Honorable masters and Friends

• Grand Master Chen Xiaowang
• Grand Master Chen Yu
• Grand Master Chen Zhenglei
• Grand Master Ma Hong
• Grand Master Wang Xi¡¯an
• Grand Master Zhu Tiancai
• More

Grand Master Chen Xiaowang

Grand Master Chen Xiaowang is regarded both domestically and international as the highest representative of Chen Taiji in the present generation.

He was elected by the Taiji circles to be sole deputy to attend the Chinese State Assembly.

Winner of the gold medal in Taijiquan at the First International Wushu Championship held at Xi'an, China in 1985, and several times the gold medalist at National Championships, he has fostered a huge number of talented people in Taijiquan. He has students all over the world, and student's students- sometime up to five generations-some 1500 of them prizewinners. Until now his classes have been attended by about 60,000 people. In 1988 he was recognized by the Government of China with a special award for contributions to Taijiquan development.

Quotations from master:

What is the real reason of being fell down?

Taiji practitioner has his own sphere and mode of movement, which may not correspondent to rules of taiji universe law or taiji principles. You are attacked down by your partner that means your partner succeeds in breaking your sphere. Good practitioners are not easy to be attacked down, because their mode of movement and sphere correspondent to the law of taiji, thus they build up a strong and flexible system. The purpose for our routine practice is to reduce the errors, which disobeys the law of taiji, refine your movement sphere to be unbeatable.

What is the core of Taijiquan?

Taiji consists of millions of changes, yet these entire changes boil down to one principle: Dantian. Keep Dantian as core of whole body and core of whole practice process. Meanwhile, Dantian has the capacity to connect any other part of body.

Dantian movements can be classified into 3 types:

The first type is the leftward and rightward movements of Dantian. £¨e.g. silk reeling£©

The second type is the forward and backward movements of Dantian (e.g. Ti er qi).

The third type is the combination of the above two (e.g. when we change between peng lv ji an forces).

The external movements reflect Dantian transformation.

Grand Master Chen Yu

Grand Master Chen Yu was born on May 23, 1962, and now lives in Beijing. His ancestral home was in Chenjiagou, Wen County, Henan Province, China. He is the legitimate grandson of Chen Fake (17th-generation master of Chen family in Chenjiagou) and the only son of Chen Zhaokui (18th-generation master of Chen family in Chenjiagou).

He is now the member of Chen-Style Tai Chi Chuan Commission under Beijing Wushu Association, the director of Chen Zhaokui Tai Chi Chuan Society under Beijing Wushu Association, the life advisor of Chenjiagou Tai Chi Chuan Association, and the vice headmaster of Chenjiagou Tai Chi Chuan School.

He began to learn diligently Tai Chi under the strict requirement of Chen Zhaokui ever since the childhood

At the age of 14 in 1976, he accompanied his father to Wen County, Henan Province; he performed 1st and 2nd route of cannon fist at National Meeting on Tai Chi Chuan and created a sensation for his tidy fist frame (his first public performance).

He began to teach independently Tai Chi Chuan from the age of 17, and has taught for nearly 30 years up to now

He sets about to arrange materials, plans to publish teaching books and video materials of Fist Frame of Chen-Style Tai Chi Chuan, has completed some materials, and will complete all these materials soon after.

Fist boxing is the manifestation of spirit, qi, and vigor.

Specifically, eye is vigorous there seems to be somebody but actually without anybody in the front; the implication of attack and defence shall be understood for each action; there is awareness to push and fast hand with others at any time during the frame; and there is awareness to attack enemy at the back even without backward head turning

Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan emphasizes various coordination pairs: will & spirit, front openness & rear closeness, rear openness & front closeness (i.e. chest & back), elbow & knee, shoulder & hip, chest & waist, hand & foot, upper & lower, left & right, left shoulder & right hip, right shoulder & left hip (i.e. oblique coordination), eye & ear (i.e. upper rear & front), finger & eyesight.

Grand Master Chen Zhenglei

Grand Master Chen Zheng-lei was born in May 1949 in Chen Village Wen county He Nan province. (Chen Village is the birthplace of Tai Chi Quan). He is the 19th generation of Chen¡¯s family and the 11th generation direct-line successor of Chen Family Tai Chi Quan. He is now one of the ¡°Top Ten Martial Arts Masters ¡±in China.

Since he was 8 years old, Grandmaster Chen Zheng-lei has followed his uncle Chen Zhao-pi for practicing Tai Chi Quan handed down from the older generation of Chen family, including push-hands, and Tai Chi Weapons about broadswords, spear, sword, cudgel etc. Moreover, he studied Tai Chi theories. (Chen Zhao-Pi was famous Tai Chi Master in his time, former honorary professor of Nan Jing Central Wushu Institution, National Senior referee and was selected as committee member of the National Wushu Association in 1964). After his uncle died from disease in 1972, he continued to pursue advanced studies for another uncle Chen Zhao-kui who was famous Tai Chi Grand Master in his time. Grand Master Chen Zheng-lei specialized in the theories and the skills of Tai Chi Quan and push-hands skills, which were handed down by his Grandfather¡¯s brother Chen Fa-ke. He was taught by two Grand Masters¡¯ personal examples as well as their verbal instruction for over 20 years.

Since childhood, Grand Master Chen was orphaned and helpless and repeatedly encountered various hardships and took Tai Chi Quan as life sustenance and future hope. So he devoted himself into practicing Tai Chi Quan for over 10 years and never stopped. His skills were out of the common run and his Tai Chi theoretical level was eminent in Chen Village because he enjoyed exceptional advantages of his two uncles.

He was given the titles of ¡°excellent performance",¡± golden lion" and he is well known as ¡°Tai Chi Buddha Warrior¡± in China and overseas.

Over the pass thirty-four years, Grand Master Chen has cultivated more than 40,000 students in China and overseas. His students have won over thousands Gold medals in Provincial, National and International Martial Arts competitions.

Grand Master Ma Hong

Master Ma Hong (1927--)

Chen Style Taiji successor of 11th generation.

His master: the late master Chen Zhaokui

The most notable indoor deciple among Chen Zhaokui's students

He is greatly respected for his deep dedication, great morality, and the sense of responsibility. Unlike the other masters, he started practicing not because of family heritage. After his graduation from the North China Normal University, he started to work in education, writing and editing field. Huge work pressure for a long time damaged his health. Before he came to his 30¡¯s, he began to suffer from constant headache, neurasthenia and insomnia. There were no results after long-time effort to cure his illnesses.

Then an old TCM doctor advised him to practice Taiji. He followed seriously. After one year, he got a surprising recovery. This led to his great dedication to Taiji.

He started to follow the late master Chen Zhaokui ever since 1972.

He kept strict note and diaries during those over nine years¡¯ learning from the master.

His background of deep knowledge on Chinese ancient culture, his modesty and diligence not only led to his constant transformation in Taiji, but also allow us to share the most delicately interpreted theory and philosophy hidden in his big collection of works.

I never thought of being ¡®master¡¯ one day when I was following my master Chen Zhaokui, I was only fully absorbed by the charm of Taiji, the art with elegance, deep philosophy and great power. I never ever expected to become ¡®master¡¯ and get titles while teaching my students, only bearing in mind that the treasure, which has brought me health, great enjoyment and changed my fate, has got to be passed down well from my hand.

Master Ma Hong Works:

Practical Applications of Chen Style Taichi
Body Combat Techniques of Chen Style Taichi
Subtle Interpretations on Chen Style Taichi Principles
Six Hundred Photo Illustration of Chen Style Taichi Frames

Grand Master Wang Xi¡¯an

Grand Master Wang Xi-an was born in 1944, in Chen Jia Gou Village of Wen County, He Nan Province, China. He is one of the best disciples of the 18th generation Chen Style Taiji successors, the great Masters Chen Zhao-pi and Chen Zhao-kui. He is also one of the most notable representatives of the 19th generation successors at the present day.

Characteistic: the combination of peace and fierceness; with the spirit of King.

Grand Master Wang Xi-an holds such important posts as China National High Grade Martial Arts Coach, the Head Coach of Wen County Taijiquan Training Centre, the Vice Secretary-General of Wen County International Taijiquan Research and Competition Institute, the Head Coach and the Head Advisor to Taijiquan Associations in Japan, France, Malaysia, South Korea, Spain, Greece and in most of the provinces in China. He is also the Vice Dean of the Athletics Department of He Nan University, the Honorary Lecturer of He Nan Teachers University and one of the members of the Executive Council of He Nan Province Tourist Association.

Grand Master Wang Xi-an has made several visits to Japan, France, Holland, Switzerland and other countries to pass on his skills and knowledge. He was once invited as an honorary guest by the brother of the Emperor of Japan to visit the Imperial Palace. The Mayor of Osaka, Japan, presented him with a Gold Key to the City and he was entitled an honorary citizen. He was also invited as a guest by Chirac, the President of France. He has published three books, seven or more videos and many articles regarding Chen Style Taijiquan.

Taiji Energy Enhancement Practice, which is interpreted and demonstrated in details in my teaching videos, is the vital element of taiji Practice. Aimed to nourish practitioners¡¯ Prenatal Heaven quality, and strengthen their Postnatal Heaven quality, it helps people to keep their root(legs and feet) firm, ease energy circulation, as an old saying says, ¡®you want to make a tree flourish? Nourish its root first.¡¯

As the fundamental energy type of Taiji, Peng(warding off) functions in almost every movement of practice. As the thumb energy type of Taiji, it backups your power of Tuishou. Like other types of energy, Peng energy is also from the internal.

Grand Master Zhu Tiancai

He is the 19th generation Chen style Taijiquan successors. Born in 1944 in Chenjiagou (the birthplace of Chen Taijiquan) in the Henan province of China, Zhu Tiancai trained under 18th generation Grandmasters Chen Zhaopei and Chen Zhaokui.

Characteristics:

Zhu Tiancai's form is exceptional and characterized by "smooth flowing" and "softness." Master Zhu teaches internationally and has decades of teaching experience. His hands-on, down-to-earth teaching style removes much of the mystery and complexity of taijiquan and allows both beginners and advanced students alike to more readily grasp the nuances of Chen Taijiquan.

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