Chen Fa-ke and Chen Style Tai Chi Quan

    Chen Style Tai Chi Quan was created by Chen Wang-ting, the 9th generation of Chen family during the end of Ming dynasty and the beginning of Qing dynasty. Since ancestor Chen Wang-ting the tendency of practicing Tai Chi Quan is rifer in Chen Village. Tai Chi Quan has passed and lasted from generation to generation, so Tai Chi talents come forth in large number through the past ages. In the long run, Tai Chi Quan has developed into four representative and difference main style including Yang、Wu、Sun、Woo style etc.  During the modern history of spreading Chen Style Tai Chi Quan, Chen Fa-ke, the 17th generation master of great and integrity、his son named Chen Zhao-kui and his brother’s son Chen Zhao-pi have made positive contributions. In 1928, Chen Fa-ke has been recommended by Chen Zhao-pi came to Beijing for teach Tai Chi Quan. He has made positive contribution to develop Chen Style Tai Chi Quan in Beijing.

      Chen Fa-ke was a honest and kindly man of few words. During his practice of teaching for 30 years in Beijing, he has raised his Kung fu and added the spiral and rotary actions and enriched Chen Style Tai Chi Quan. He has created new actions for example, chang palm three times (San Huan Zhang)、fold back of body and lean against(Bei zhe kao)、step backward and down elbow(tui bu ya zhou)、twine middle of body(zhong pan)、vibrate feet(shuang zhen jiao) etc. Now the Chen Style Tai Chi Quan(83 actions) was created by Chen Fa-ke in his old age. Chen Fa-ke and Hu Yao-zhen have set up the Capital Wushu Society in 1953 and promoted the Chen Style Tai Chi Quan and trained large numbers of Wushu talents. Shen Jia–zhen and Gu Liu-xin have compiled a book named 《Chen Style Tai Chi Quan》 in 1961. His son named Chen Zhaol-kui has been invited to Shanghai、Nanjing、Zhengzhou、Jiaozuo、Shi jia zhuang city etc. for taught Tai Chi Quan, So Chen Style Tai Chi Quan has been widespread developed in 1963.

     Chen Fa-ke had lots of disciples including Hou Zhi-yi、Lei Mu-ni、Sun Feng-qiu、Tian Xiu-chen、Chen Yu-xia and so on. They have made contributions to develop Chen Style Tai Chi Quan.

     Chen Style Tai Chi Quan has two kind. One is Old Frame(Lao Jia), another is New Frame(Xin Jia). The Old Frame was created by Chen Wang-ting, has five routines(also named shi san shi) and 108 actions of Long boxing(Chang Quan)、Pao Chui routine. During practice Chen Style Tai Chi Quan has become the First Routine and the Second Routine. The First Routine originally has 83 actions and its’ characters are 1.Reeling Silk Power(Chan Si Jin)is quite clear、all movements is spiral arc and moving one part make the whole body move; 2.harmony with energetic and gentle、firm but gentle;3.combine actions with breath;4. chequered with quickly and slow;5. stance has higher、middle and low three kinds to fit the various age. The Second Routine has original named Pao Chui. Its’ characters are 1. has more vibrate feet(zhen jiao) and set out energy actions;2. actions are more quickly、stronger and more powerful explosive force than the First Routine; has more jump and leap actions to fit youth.

     The New Frame of Chen Style Tai Chi Quan has two kinds