Chen Style Tai Chi

The Chen style is said to be slightly more difficult to learn. It incorporates explosive power moves with softer moves that build up energy.

Style trademarks:

  • Slow and fast pace
  • Low stance
  • Explosive Power
  • Fingers extend at a slight angle from hand
  • Circles and twists with varied pacing builds up energy

The Chen style Tai Chi Chuan falls into two categories – the old and new frames. The old frame was created by Chen Wangling himself. It had five routines which were also known as the 13 move Chuan. Chen Wangling also developed a long-style Chuan routine of 108 moves and a cannon Chuan rouline. Il was then handed down to Chen Changxing and Chen Youben, boxers in the Chenjia Valley who were all proficient at ihe old frame. The preseni-day Chen-style Cshuan boasts of the old routine, the cannon routine and the new routine.

The Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan is the oldest form, all the other styles of Tai Chi Chuan having derived from it either directly or indirectly. With jumps, leaps and explosions of strength, the performance followed a circular path. The Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan was known by the name “Lao Jia” (“old frame”).

Chen Fake

Chen Fake



Chen Taijiquan Laojia Yi Lu (Old Frame 1st Form)

1. Begin TaiJi (TaiJi Qi Shi)
2. Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jingang Dao Dui)
3. Lazily Tying Coat (Lan Zha Yi)
4. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
5. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
6. Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jingang Dao Dui)
7. White Crane Spreads Wings (Bai He Liang Chi)
8. Walking Obliquely (Xie Xing)
9. Brushing Knees (Lou Xi)
10. Stepping Forward Three Steps (Shang San Bu)
11. Walking Obliquely (Xie Xing)
12. Brushing Knees (Lou Xi)
13. Stepping Three Steps (Shang San Bu)
14. Hidden Thrust Punch and Whirling Upper Arms (Yan Shou Hong Quan)
15. Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui)
16. Striking Down by Twisting Body Obliquely (Pie Shen Quan)
17. Green Dragon Emerges from Water (Qin Long Chu Shui)
18. Double Pushing Hands (Shuang Tui Shou)
19. Striking with Fist Under Elbow (Zhou Di Kan Quan)
20. Stepping Back and Wrapping Upper Arms (Dao Juan Hong)
21. White Crane Spreads Wings (Bai He Liang Chi)
22. Walking Obliquely (Xie Xing)
23. Flashing Turn to Back (Shan Tong Bei)
24. Hidden Thrust Punch and Whirling Upper Arms (Yan Shou Hong Quan)
25. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
26. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
27. Cloud Hands (Yun Shou)
28. High Patting on Horse (Gao Tan Ma)
29. Brushing Right Foot (You Pai Jiao)
30. Brushing Left Foot (Zuo Pai Jiao)
31. Kicking With the Left Heel and Following (Zuo Deng Yi Gen)
32. Stepping Forward Three Steps (Shang San Bu)
33. Pounding the Ground (Zhi Di Quan)
34. Double Jump Kick (Ti Er Qi)
35. Protect-the-Heart Fist (Hu Xing Quan)
36. Tornado Foot (Xuan Feng Jiao)
37. Kicking with the Right Heel and Following (You Deng Yi Gen)
38. Hidden Thrust Punch (and Whirling Upper Arms) (Yan Shou Hong Quan)

39. Small Capturing and Hitting (Xiao Qin Da)
40. Embracing Head and Pushing Mountain (Bao Tou Tui Shan)
41. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
42. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
43. Forward Move(Qian Zhao)
44. Backward Move(Hou Zhao)
45. Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane (Ye Ma Fen Zhong)
46. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
47. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
48. Fair Maiden Works Shuttles (Yu Nu Chuan Suo)
49. Lazily Tying Coat (Lan Zha Yi)
50. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
51. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
52. Cloud Hands (Yun Shou)
53. Double White Lotus (Shuang Bai Lian)
54. Shake Foot and Fall into Split (Die Jiao Da Cha)
55. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (Jin Ji Du Li)
56. Stepping Back and Wrapping Upper Arms (Dao Juan Hong)
57. White Crane Spreads Wings (Bai He Liang Chi)
58. Walking Obliquely (Xie Xing)
59. Flashing Turn to Back (Shan Tong Bei)
60. Hidden Thrust Punch and Whirling Upper Arm (Yan Shou Hong Quan)
61. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
62. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
63. Cloud Hands (Yun Shou)
64. High Patting on Horse (Gao Tan Ma)
65. Crossed Feet (Shi Zi Jiao)
66. Punch the Groin (Zhi Dang Chui)
67. Ape Presents Fruit (Yuan Hou Xian Guo)
68. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
69. Sparrow Dashes Earth Dragon (Que Di Long)
70. Stepping Forward to Form the Seven Stars (Shang Bu Qi Xing)
71. Stepping Back to Ride the Tiger (Xia Bu Kua Hu)
72. Turn Back and Wave Double Lotus (Zhuan Shen Shuang Bai Lian)
73. Cannon Right in Front (Dang Tou Pao)
74. Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jing Gang Dao Dui)
75. Close Taiji Form (TaiJi Shou Si)



Chen 35 Posture Simplified Form

1. Preparing
2. Buddha’s Warrior Pounds Mortar
3. Lazy about Tying Coat
4. White Crane Spreads it’s Wings
5. Hook and Right Palm Strikes
6. Knee lift Double Palm Push
7. Wade Forward, Palm Strike to Both Sides
8. Fist of Covering Hand and Arm
9. Double Push Hand
10. Punch At Elbow
11. Three Steps Back
12. Change Palms Three Times
13. Part the Wild Horse’s Mane
14. Standing on One Leg
15. Double Palm Push to The Right Side
16. Single Whip
17. Cloud Hands
18. High Pat On Horse

19. Kick with Right and Left Leg
20. Kick With Right Heel
21. Lean With Back, Elbow Strike
22. Green Dragon Goes Out of Water
23. Monkey Offering Fruit
24. Palm Push to The Left
25. Single Whip
26. Double Leg Stump
27. Jump Turn and Palm Strike
28. Back Fist Strike
29. The Dragon On the Ground, Drop Stance
30. Step Forward With 7 Stars, Cross Block
31. Step Back and Mount The Tiger
32. Turn Body and Wave Lotus Kick
33. Cannon Fist
34. Buddha’s Warrior Pounds Mortar
35. Closing



Other Tai Chi Chuan Forms