What is Chen Tai Chi?

Chen style tai chi chuan, the original form of tai chi, was created in the 1600s by a retired general, Chen Wangting. Unlike the highly popular Yang style, which derived from it in the mid-19th century, Chen tai chi is characterized by soft and hard, slow and fast movements alike. While it emphasizes a relaxed body, a calm and focused mind and flowing movements - principles at the core of all tai chi styles - it is more robust than the other styles and retains a distinct martial flavor, as characterized by the brisk practice routine known as Cannon Fist.

"The secret of tai chi lies in the fact that its movements exist not of themselves, but are elements in an ancient tapestry of thought and consciousness, combining philosophy, healing and fighting into a single fabric," Chen Xin, a 16th-generation resident of Chenjiagou, wrote in his book The Illustrated Canon of Chen Family Taijiquan, published in 1933.

(China Daily European Weekly 11/20/2015 page25)