Chen Chang Xing’s Teaching of the Correct Boxing System

The Important Contribution of Grandmaster Chen Zhao Kui

By: Ma Hong

1. Seek the Real and Discover the Origin: The True Master of a Generation

Based on reliable information, Chinese Tai Ji Fist began between the late Ming Dynasty and beginning of
Qing Dynasty. It was created by Chen Wang Ting (1600 – 1680), who was born in Chen Jia Gou Village,
Wen County, Henan Province. He was skilled in academic and martial arts studies. He did research in Qi Ji
Guang (1528 – 1587) military book (Quan Jing) in Ming Dynasty, and collected Quan skills from [the
Society of Common People]. He also did research in “Dao’s” book (Huang Ting Jing), and based on
Chinese traditional philosophy (Zhou Yi’s) Tai Ji Yin Yang theory he created “Tai ji Quan”.

The whole Boxing (Quan) system consists in 29 system out of 32 from (Quan Jing) and some boxing
system from the society (?). Internal system was based on Doa Jia’s (Huang Ting Jing). “Huang Ting” is
the other name for “Dantian”. So in “Quan Theory,” it includes everything from Yin Yang balance, yin in
yang, yang in yin, and yin yang exchange, to yin yang overlap, and so on. During practice, it focuses on
Yin Yang exchange, i.e. spirals. Tai Ji Quan includes Dao Jia’s inhale, exhale, leading, and moving of Dan
Tian. So it is an unique martial art for improving health, building the body, protecting, nurturing
character, and so on.

It has been over 300 years since Chen style Tai Ji Quan was founded. From Chen Yu Ting (9 th generation
of Chen Family, 1st generation of Tai Ji Quan), Tai Ji Quan handed down to Chen Chang Xing (1771 – 1853)
who was 14th generation of Chen Family, 6th generation of Tai Ji Quan. Until that time, Tai Ji Quan was
consolidated into the first set and second set. They are traditional Tai Ji Quan, the 1 st set and 2nd set that
are still practiced today. Tai Ji Quan has developed different branches such as: Yang Style, Wu Style (I),
Wu Style (II), Sun style and so on. Only since Chen Chang Xing’s generation, has Tai Ji Quan stated to be
taught to practitioners outside of the Chen Family.

In the 20th century, Chen Chang Xing’s great-grandson Chen Fa Ke (1887 – 1957) 17 th Generation Chen
Family, 9th Generation Tai Ji Quan, grand master, left Chen Jia Gou in 1928 for Bejing, where he passed
away in 1957. Buring 30 years, he had been teaching the old traditional system, big system, low system.
1st route (83 styles) 2nd route (71 styles). In Bejing martial field, he was honoured as: Tai Ji No. 1.

The son, Chen Zhoa Kui (1928 – 1981) followed his father all the time. He started to practice Tai Ji Quan
from 7 years old, and on for 20 years. He practiced 10-20 times per day. His father trained him strictly
and he practiced hard at home the traditional family system: low posture. It is hard to practice this kind
of low posture, but it is faster to get achievement.

Chen Zhao Kui graduated from high school so that he possessed qualities of comprehension. Chen Zhao
Kui mastered all skills: boxing posture, theory, systems, and also sorted out a great deal of boxing
manuscripts. Chen Fa Ke and Chen Zhao Kui are generally acknowledged as the true masters of 2
generations in the 20th century.
Since Chen Fa Ke and Chen Zhao Kui had been teaching Tai Ji Quan (from 1928) in Bejing for over 50
years, so Chen Fa Ke’s nephew Chen Zhao Pei went back to his village teaching Tai Ji Quan after his
retirement.

Because Chen Fa Ke taught Quan in Bejing while his nephew taught Quan in Nanjing, they didn’t stay
together for over 30 years. So, it is hard to avoid having some changes in the system between them.
After Chen Zhao Pei passes away in 1972, Chen Zhao Kui went back to his village. The folks felt fresh and
different from Chen Zhao Pei’s system. They wanted to keep their own system taught by Chen Zhao Pei,
so they called Chen Zhao Kui’s system “New System”.

Chen Zhao Kui was disgusted with this idea. He once said in Shijiazhuang: “I don’t agree with the idea of
‘New System’. My cousin Chen Zhao Pei learned from my father. We are all learned from great-grand
father Chen Chang Xing. How can they say that my father’s system is ‘New Posture’?”

The old master Chen Bo once said “83 and 71 styles actually are old system.” Old sister Chen Li Qing once
said: “There are only big and small postures in Chen Jia Village at that time. My great grandfather Chen
Fa Ke was the only person who taught the big posture. I have no idea who divided the big posture into
New System and Old System?!”

In 1965, Chen Zhao Kui returned to his hometown to demonstrate Tai Ji Quan, some young people felt it
different from what they had been taught, but the old masters: Wong Yan, Chen Zhao Pei, Chen Ke
Zhong, Chen Mao Sen, they understood the system of Chen Zhao Kui. They told the young people that
the system is the true one from the original.

Some people believe that there are 3 new postures as [double pushing palms], [triple changing fist],
[middle coiling] in Chen Fa Ke’s system. Actually it is not true since these postures exist in the book “Old
Manuscripts from Chen Jia Village” written by Wong Xi An.

Mr. Zhu Tian Cai from Chen Jia Village said: “Chen Zhao Kui’s system is more smooth, with more variety,
more powerful techniques, more clear at attacking and with more skills.”

So, “Chen Style Tai Ji Quan” published in 1958 established the true standard of Chen Fa Ke and Chen
Zhao Kui Tai Ji system.

In 1963, another book composed by Shen Jia Zhen and Gu Lin Xin, with Chen Zhao Kui’s demonstration
pictures in the book published for the first time with literary manuscript. That is Chen Chang Xin’s (1, 2
route). So Chen Zhao Kui’s (No. 1 83 style and no. 2 71 style). Are real Tai Ji Quan system. Generally
speaking, Chen Big Posture Style can be divided into 4 developing steps.

Chen Yu Jing is the creator, Chen Zhang Xing is the established person (foundation) of 1 route and 2
route, and also spread out to beyond Chen’s family. He is regarded as the first true master of a
generation. Chen Fa Ke spread Tai Ji to Bejing. While Chen Zhao Kui spread Tai Ji to the whole of China
and all over the world. They were all true masters.
2. Skilled in Academic and Martial Art studies/the true transmission of the model/correct boxing
manuscript

There are very rich academic and cultural potent (roots?) in Tai Ji Quan. It is also called “Cultural Quan”.
The most contributed masters in Chen’s family were those who were skilled in academics with high
qualities. For example, the creator Chen Yu Ting. The 6 th generation master Chen Chang Xin who
composed Tai Ji Quan Manuscript (first and second route), “Ten Key Theories of Tai Ji Quan”, and “Key
Points on Attacking.”

The 8th Generation Tai Ji master Chen Xin wrote the book “Chen Style Tai Ji Quan Diagram” which
explains the theory and skills.

The 10th Generation master Chen Zhao Kui was another one who was skilled in academic and martial art
studies. He read a great deal of various books, including human body structures.

From 1977 to 1979, he mailed me some handwritten notes. ON top of it I have detailed notes of his
lectures in Bejing, Zhen Zhou and Shijiazhuang. I believe these notes are the treasure of Chen Style Tai Ji
Quan left by grandmaster Chen Zhao Kui.

Che Zhao Kui is the best teacher I have ever met. His teaching method focuses on both theory and
practice. He taught classes and also individual students. He taught by demonstrating and was very strict
with his students, for example when he taught in Zheng Zhou, he did so for three hours an evening. One
posture was divided into 6 or 7 actions. He used 1 hour to explain key points and yin yang theory, and
also showed demonstrations in the second hour. He taught 6 students one action by one action. In the
last hour he trained by single student until the student passed. Sometimes he would teach the student
more than ten times until the student was good enough to handle the skills. For example “Lazy about
Tying Coat” is divided into 6 actions and includes the direction of chest and waist turning, body weight
shifting from left to right, spiralling of the limbs, steps and hands’ shapes, looking direction, hearing
direction, inhale and exhale.

Once he taught me about “spiralling”. He said: “open is not just open out, it is opening during the time of
spiralling. For example, in ‘Hand Covered big arm hammer’, the first action is ‘swift’, it is ‘fast’ in spiralling
also in ‘linking cannon’ ‘heavy means making it heavy when doing spiralling.”

3. Discussion of “Jin”, disclose the foundation of “Jin”

The real foundation of Tai Ji Quan is martial arts, while real martial arts is in understanding of “Jin”. Only
when you could combine the external posture and internal “jin” together can you reach a high level.

But most masters do not teach the scret of “Jin”. They keep the last secret for themselves. While some of
the masters do not understand jin very well, thus are not able to teach the secret of jin.

Because the special relationship between my teaching Chen Zhao Kui and I, he taught me secretly in the
winters of 1974, 1975, and springs of 1977, 1979, and 1980. He took every posture apart to teach me
where the point of jin sits, and how jin changes and goes along the course. I really feel the miracle
attacking skills after I understand the secret of jin. When I practice, I always imagine where my energy is,
how he tries to attack me, and how can I attach him back, because Tai Ji Quan is not a false creation, it is
a real martial art based on the foundation of real fights.

So when you practice, you should feel the points of jin. Is it at the tips of the fingers? Or at the palm’s
end? Or at the wrist’s back? Or at the tiger’s mouth? Or goes to the elbow, shoulder, kua? When you
step, is it inserting, sweeping, kicking, kicking with the heel, or toes? And so on. At the same time, the
eyes, breathing, chest and waist opening and closing should be coordinated. When you use jin, you
should know how to use the skills of jin. Is it a leading jin; or attacking; or leading up and attacking down;
or leading down and attacking up; or yielding first, take later, or take first, yield later – folded jin? For
example, “A Monk Smashes Stone” is divided into 25 different manifestations of jin. “Wild Horse Parts
the Mane” fixed posture, left hand inserts toward first, then flips up, spreads left, at the same time
spread right chest, right hand goes down, spread right down, left bow and arrow stance, left foot
supports the body, right foot just follows, dan tian is the key point; the reaction of right foot stomping
and left hand inserting, flipping, opening should coordinate well.

4. Family Secret transmission: low posture – the treasure of the world

Master Chen Zhao Kui transmitted to us a set of low postures of Tai Ji Quan. Low Postures are not only
good at attracting energies but also good at improving body health. We have an old saying: “the best
prescription to building the body left by god is to open dan and lower down kua.”

This reminds me of “Ground Dragon” in Xing Yi Quan and the famous master Yang Ban Hou who
advocated practicing low posture Quan under a table.

A book named “Old Yang Style of Boxing Manuscript” published in Taiwan. It mentioned in the book a
method of practicing called “3 straight lines” – keep upper body and lower part in a line (the first line),
small leg stands straight (the second line), big leg keeps horizontal line (the third line).

Low posture combines with whole body’s spiral jin, with leading of the dan tian, with stomach breathing,
all of these cooperating can form a graceful posture and reach an outstanding effect of improving body
health.

Many of my students cured their diseases through practicing low posture Quan, such as high blood
pressure, reducing weight, sexual dysfunction, heart attack, inter-ear disease, and even freckles
disappeared.

Students of Yan Yong Yi from Malaysia told me that he cured his insomnia by practicing low posture
Quan.

Low posture Quan includes some unique effects:

1. The theory is full of balances of yin and yang, combinations of actions, natural calm, relaxation,
harmony, turning hostility into friendship, forgiving. It exerts a subtle influence on a person’s
character.
 2. Low posture embodies real martial arts. It combines grace with strength, unites borrowing the
strength and attacking as one unit, relaxing and shaking, flexible variety. It is a wonderful Quan
to defend yourself.
3. It is an oxygenic exercise. There are six features of oxygenic exercise:
I. Lower intensity, higher endurance
II. Big mass muscles and big joints join the movement
III. Longer time lasting (at least 14 – 15 minutes)
IV. Rhythmical
V. Continuous
VI. Breathing smoothly

Especially in Route 1 83 posture, is in keeping with the above 6 features of oxygenic exercise. When you
finish practicing it, you sweat, but you are not out of breath.