Yang Tai-Chi

Created by Yang Lu Chan (1799-1872) of Yong Nian County in Hebei province, Yang style Tai Chi is the first derivative of Chen style Tai Chi. After having studied Chen Tai Chi for 9 years in Chen Jia Gou, Henan province under the tutelage of Chen Chang Xing, who was a 14th generation Chen Tai Chi master, Yang Lu Chan created the much softer and more fluent style now known as Yang Tai Chi. Wu Yu Xiang, the founder of Hao style Tai Chi, recommended that Yang Lu Chan teach his Yang style to government officials in Beijing, and because Beijing was the political and cultural center of China at the time, Yang Tai Chi quickly gained popularity.

Yang Lu Chan had two sons. His elder son, Yang Ban Hou (1837-1892) was a highly skilled Tai Chi fighter. He created the small frame form of Yang Tai Chi and in turn taught Wu Jian Quan, who would later become the creator of Wu style Tai Chi. Yang Lu Chan’s younger son, Yang Jian Hou (1839-1917), who also achieved high level skills, had three sons. The youngest of the three, Yang Chen Fu (1883-1936), had a large frame and ended up specializing in Tai Chi Push Hands techniques. Because he was known for being a very open, kind, smart and friendly master, many people traveled long distances to be his student. He summarized basic Tai Chi movements and systematically taught the Yang Style 108 form to the public. Not only did Yang Chen Fu excel in Tai Chi applications, but he also believed in using Tai Chi as a tool to strengthen a person’s body and to maintain health. He ultimately became the Dean of the Internal Department in the Nanking Guo Shu Institute in the late 1920s, where many of the top graduates were his personal students.

Currently, Yang style Tai Chi is the most popular style of Tai Chi worldwide. Many Yang Tai Chi practitioners view the Yang 108 form as the representative form of Yang Tai Chi; however, in order to adapt to a modern fast-paced lifestyle, many simplified versions of Yang Tai Chi forms have been created in recent years, such as 8, 24, 40 and 88 Movements. Yang Tai Chi has also become the most popular division in internal Kung Fu competitions. For example, the 40 Movements form is now the mandatory competition form for Yang Tai Chi.

The following is a BTKA-suggested 3-tiered structure to help learn Yang Tai Chi effectively:

1. Basics & Gong Fa (conditioning)
2. Forms & Weapons
3. Push Hands & San Shou

An Introduction to Tan Tui

Tan Tui is a kicking-oriented northern style form and is a basic introductory form for all kung fu styles. "Tan" translates to “quick snap” and "Tui" is “kick,” thus combining to mean snap kick – a kick that is prevalent throughout the form. It was originally very popular in Shandong, Hebei and Henan provinces; however, with the establishment of the Shanghai Jing Wu School and Nanking Guo Shuo Institute, the form also became popular in southern China.

People speculate on several different origins of Tan Tui. Some believe it came from the Tan family village in Henan province. Others believe that Tan Tui was created by a Buddhist monk from the Shandong Dragon Lake Temple. Yet another theory is that of Tan Tui being created by Chinese Muslim martial artists from western China, which could explain why it is a very popular form among the Chinese Muslims. Many Chinese Muslim practitioners use Tan Tui as the basics for what is known as Cha Shadow Boxing.

Ten-Section Tan Tui was a mandatory form for all Nanking Guo Shu Institute students to learn. The names of each section of the Ten-Section Tan Tui form are listed as follows:

Section 1: Single Whip
Section 2: Kick & Punch
Section 3: Covering Punch
Section 4: "Chen Ca"
Section 5: Block & Punch
Section 6: Single Spread
Section 7: Double Spread
Section 8: Side Kick
Section 9: "Smashing Lock"
Section 10: Jumping Front Heel Kick

Besides Ten-Section Tan Tui, there exists a Twelve-Section version. The main difference is that the snap kicks in Ten-Section Tan Tui are waist level, focusing on agility and flexibility. In contrast, Twelve-Section Tan Tui kicks are no higher than knee level, focusing instead on increased leg strength.

The Ten-Section Tan Tui form covers various types of kicks including the front snap kick, front heel kick, side kick, jumping front snap kick & jumping front heel kick. It also covers basics such as the bow, horse, drop, resting and cat stances. Basic striking techniques are punching, blocking, pressing, chopping, smashing, spear palm, uppercut, forward elbow and crossing hands. Because the form is highly symmetrical and the
movements are simple, the form serves as a good introduction to all kung fu styles.