chen t’’ai chi, volume 1: traditional instructions from the chen village

When we think of martial arts in ＂old China,＂ we get visions of violent convulsions of dynastic change, devastating rebellions, civil wars, and banditry. Throughout the centuries there was a need for masters who possessed highly effective martial skills for positions in the military, protection services, and law enforcement. Out of this historical reality emerged a national treasure we call taijiquan.Chen t’ai chi’s mystique remains fundamentally a true fighting art, including bare-handed forms and applications, plus an arsenal of weapons that includes the spear, straight sword, broadsword, and halberd. Then there are the associated training methods used to master this complete system, such as qigong, push-hands, and standing post. All of these practices are infused with knowledge associated with the physical and mental aspects of the human condition.Any serious taiji practitioner or scholar should have some understanding of the Chen family roots to get a vision of the whole tree. This two-volume anthology brings much of the rich heritage conveniently together for your reading. In this first volume, prepare yourself to sit at the feet of the main representatives of the Chen Village, including Chen Xiaowang, Chen Xiaoxing, and Wang Xi’an. Perhaps of greater importance are the clear explanations outlining each step in the learning process toward mastering Chen-style t’ai chi. Chapters included here clarify what proper training entails and why much time and effort (gongfu) are necessary to gain results.

Stephan Berwick, M.A., has a martial arts background spanning over thirty years. Bow Sim Mark was his early mentor. He began intensive Chen taiji training under Ren Guangyi, and other Chen family members of Chenjiagou. He holds an M.A. from Tufts University in cooperation with Harvard University. Asr Cordes has studied martial arts since the age of eight and has focused on internal martial arts training since 1992. A senior student of Cheng Jincai, he currently is a professional Chen-style taijiquan instructor, international gold medalist, and freelance martial arts writer. Michael DeMarco, M.A., founder of the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, received his degree from Seton Hall University’s Department of Asian Studies. In 1964 he began his martial arts study in Indonesian kuntao-silat; since 1973 he has focused on taijiquan. He studied Chen style in Taiwan under Tu Zongren and Du Yuze (1886-1990), in the lineage of Chen Yanxi. David Gaffney, B.A., received a bachelor’s degree from Manchester University, England. He martial arts training in 1980 and received his instructor’s certificate from the Wenxian Chen Taiji Research and Promotion Center in 1997 and a fifth-degree grade with the Chinese Wushu Association. He has been training with some of the leading figures of Chen taiji. Miriam O’Conner, M.A., has been practicing taijiquan in the Zheng Manqing lineage for over a decade. She holds an M.A. degree from the University of Auckland and a master of Chinese from the Université de Provence. O’Connor taught languages at the University of Auckland and the Cultural University in Taiwan. Wong Jiaxiang was born in 1925 in Heilongjiang province and later moved to Taiwan. He studied many forms of Daoist exercise in addition to taijiquan. In Taiwan he became the leading disciple of Chen-style master Du Yuze. As a leading scholar of taijiquan, he has numerous publications various taiji styles.