Chinese Taoist Martial Arts Association in Greater Chicago

"The CTMAA combat-oriented soft style Tai Chi, based on the Yang style Tai Chi movements and powered by the combination of the Pre-Heaven Power Method and the Cheng Man-Ching style body mechanics, produces the fastest speed and genuine amazing soft power beyond imagination!"

"Attend the Tai Chi class at CTMAA and you will learn what the Tai Chi soft power truly is! This may be your only chance to get soft Tai Chi right!"

Introduction 

     The Tai Chi (Taiji , Taichi) style martial arts were created by the famous Taoist Zhang Sang-Feng during his stay in Mount Wudang in the 16th century.  According to the legend, he was inspired by observing the fight between a snake and a eagle.  The snake curled on the ground, still but alert, preparing but not act.  Whenever the eagle attacked it, it slightly moved its body to avoid the attack and then waited for the best opportunity to counter attack.  He hence created a new way of self-defense, Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan), based on the observation of the fight between these two animals and the theory of change between Yin and Yang.  The strategy of Tai Chi in self-defense is to always neutralize the attack if the opponent is stronger than you, lead him to imbalance, and then “borrow the opponent’s power” to counter-attack.

Tai Chi Chuan founder Zhang San-Feng 

In CTMAA, we focus on the Yang and Chen style Tai Chi systems, although weaponry in other schools is also covered. 

Yang Style Tai Chi System

     Yang style Tai Chi Chuan (empty-hand form) is perhaps the most popular Tai Chi style martial arts in the world.  Although it is well-known for its benefits to health, it is actually a very effective martial art.  When the founder of Yang style Tai Chi was invited to Beijing to teach in a prince’s palace, he defeated every challenger and was nicknamed “the invincible Yang.”

Yang Tai Chi Chuan push

     Yang style Tai Chi Chuan is characterized by its slow, soft, smooth, uniform-speed, and large movements.  It is practiced slowly for the following reasons:

(1) with slow movements, the mind can focus on the movement at any instant, (focus on soundness of structure, stability, softness)

(2) to cultivate the "soft power",

(3) to absorb qi through skin pores and acupuncture cavities and feel the circulation of qi in the body,

(4) to feel the surrounding qi field for guiding the flow of your movement, or so called “swimming in the air.”

Yang Tai Chi Chuan group demo

 Yang Tai Chi Chuan snake creep down

    The ability to maintain a soft body under the tension of fighting is essential.  First of all, the word "softness" here actually means "use the minimum amount of force to maintain the optimal structure" rather than "complete relaxation".  It is the so-called "needle wrapped and hidden inside cotton."  When a Tai Chi expert fights with an opponent, a common strategy is to follow the sequence of neutralization, control, and counter attack.  And a soft body facilitates the executing of effective neutralization.  Furthermore, since one major component of internal fajing or power delivery is the sudden change of body condition from soft to hard, the ability to remain soft increase the contrast of softness and hardness and thus increases the amount of power issued at the point of impact.   Click the Soft Power of the Pre-Heaven Power Method to watch the Yang Tai Chi fajin and form YouTube video demonstrated by our chief instructor Wei-Chung Lin. 

Tai Chi Chuan 42 form back fist

Yang Tai Chi Chuan push hands class

     At CTMAA, many students are amazed to find out how fast and powerful the soft power can be after they saw the demonstrations of Master Wei-Chung Lin, our chief instructor.  Although we follow the traditional Yang style Tai Chi movements to teach students, the internal body mechanics is actually based on the combination of the Pre-Heaven Power Method and the Cheng Man-Ching style Tai Chi Chuan, a derivative of the Yang style Tai Chi Chuan.  The goal of training is to learn the essences of Tai Chi Chuan - the ultimate soft power - in order to be effective in combat.   Click Responds/Push Hands Exercises of the Pre-Heaven Power Method to watch the Yang Tai Chi free style push hands video demonstrated by our chief instructor Wei-Chung Lin.

 Yang Tai Chi Chuan large roll back

Yang Tai Chi Chuan brush knee in leg-hand-opposite stance

Fajin during Tai Chi Chuan push hands

      The Yang style Tai Chi weaponry taught in CTMAA includes straight sword, broad sword, long staff, and spear.

Yang style Tai Chi sword and saber

 Chen Style Tai Chi System

     The Chen style Tai Chi Chuan (two forms) is characterized by its mixture of slow and fast movements and explicit fajing (exerting force) movements.  In CTMAA, this style is introduced to the students only after they learn the empty- hand forms of Yang style Tai Chi, Yang style push-hands, and Wudang fist.  Click Chen style Tai Chi Chuan 2nd Form to watch the Chen Tai Chi "Cannon Fist" video demonstrated by our chief instructor Wei-Chung Lin.   The video is the first Chen Tai Chi video in which the movements are executed based on the innovative Pre-Heaven Power Method rather than the traditional "Dan Tian based" approach. 

Chen Tai Chi Chuan postures

Chen Tai Chi Chuan application

The Chen style Tai Chi weaponry taught in CTMAA includes straight sword, broad sword, long staff, spear, and Spring-Autumn knife.

Chen Tai Chi sword class

Chen Tai Chi spear and broadsword

     Other weaponry of Tai Chi such as Wu style spear and Zhao-Bao staff are also included in the curriculum.

 Wu Tai Chi spear

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