There is a popular folk story that credits a Daoist monk, Zhang
San Feng, who was a master of Shaolin Chuan (Shaolin Fist style), for the
creation of Taijiquan. The story claims that one-day, Zhang San Feng observed a
fight between a crane and a snake. Zhang was impressed with how the snake did
not fight against the crane's blows; it avoided the crane's hit. After realizing
that force is not needed in combat, Zhang combined the Daoist teaching of
opposites (the yin and yang theory), the fighting techniques of the
crane and snake he observed, and the techniques he learned from Shaolin into what is now
known as Taijiquan, the grand ultimate fist style.
The story of Zhang creating Taijiquan is disputed among many Tai Chi practitioners. Historians believe that Taijiquan was actually created in the Chen Village, Honan Province of China. An ex-military officer, Chen Wang Ting, was the actual founder of the art. Chen was an expert in Shaolin Chuan and the Chen village in fact is quite near the Shaolin Temple. Unlike Zhang San Feng, there is actual proof that Chen Wang Ting actually lived and practiced Taiji, whereas it was never recorded in Chinese history that Zhang practiced or created Taijiquan.
Wutang Kung Fu and Tai Chi Institute's Chen Style Taijiquan comes from Sifu Adam Hsu of Taiwan who taught Sifu Kurt Wong. Sifu Hsu was encouraged by Grandmaster Liu to learn the Chen style from Sifu Tu Yi Che. Sifu Tu Yi Che was a student of Chen Yen Hsin of the Chen Village. The Chen style Taijiquan that came from Sifu Tu's lineage is the original style, the Lao Jia. Chen Fa Ke's lineage, Chen Yen Hsin's son, teaches a different set called the Xin Jia, new frame, along with the Lao Jia. Sifu Adam Hsu also teaches a rarel version of the Chen style, Thunder Chen Style Taijiquan.
The Chen style Taijiquan is the oldest among the four major styles and also the most martial of the styles. In the Wutang Kung Fu Institute, there are three levels of training. The first level is the 36 Movement form. It is done slow with some fast and explosive movements. The second level is the Lao Jia or the Old Frame. It is quite similar to the 36 except for the fact there are over 72 movements. The final level is the Pao Chui form or cannon fist. Pao Chui teaches how to issue jing (internal energy) and also contains very fast movements. The Chen style is very effective and is taught by Chen-style masters as a fighting art, unlike its younger cousin, Yang Style Taijiquan, which stresses on the health aspects of the art.
The main principles of Chen Taijiquan are: the development, practice, and mastery of "whole body connection," and the mental development and physical application of "body center" or "energy center." The guiding principles for Chen Taijiquan students and practitioners are represented by the following 10 essential points:
1) Suspend the head from above and keep it straight.
2) Depress the chest and raise the upper back.
3) Loosen the waist.
4) Understand and practice the difference between solidness and emptiness.
5) Lower the shoulders and elbows.
6) Practice the use of will and not force.
7) Connect the upper and lower portions of your body.
8) Unify both internal and external movements.
9) Practice continuous movements and coordinated movement.
10) Practice and demonstrate serenity during movement.