Yang & Chen Style Tai Chi Curriculum

For beginning Tai Chi students our Yang & Chen style curriculum starts with learning the basic Tai Chi postures and movements. Tai Chi forms training then gradually progresses to more advanced hand and weapon forms for intermediate or advanced Tai Chi class levels.

For students who are already further along in their forms practice the focus shifts to learning the intricate details of the various forms, as well as feeling the unity of body & mind and of connectedness and flow. The integration of Tai Chi forms and Qigong exercises into the classes also helps students appreciate and experience the meditative aspects of Tai Chi Chuan very early in their practice.

Learning Tai Chi is also a great addition for any external martial arts student currently studying Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Karate, Judo, Taekwondo or Mixed Martial Arts by helping students to integrate a Yin (soft) component to their mainly Yang (hard) practice and therefore achieving balance and completeness and becoming a more rounded & skilled martial artist. Chen Style Tai Chi in particular combines internal principles with very pronounced external/physical martial arts aspects making it a very well suited entry point for students coming from predominantly external martial arts. The highly dynamic Yin/Yang component of Chen Style forms also makes them a little more athletic & visually dramatic compared to all other styles of Tai Chi.

Please see below for our complete curriculum:

> What is the main difference between Yang and Chen Style Tai Chi?

The Yang Style is characterized by evenly paced, soft flowing expansive movements which are almost 'zen-like' distilled in their postures and transitions. The martial arts applications are implied much more subtly than for example in the Chen style. The feeling of a gently flowing energy (chi) and a mind/body connection that is focused on/connecting with only the present moment can be experienced throughout the form. The lesser physical requirements of Yang style Tai Chi make it suitable to a wider audience in regards to fitness level as well as age range.

The Chen Style is the oldest and founding style of all other styles of Tai Chi and therefore displays the roots of being a martial art much more prominently. The Chen Style has a high dynamic between slow/soft and fast/hard movements and is characterized by pronounced coiling & spiraling movements (silk reeling) with bursts of explosive releases of energy/power (fa-jin). The feeling of moving energy (chi), of "connecting and sticking" is felt quite strongly and cultivates a unity and harmony of body & mind - be it in the gentlest of wrist spirals or the powerful release of a fist punch.

No matter which style you initially choose to learn - Chen as well as Yang style Tai Chi so beautifully combine focus, intent and connectedness of body, mind and spirit into a holistic experience and you will learn to go from an experience of simple "doing" to one of deeply-felt "being".

Yang Style Tai Chi

Hand Forms

  • 24 Form
  • 108 Form
  • 48 Combined Form

Weapon Forms

  • 32 Jian/Gin (Straight Sword) Form
  • 13 Dao (Broadsword) Form
  • Plum Blossom Fan Form
  • Wind Chasing Fan Form

Chen Style Tai Chi

Hand Forms

  • 18 Form
  • 56 Competition Form
  • Lao Jia Yi Lu
    (Old Frame First Routine, 74 Form)

Weapon Forms

  • 24 Fan Form

Silk Reeling

  • Silk Reeling is a set of neigong (internal) movement principles that are continuous, cyclic, spiraling patterns performed at constant speed with the "light touch of drawing silk".

Other

Qigong

  • The 8 Pieces of Brocade also referred to as the "8 Jewels" (Ba Duan Jin)
  • Standing Postures & Meditation

Stretching

  • Flexibility and light cardio workouts

Tai Chi Push Hands

  • Basic Single/Double Pattern Push Hands