coordination and positioning. Tai Chi Push Hand usually works to undo a person's natural instinct to resist force with force, teaching the body to yield to force and redirect it.
Tai Chi Push Hand is a second step of Tai Chi learning process, and it allows a person to learn how to respond to external stimuli using techniques learnt from their forms practice. In addition, training with a partner allows the person to develop a skill of listening power, the sensitivity to feel the direction and strength of a partner's intention. There are five types of Push Hand practice:
1.Dan Tui Shou – Single-hand Push Hand
2.Ding Bu – Stationary Stance Push Hand
3.Huo Bu – Moving Stance Push Hand
4.Da Lu – Big Pull Push Hand
5.Hua Jiao Bu – Flower Pattern Stance Push Hand

Chair Tai Chi

Developed by Master Huang, Chair Tai Chi is a gentle exercise program based on the principals of Chen style Tai Chi but designed for the elderly in retirement communities, hostels and nursing homes. It is to help people receive the benefits of the traditional Tai Chi in the comfort and safety of their chair. The program allows people who cannot stand or lack confidence with their balance, such as those who use a walker, wheelchair, or have a movement disorder to participate and benefit from exercise. Some of health benefits of Chair Tai Chi are: improvement of balance, flexibility, range of motion, strength, and energy, assistance in pain relief, stress reduction, and peace of mind. It also helps improve eye and hands coordination, burn fats and calories, lower cholesterol, assist in managing blood pressure level and alleviating the pain from osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, fibro/polymyalgia and neuropathy.

Tai Chi Plum Blossom
Praying Mantis Boxing

Tai Chi Plum Blossom Praying Mantis Boxing is a combination of two different lineages of Mantis fist: Tai Chi Mantis (Tai chi Mantis) and Plum Blossom Mantis fist. This style is widespread in Yantai, Shangdong province, China. What is now called Tai Chi Plum Blossom traces its lineage to Master Zhang Bing Dou, who combined both Tai Chi Mantis and Plum Blossom in the early 20th Century, creating the current style. Plum Blossom Praying Mantis Boxing has the striking feature of flexible changes of steps, which are like plum flowers, especially the five petals of the flowers. Hao Lianru's five sons have since spread the style elsewhere. Tai Chi Plum Blossom Praying Mantis is well-known for its large, two-handed sword, and for being somewhat 'softer' than Seven Star Praying Mantis.

Xingyi Boxing

Xing Yi quan is one of the major "internal" styles of Chinese martial arts, and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power. There is no single organizational body governing the teaching of the art, and several variant styles exist.
A practitioner of Xing Yi quan uses coordinated movements to generate bursts of power intended to overwhelm the opponent, simultaneously attacking and defending. These sequences are based upon the movements and fighting behavior of a variety of animals. Xing Yi quan features aggressive shocking attacks and direct footwork. The linear nature of Xing Yi quan hints at both the military origins and the influence of spear technique alluded to in its mythology. Despite its hard, angular appearance, cultivating "soft" internal strength or Qi is essential to achieving power in Xing Yi quan.