Tai Chi Chuan (Unfinished)

Tai-Chi Chuan

"Tai-Chi Chuan is the art of concealing hardness within softness, like a needle in cotton" (Yang Ch'eng-fu, 1883-1936).
The story of where Tai-Chi Chuan originated is not clear, full of discrepancies and voraciously disputed. Some traditions teach that a disciple of Zhang Sanfeng named Wang Zongyue taught the martial art to the Chen family in Chen village, Wen County, Henan Province but this cannot be confirmed. On the other hand, some in the Chen family claim that it was Wang Zongyue who learned Tai-Chi Chuan from them. .
Whichever way these events happened we know from historical records that Tai-Chi Chuan, as we know it, was being practised by the Chen family in the 18th Century. Their best known teacher was Chen Chang-hsing, (1771-1853). Chen Chang-hsing started teaching Yang Luchan in 1820. Yang went on to found the Yang style Tai-Chi Chuan, and from there all the other main styles of the art i.e. Sun and Wu followed.
It is not known for a fact what influenced Yang to change his style. It is said he travelled to Wudang mountain and was taught NeiGong breathing techniques by some monk, which he incorporated into his form. However, I have read so many times about people disappearing into the mountains and coming down enlightened, that until I can find some evidence based on fact I will just accept that he changed the form and improved or spoiled it, whichever side you want to take.
We must accept the fact that it was Yang-Lu Chan who made the art famous by going round the country issuing challenges and defeating all comers. He became so famous that we was summoned to the Royal Palace to teach the Emperors bodyguards. This is where the intrigue really kicks in. From what I have read, this caused Yang a dilemma. The country’s rulers were Manchu, invaders according to the Hans; Yang-Lu Chan was a Han. So he knew he couldn’t teach the Manchu’s his art so he formed another. It was this form with 108 steps that he taught. He also realised he couldn’t teach his original form to other Hans beacuse if the Manchu’s found out we would have certainly been put to death. So he had this secret form which he only taught to his two sons: Yang Pan-hou (1837-1892) and Yang Chien-hou , (1839-1917).

NB) In all martial arts a lot is said, and not said, about what the teacher chooses to teach his
students. It is said that only a few dedicated and trustworthy students learn all the teacher has to give. So what do they miss out and why? I think the why is a relatively easy answer. Firstly, if the teacher felt the student wasn‘t ready for a more indepth transmission of his art, due to physical, mental or spiritual reasons, he wouldn‘t disperse the information. Secondly in the past if the teacher taught the student all he knew, and the student decided, for whatever reason, to use his skills for immoral purposes or even challenge or attack the teacher, the only thing the teacher would have as an advantage would be experience. That’s why the most advanced applications of techniques would only be taught to close, trustworthy family members. Nowadays things are not so drastic but just as important. A student could ruin the teacher’s reputation or take his students and destroy his livelihood; I have seen it happen.
I believe what the teacher could leave out, if anything, would be the actual application of technique, breathing, correct posture and focus all carried out simultaneously with precise timing. You could train with the teacher twenty years and be an accomplished warrior but there would always be something missing, always be a weakness.

So when Yang Pan-Hou’s only son didn’t follow the martial path. It was left to Yang Chien-hou’s two sons: Yang Shao-hou, (1862-1930) and (Yang Chen-fu, 1883-1936), to receive the secret, but because of doubts over Yang Chen-fu he didn’t receive the full transmission and it is not known if Yang Shao-hou received it either. What is known is that Zhang Quinlin, who was a student of Yang Chen-fu impressed Yang Chien-hou and he was given the full transmission. Zhang Quinlin gave Wang Yen-nien the full transmission during World War II and he ordered Wang to spread the art to the world to stop it being lost. Wang Yen-nien who lived in Taiwan until his death in 2008, called the form Yangji Michuan Tai-Chi Chuan.

Let me stress, I don’t know if this is the real truth, I have read countless books, articles etc. This is what seems to have happened. I am also not saying that if you haven’t learned from Master Wang Yen-nien or any of his students, you are practising an incomplete form. Who am I to say what is correct or not? I believe that if the training adheres to the principles of Tai chi Chuan then surely it must be the real thing?

Yang style has become the most popular style practised. Sun and Wu styles came from Yang style and many different forms of Yang, Wu and Sun have evolved for better or worse.
I have learned Wu stlye and Chen style but I only practice Yang now so I cannot comment with any knowledge on other styles.

As Tai Chi-Chuan has evolved many teachers have taken out the martial aspects of emphasised the health and spiritual aspects. Are these styles true Tai Chi-Chuan? Once again I believe that as long as the key principles are in the form then they are correct. However, I believe that after a number of years of training if you don’t have a knowledge of the applications it would hinder your understanding and advancement. As Dao Shoshin the Founder of Shorinki Kempo said "What is the use of having the compassion when you see a man being attacked but not to have the ability to try and assist?"

I have been to many schools and seminars to check out widely publisised teachers and many times I have become bemused by the brigade in flowing, flowery clothes who wave their arms around and talk about the chi and their spiritual path. Actually these people seem to talk more than train. But then again as long as they feel they are benefiting from the training good for them!