Yang Lu Chan Old Style Tai Chi Chuan: Advanced Training Manual - Paperback

by Leon Isaac Drucker (Author)

This form may look very different than the modern Yang Family 108 Movement form that is widely taught around the world today. Although all the standard frames or movements are in this form, the extended transitions as well as the obvious Silk Reeling clearly show the original martial application of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. This "Yang Lu Chan Old Style Tai Chi Form" is considered an advanced version of what is commonly known as "The Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan" taught all over the world today. Master Yang Cheng Fu developed his very popular form in 1928. However, the forms practiced before that date are considered "Old Style" Yang Tai Chi and are extremely rare to find being taught anywhere in the world. The Old-style differs from all the other Yang Tai Chi forms as it contains many explosive strikes, and kicks, and quick movements in addition to the soft flowing actions of the Yang Cheng Fu form. It is considerably longer taking about 30 minutes to perform. In addition to the classic Tai Chi movements, you will also see many elements of Hsing I and Bagua in the form as well as some Chen style Tai Chi. There is a very good reason that this might be the case as the founder of this Old-Style Form of Yang Tai Chi was Yang Lu Chan. He was good friends with Kuo Yun Shen of Hsing I and Tung Hai Chan of Bagua. It is known that they use to train together and like all friends in the martial arts taught techniques to each other. The differences between what I have learnt and the Yang Family Long From popularly taught is that in the old Yang style, there are many energy release (Fa-jing) movements. These are omitted from the modern version. There are many more lower movements in the Old Yang style such as the Twisting Body, and Holding the Tai Chi Squatting and Punish the Leg movements. The Old Yang style is much more athletic in nature with a Martial Arts focus. Also, there are many more postures in the Old Yang style than in the modern version, and the transitions are much more involved in the Old Yang Style form. The Old Yang style shows from the beginning, the 'opening and closing' movements, also the yin and yang of the hands and feet. Most importantly the Silk Reeling (Chan Si Gin) and martial applications are preserved.