Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Ki Chaun) Taiji Boxing

Tai Ji Quan is one of the most famous Chinese styles. A quite modern legend attributes the origin of this style to Zhang Sanfeng, who lived on Wudang Mountain in the 12 th or 15 th century, but the truth is that it comes from Chen Wangting (1600-1680) from Henan province. It is supposed that Chen Wangting had contact with Shaolin Experts and created a new style from the old Shaolin forms.

There are five main sub-styles:
• Chen style, from Chen Wanting
• Yang style, from Yang Luchan (1799-1872)
• Wu style, from Wu Jianquan (1870-1942), also called Wu Manchu style
• Wu style, from Wu Yuxiang (1812-1880)
• Sun style, from Sung Lutang (1861-1932)

Each of these sub-styles also has a large number of sub-styles.
Main Features Teaching of only one form (sometimes truncated in several parts), only the Chen style teaches another form called Paochui, Tuishou, Qinna, hard and soft moves, opening and closing motions, use of jing, middle and short range fighting.

Note Most Tai Ji Quan teachers teach it as a philosophical gymnastic and a soft Qigong. This is mainly due to the confusion resulting of the neijia concept. But Taijiquan was and remains a very effective martial art. Many of the boxers during the Boxer's Incident in Beijing, 1900 were Tai Ji Quan practitioners and were not less efficient than external style practitioners. Also the legend that it requires at least 30 years of daily training to achieve something in Tai Ji Quan is a good mystification.

Xing Yi Quan (Hsing I Chuan) Form and Will Boxing

According to the legend this style comes from General Yue Fei (1103-1142) but it is more likely it came from Ji Jike (1602-1680) from the Shanxi province. Ji Jike almost certainly learned Wushu at Shaolinsi and named it Xinyi Quan (heart and will boxing). This same style is named Xing Yi Quan in Hebei .
There are three main sub-styles:

• Hebei Xing Yi Quan
• Shanxi Daijia Xin Yi Quan
• Xin Yi Liuhe Quan, pacticed by Chinese Muslims.

Main Features Very linear motions, middle, short range fighting, extremely powerful strikes generated by motion and body placement.

Ba Gua

Description coming soon

Qi Gong Energetic Exercises

The name Qi Gong is a generic term for energetic exercises. The main concept is to make Qi (vital energy) flow more freely in the human body. Martial Qi Gong which allows the practitioner to perform martial feats (striking without touching, destroying your opponents energy, etc.), healing Qi Gong allows the practitioner to throw his/her Qi to heal or relieve others.