Chen Family Old Frame Taijiquan

Chen Family Old Frame Taijiquan is the oldest Taiji system in existence, and the one from which all others descend. The Chen Family Old Frame is a martial art, not new-age meditation. While the basic exercises provide health benefits to people of any physical condition, advanced levels of training are mentally and physically demanding.

Exercises are performed singly or with a partner, and contain both slow and fast movements. The system includes: Old Frame First Form, Cannon Fist (Pao Chui), Taiji Single Sword, Taiji Single Saber, Taiji Double Saber, Spring-Autumn Halberd, “Five Tigers Swarming Sheep” Staff (Wu Hu Qun Yang Gun), Three-Opponent Staff, Pear Blossom Spear/White Ape Staff (Li Hua Qiang Jia Bai Yuan Gun), Taiji Sphere, Taiji Ruler (Xing Gong Bang), pole shaking (dou gun zi), the five push-hands techniques of Chen Village, and joint locking and grappling (na fa). The empty-hand forms contain the core principles of Chen Family Taijiquan: silk reeling (chan si jin), leading into emptiness (yin jing lou kong), neutralization (zhou hua), the basic energies, etc. In addition to these skills, weapons are used for building up explosive force (fa li), sensitivity (ling ji), and improving footwork.