In addition to the standard routines, we learn and practice two traditional styles: the Traditional Yang Style of Cheng Man-ching and the Traditional Sun Style of Sun Lu-tang.
We see these as being as close to the original or classical styles of tai chi as they retain original features documented by the originators who were well educated unlike the vast majority of recognised martial artists who did not have access to a formal education and were illiterate. In the case of Cheng Man-ching, we have a legacy of first-generation students still living, original texts translated by those students, photos, and even video. In the case of Sun Lu-tang we have translations of his original texts and photos. And subsequent documentation, including video, from first generation family and students, and second-generation students still living.
Tai chi styles have naturally evolved over time but the more recent changes have been dramatic with:
- The shift towards more athletic exercise movements including expansive “large frame” movements and deep stances providing for accelerated aerobic benefits and muscle strengthening. Developed early on in the Yang Family style by Yang Cheng-fu
- The Chinese government recognition of tai chi and qigong as Chinese culture and assuming ownership and control. With the resulting introduction of both standard and competition routines the latter requiring more athletic forms to make judging easier, and time limits to meet organisational time constraints.
- Greater accessibility to information previously kept as family secrets and an increased willingness and ability of Chinese martial families to teach classes to a wider range of students as a living. Which catered for an increased interest and ability of Western practitioners to “cross train” across multiple tai chi styles. Addressed in part by the introduction of combined tai chi routines by the Chineses authorities for competition.
- The adoption of tai chi for health in the Western World with shortened and hybrid forms to fit modern lifestyles, i.e., shorter learning times and shorter practice times
- Commercialisation with branding to secure style ownership and the ensuing financial benefits from franchising, the promotion of competition success to attract new students, and sales of videos, merchandise, and simplified online courses.
- The opening up of China to tai chi tourism.
A number of the movements practiced in qigong and the large frame tai chi styles currently have been assessed by physiotherapy professionals as unsafe. Others have required modification to make them safer, especially for seniors and less experienced students. Which is generally not the case in the original traditional “small frame” tai chi styles .
However, we have adopted shorter routines for both traditional styles to provide students a starting point to the learning of the longer routines.
The Traditional Yang Style of Cheng Man-ching
Cheng Man-ching (1901-1975) learnt and developed an earlier version of the Yang Style (known as “Yang Old Frame”) understood to have been taught to him privately by the Yang Family lineage holder Yang Cheng-fu. We refer to it as the Traditional Yang Style. It proved extremely popular and spread initially to Taiwan and Malaysia.
He was one of the earliest taijiquan teachers to teach tai chi publicly in the United States where the style is widely practised. And his students have continued to spread his routine around the world.
Cheng Man-ching developed his 37 Forms routine initially by removing most of the repetitions of movements from the Yang Long 103 Forms routine, hence you will find it in a number of sources being referred to as the “Short Form”.
The Traditional Sun Style of Sun Lu-Tang
Sun Lu-tang (1860-1933) combined the three internal styles of Chinese martial arts to produce his Sun Style, the most modern of the 5 orthodox styles of tai chi. He developed the Sun 98 Forms practice routine.
It uses small postures and follow-steps. The movements are extremely lively and agile so it is also know as “nimble tai chi”. It offers many benefits without the risks of many modern styles. The follow-step movements not only quickly build whole-body power but are also much safer and less stressful on the joints of the hips and legs than the lower stances and extended steps found in modern styles.
Sun Jian-yun (1914-2003), Sun Lu-tang’s daughter, who also became one of China’s greatest martial artists, dedicated her life to continuing the legacy of the Sun style. She developed the Sun 42 Forms practice routine by eliminating many of the repetitions in the 98 Forms routine.