Master Yang Songquan was born in Chenjiagou Village, Wen-xian County, He-nan Province, China. This is also the birthplace of the famous Chinese gongfu，Chen Style Taijiquan. He is the 19th generation successor of Chen Style Taijiquan.From his early childhood, he has been gradually nurtured by the Chinese wushu, thus began his practice at the age of four under the patient coaching of his teacher, Mr. Chen Jifu(b. Apr. 8, 1893, d. Dec. 30, 1972) ,who was the well-known eighteenth generation descendant of the Chen Style Taijiquan.Greatly favoured by his teacher,he made a quick progress and got the secret of inner qigong in the taijiquan at seven. By twelve, he had mastered the complete lines of all these practices, including the first sequence of taijiquan which mainly works to receive the qi(air) from heaven and earth, the second sequence of taijiquan which helps the practitioner keep one’s health and defend oneself, the five kinds of push-hand that would both strengthen one’s health and improve one’s power and technique, the arts of playing broad sword, spear, sword and cudgel, etc. At sixteen, he set up his career as a Chinese wushu coach standing for his teacher in the provinces of He-nan, Shan-xi, Shan-dong, Si-chuan, Yun-nan. Master Yang Songquan have taught all the arthentic Chen style of coruses such as the taiji boxing, broad sword, spear, sword, cudgel, etc., In 1989, master Yang Songquan was invited to Beijing to teach Italian. American and Japanese who were the fanciers of taijiquan. From 1994, he has been invited as one of the three most famous experts on taijiquan by the 1st. 2nd and 3rd World Conference on Taiji Training. And rencent years he was invited to teach taijiquan in many countries for many times, such as America, Germany, Sweden etc. Now he is the vice-chairman of Chinese Folk and Traditional Wushu Masters Association, the chief coach of Beijing Chenjiagou Taijiquan Training Center and exclusively-invited coach of many foreign Gongfu societies
      On the basis of practicing the inner qigong of taijiquan, master Yang Songquan systematically studied the Chinese medical methods handed down from the older generations of Chen’s family. Combining qigong massage, digital acupoint pressure, acupuncture and moxibustion with traditional Chinese medicines, he has released many patients from their illness. Thus he was approved and esteemed by the official medical research institute of China.

中国功夫术语 Chinese Gongfu Terms

Aerial cartwheel 侧空翻

Any two person set 任何一套对练

Any two weapon forms 任何两套器械套路

Applications 实用技术

Back arc kick 后撩腿

Back roll over 挺身向后肩颈翻

Backward floor sweep kick 后扫堂腿

Backward roll 后滚翻

Balance on the shoulder and arms 肩倒立

Balance while leaning back and extending one leg 仰身平衡

Balance while leaning forward and extending one leg 探海平衡

Balance with one knee up 提膝亮掌平衡

Balance with one knee up 提膝平衡

Balance with one leg crossed behind 勾腿平衡

Balance with one leg crossed behind 勾腿平衡

Balance with one leg crossed over –盘腿平衡

Balance with one leg extended behind 卧云平衡

Balance with the back leg hooked up 望月平衡

Basic sanshou training 初级散手练习

Beat step 击步

Black dragon coils around the pillar and stand up 乌龙绞柱

Black dragon wraps around the post –乌龙绞柱

Bow stance - 弓步

Bow step punch fist 弓冲拳步

Broadsword 刀术

Butterfly kick 旋子

Butterfly twist 旋子转体 360 °

Carp flip 鲤鱼打挺

Carp kip-up 鲤鱼打挺

Cartwheel 侧手翻

Chang Quan 长拳

Circular walking step 弧行步

Cross behind step 插步

Cross over step 盖步

Crossed legged sitting stance - 坐盘

Drilling fist 钻拳

Empty stance - 虚步

Fan Zi Quan 翻子拳鹰爪拳 or Eagle Claw

Fish jump (yu yue) 鱼跃

Five Stances Form (Wu Bu Quan) 五拳步

Forms 套路

Forward drop 栽碑

Forward floor sweep kick 前扫堂腿

Forward floor sweep kick (full circle) into jumping front kick 前扫堂腿接二起脚

Forward front kick 正踢腿

Forward head flip (tou fan) 头翻

Forward head flip with hands 头手翻

Forward roll 前滚翻

Free style sanshou combat training 自由散手对坑练习

Front fist jab 前手冲拳

Front fist side hook 前手贯拳

Front fist upper cut - 前手抄拳

Grinder kick (Mo pan tui) 磨盘腿

group can choose any 10 techniques 传统组完成任何个动作 10 )

Half horse stance - 半马步

Half-squat stance - 仆步

Hammer fist 劈拳

Head stand 三角倒立

Heel kick 蹬腿

High back sweep kick –后高扫腿

Hong Quan 红拳拳查 or Cha Quan

Horse kick 厥子腿

Horse stance - 马步

Horse stance punch fist 马冲拳步

Inserting fist 插拳

Inside crescent falling kick 盘腿跌

Inside crescent kick 里合腿

International competition forms:

Jump both legs side kick - 腾空双侧踹脚

Jump both legs spring kick forward 腾空双打

Jump double forward heel kick - 腾空双蹬腿

Jump flying kick 二起脚

Jump flying kick (kick higher than shoulder and land on right leg) 腾空飞脚

Jump flying kick with right leg landing 腾空飞脚

Jump heel kick 腾空蹬腿

Jump side kick - 腾空侧踹腿

Jump side kick - 腾空侧踹

Jump spring kick 腾空箭弹

Jumping flying kick 腾空飞腿

Kicks 腿法

Kun Wu Jian 昆武剑

Lean back heel kick (yang shen deng tui) 仰身蹬腿

Lean back kick (dian tui) 点腿

Lifting fist 挑拳

Low cut kick 下踹腿

Low hook kick 勾踢腿

Nan Quan 南拳

Outside crescent (Lotus) kick –外摆腿摆莲

Planting fist 栽拳

Praying Mantis 螳螂拳通臂拳 or Tong Bei Quan (Long arm ape form)

Pubu chuan zhang 仆穿掌步

Pubu lunbi 仆抡拍步

Punches 拳法

Rear fist jab 后手冲拳

Rear fist side hook 后手贯拳

Rear fist upper cut - 后手抄拳

Resting stance - 歇步

Reverse arch kick 倒踢

Sanshou Application Form (Xiao Yao Quan) 逍遥拳散手实用拳

Sanshou Dao Long Fist 散手道长拳

Scooping fist 撩拳

Shoulder roll 抢背

Side drop 侧跌

Side front kick 侧踢腿

Side kick with heel 侧蹬腿

Side spring kick 侧弹腿鞭腿

Six Combination Form (Liu He Quan) 六合拳

Slap toe kick 正飞脚

Spear 枪术

Spear palm while in half-squat stance 仆穿掌步

Spearing fist 耳后穿拳

Spinning horizontal back fist 鞭拳,转身反背锤

Spinning lotus kick 转身摆莲

Spinning outside crescent kick with two legs landing at the same time -腾空摆莲(双同时落地脚)

Spinning outside cresent kick into splits - 腾空摆莲接劈叉

Spinning outward crescent kick - 腾空摆莲

Splits 劈叉

Spring (snap) kick 弹腿

Spring horizontal back fist 弹拳崩拳

Staff 棍术

Stances 法步

Step kick (Cai tui) 腿踩

Swallow while leaning forward and extending one leg 燕式平衡

Swing the arms 抡臂

Sword 剑术

T stance - 丁步

Tian Gang Quan 天罡拳

Tornado kick 简易旋风脚

Tornado kick (land on right leg) 旋风脚右落地脚

Tornado kick into splits -旋风接劈叉脚

Tornado kick with two legs landing at the same time 旋风腿双同时落地脚

Turn body into crossed leg sitting stance 翻腰坐盘

Turn waist over 翻腰

Vertical strike with heart fist 盖拳

Wushu Basic Techniques武术基本功

Wushu movements 武术动作

Yan Qing Quan 燕青拳

       Introduction to Taiji 

       Many people in the West are better acquainted with the graceful, flowing movements of Taiji forms than with the more static Qigong forms. However, the two share a common philosophical
background, and both can contribute to the development and maintenance of health and well-being. In essence, the forms that are seen performed as Taijiquan (literally, the "supreme ultimate fist," or "supreme ultimate boxing art") can be conceptualized as a dynamic form of Qigong, or "energy cultivation," and a way of regulating the system and preventing disease.
       At its roots, Taijiquan is a powerful and effective martial art, but behind the martial applications lie the same Daoist principles: the development of prefect harmony between the Yin and Yang energies of the body, the promotion of smooth and uninhibited flow of Qi throughout the body, and the maintenance of maximal health.

       Yang-style Taiji  Top
       The originator of Yang-style Taiji Quan was Yang Luchan (1800-1873), born in Yongnian County, Hebei Province. Brought up in a poor family, Yang Luchanwas sold to Chen Dehu in Cehnjiagou village as a child servant. While looking after Taiji Quan Master Chen Changxing, Yang Luchan learned martial arts from him. He returned to his native village as an adult and began to teach Taiji Quan to others. People in Yongnian County described his art as "silky boxing" and "soft boxing." Later, he went to Beijing and taught many members of the nobility in the Qing Dynasty.
       To meet the needs of the general public, he dropped the difficult movements, such as jumps, foot stamping and force producing exercises. Yang's son revised this form into the Middle Frame. His grandson, Yang Chengfu, revised it once more and finalized it as the Big Frame. Simple and easy to learn, the Big Frame has become the most popular Yang-style Taiji Quan today. The Yangs enjoyed great fame on Beijing. After1923, Yang Chenfu visited Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Hankou, where he taught and made popular the Yang-style Taiji Quan.
       The Yang Style is characterized by its fully extended, simple, smooth, light, easy and natural movements. Practitioners should begin with relaxed effort and soft movements, accumulate softness into hardness, then make hard or soft movements properly in order to produce a display of grace and beauty. There are also high, middle and low frames, The beginners can adjust their physical power in practice depending on their age, sex and stamina. It can be used for curing illnesses, preserving health and improving the physique and boxing skills.

       The Eight Skills of Taiji

       1. Head Upright
       To prop up the head is to raise the crown of the head properly. In Taiji Quan, make sure that the head is upright, the crown flat, the neck straight and the chin drawn in. It is required that the baihui acupuncture point at the crown of the head be propped up gently as if lifted up by a rope. At the same time, the crown of the head must be kept so flat that a bowl of water placed on it would not spill. To keep the head upright and the crown flat, the neck must be straight and the chin drawn in. But if overdone, this position will make the neck stiff and the movements unnatural. Therefore, in propping up the head, excess effort should be avoided. It must be natural. Once the crown of the head is raised properly, the energy will be summoned and the movements will become steady and sturdy. 
       2. The Energy Stream Flows to Dantian (Pubic Region)
To allow the energy stream to flow to dantian, the body techniques must be correct, with the chest broad and the abdomen solid. "Mind on dantian" means using the mind to guide the breathing and send the air and energy stream slowly to the belly below the navel. In practicing Taiji Quan exercises, abdominal breathing is generally used with the "mind on dantian" so as to create a state in which "the body moves in calmness with restrained energy stream and a free mind."

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       When abdominal breathing is used to increase the energy stream, attention should be paid to naturalness, evenness, and slow exhaling and inhaling. Breathing should cooperate naturally with the exercises. Breathing is naturally linked with the expansion of the chest and the movement of the shoulder blades. A movement is often accompanied by an inhalation and an exhalation. Breathing with the exercises coincides with the body's physiological demands. If used correctly, it helps make the movements more harmonious, round, smooth, gentle and steady.
       3. Draw the Chest in and Straighten the Back
To draw the chest in means to relax the chest slightly inward so that the chest is broad and comfortable. This position is good for abdominal breathing. In other words, the radial distance of the thoracic cavity is prolonged from top to bottom and the diaphragm lowered when the joints of the shoulder blades and collar bones are relaxed, the arms slightly closed and the ribs held back. This activity can lower the body weight and improve the performance of the lungs and diaphragm. Drawing the chest in is different from drawing the chest back. Drawing the chest back tends to form a humpback and reduce the thoracic cavity, thus keeping the diaphragm from lowering and smoothing, hindering breathing and preventing the blood from flowing back to the heart. Drawing the chest in is also used for attack and defence in Taiji push-hand exercises. If techniques are to be used that will neutralize an attacking movement, drawing the chest in is necessary.
       Straightening the back is linked with drawing the chest in. If the chest is drawn in, the back must be straight. To straighten the back is to relax the muscles of the back when the chest is drawn in slightly, with the third vertebra under the neck and between the shoulders slightly pulled up backward, not simply backward. In this way, the muscles of the back have a certain tension and elastic force, and the skin is tightened. As the back is linked with the shoulders and arms, some technical movements that apply force are often completed with the help of the shoulders and the back.
       In drawing the chest in and straightening the back, the muscles of the chest and back must be relaxed, and there should be no intentional affectation.
       4. Relax the Waist and Keep the Buttocks In
Taiji Quan requires the chest to be drawn in and the energy stream to flow to dantian. Therefore, when the chest is drawn in, the waist must be relaxed. To keep the waist relaxed, the whole back must be slightly arched. This will make the sitting and squatting exercises firmer. Relaxation of the waist helps keep down the energy stream and make the lower limbs firmer. It also plays a dominant role in the movements of advancing, retreating and turning, and in using the torso to guide the movements of the four limbs and in keeping the movements complete.
       The buttocks should be tucked in slightly when the chest is drawn in, the back straightened and the waist relaxed. The reason for this is to keep the belly full and solid. With the buttocks tucked in, the muscles of the buttocks and waist should be as relaxed as possible, so that the muscles of the buttocks are extended outward and downward, then drawn forward and inward gently as if the lower abdomen is propped up by the buttocks.
       5. Make the Crotch Round and Relax the Hips
The crotch is the perineum of the body. The baihui acupuncture point at the crown of the head must correspond to the perineum acupuncture point. This is necessary to keep the energy stream flowing freely to the top and the bottom.
       The crotch must be round and solid. When the hips are apart and the knees turned slightly inward, the crotch is naturally round. If the knees are opened slightly, the thighs close inward and the hips separate a bit, the crotch is still round. When the perineum is raised slightly, the crotch is naturally solid. When the waist is relaxed and the buttocks tucked in, there will naturally be power from the crotch. Once the crotch has power, the lower limbs become even stronger and the standing steps steadier and firmer.
       Taiji Quan stresses "making steps like a cat's walk". It calls for light and steady steps with both legs bent and supporting the body by turns during the exercises. Therefore, the joints of the hipbones must be relaxed and the knee joints nimble to ensure the free turning of the body and easy kicks and step changes of the legs.
       6. Drop the Shoulders and Elbows
       Taiji Quan requires its practitioners to drop their shoulders and elbows. The arms then feel relaxed and comfortable. This is the inner power of the upper limbs. The inner power is soft apparently, but strong inwardly, as if "a needle is wrapped in cotton." Apart from being dropped, the shoulders should tilt forward slightly so that the chest is completely empty and the back is arched in a circular form. The dropped elbows should also wrap slightly inward so the power will be applied to the upper limbs.
       7. Stretch Fingers and Bend Wrist Backward
       Stretch the fingers naturally and bend the wrist toward the back and radial side of the hand. For example, in pushing the palm forward, it is slightly cupped before it is pushed forward. This is called empty palm, The palm is stretched slowly from empty to solid. When the palm is pushed forward to the final point, the fingers are stretched out naturally and the palm bends backward at the wrist and the bottom of the palm contains power and protrudes forward so that the power that originates from the waist and the back flows through the dropped shoulders, dropped elbows, stretched fingers, bent wrists and protruding palms to reach the fingers. This is called solid palm. The movements of the palms are part of the movements of the whole body. Stretching the fingers and bending the wrists are actually intended to release the power from the whole body. Therefore, in boxing theory, the power of the whole body "is rooted at the feet, released from the legs, controlled by the waist and displayed in the fingers."
       8. Keep the Spine Upright
       Keeping the spine upright is important for keeping the body upright and comfortable. If the spine is not upright, it will be inclined and unbalanced. Beginners must make sure that their spine is spine is always upright, whether they are executing a vertical movement or an inclined movement. More important, the upright spine helps make the lower part of the body firm and steady. If the spine is inclined, the lower part of the body loses its center of balance. When the power of the part of the body is separated from that of the upper part of the body, the power is lost.
       How to Practise Taiji    Top

       1.Even Speed 
       The simplified forms of TaijiQuan described in this book originated mainly from the Yang Style. It calls for even speed. Beginners should do the exercises slowly in all movements in order to appreciate the essentials. They should be done at an even speed from start to finish. As skill develops, increased speed follows. The time needed for this set of Taiji Quan is four to six minutes. 

       2.Free Choice Between Different Frames
Body height is not a significant factor in practicing Taiji Quan. For young and strong people, the frame should be low. Older and less mobile people may choose the high frame. The height of the whole frame should be decided from the starting form. All but some special movements, like push down and stand on one leg, should be kept at the same height.
3.Connections Between Forms
       Taiji Quan exercises must be practiced continuously. Change of forms means the end of the previous form and the beginning of the connecting form. Beginners should avoid pauses or "discontinuation of power" during the connections, but there should be no hasty changes. Taiji Quan exercises and connections of movements are quite natural. Attention should be paid to the parts of the body and the directions of movements. The changes should be both steady and fluid.

       4.Single Movements and Routines
       Taiji Quan is composed of many single movements and forms. The movements have both generalities and peculiarities. The basis for grasping the whole set of Taiji Quan is to understand the technical requirements of every movement. Therefore, the principal forms (such as Wave Hands like Clouds, Single Whip, Grasp Peacock's Tail) should be practiced repeatedly so as to make them perfect. Practice of the whole set is essential to get a firm grasp of the inherent rules and to strengthen the continuity. Ideally, the principal forms and unfamiliar movements should be practiced three to five times, then the whole set once or twice every day. Of course, the more often you practice, the better.

       5.Inherent Awaneness
       Taiji Quan is a sport combining form and mind. According to boxing theory. "Form is the body, mind is the application." Expressed in a common metaphor, form is the glass, mind is the wine filling it. Without wine, there is nothing in the glass. Beginners should first get to know the special features of using the mind in the whole set of Taiji Quan, that is, naturalness without overstress on the mind, but not looseness. Second, beginners should understand the purpose of every form and every movement and combine mind with form during practice. For example, in dong the exercise of Crane Spreads Its Wings, beginners should imitate a white crane in its perching posture in the eternal form and, at the same time, imagine the gentleness and liveliness of the bird. In this way, they will gradually deepen their understanding of the concept of Taiji Quan.

       6.How to Handle Contradictions
       "Taiji" is a harmonious method of balance. Taiji Quan skillfully handles the different pairs of opposites in the movement and thus achieves a high degree of unity. For example, advance and retreat, left and right, is always "retreat first when you intend to advance" and "first right when you mean left," so that retreat is advance and left is right. Take relaxation and uprightness as another example: you have to be sure that there is uprightness in looseness and there is looseness in uprightness. When it is upright, it is not tight; when it is loose, it is not lax. The third example is the relationship between bent and straight. All movements in Taiji Quan are curved movements and should not be restrained. The joints should not be bent too much, this means that "there is straightness in the bend." Understanding the methods of handling the contradictions in Taiji Quan is practice in combining its theory and techniques.

       7.Basic Skills not to Be Neglected
       The hand forms, stances and footwork changes are the basic skills used in all movements from beginning to end. Therefore, these basic skills must be practiced often. Every hand form or stance is related to the whole movement. They are often the "center of balance" when a movement is completed. Changes in footwork embody the "empty and solid" relations of Taiji Quan and they are the transitional connections from the individual parts to the whole. When footwork changes nimbly, the body movements become light, and the feet become so firm they seem "rooted." If the footwork is heavy, it is difficult to practice Taiji Quan well. Regular and diligent practice of the basic skills, is essential to mastery of Taiji Quan.

       Treatment Top

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      Qigong. or ˋˋexercising the Qiˋˋ -- the vital life force in oneˋs body -- is considered to be a part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in preventive and therapeutic health care.
Qigong is commonly considered as mysterious and profound. Deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture -- especially in the unique concepts of the Yin and Yang. five elements of nature and Jingluo (main and collateral channels) in the human body -- it is inseparable from ancient Chinese philosophy. medicine and religion.
      According to Chinese philosophy. everything. including the universe. is interrelated and in a state of constant flux where human organisms are microcosms of the universe. Everything is inter-related and interacts with the five basic elements -- wood. fire. earth. gold (or metal) and water. constantly interacting among the opposing and unifying forces - the Yin and Yang. Health is achieved when equilibrium is maintained; sickness appears when the balance is broken. This is the basic law governs all humans and nature.
      It is said that the Qi flows through all of the Yin and Yang organs. A deficiency of Qi in any organ means the organ is out of balance. The inter-relatedness of all organs ensures that the Qi flows properly throughout the body. One has to reach a peaceful state of mind and be in harmony with his or her surroundings to maintain good health.
      Qigong is a health-oriented art involving the body and mind that helps prevent disease and cures illnesses. making life more pleasant. Qigong smoothes the process of delivering oxygen to cells. reduces stress and improves bowel functions. Good for treating mental disabilities and stress. the Qi exercises bring one to a state of meditation where distress and anxiety are driven away and positive thinking with great confidence is affirmed. In this state. concentration can also be easily achieved. Through the exercises one gains control of his or her body and develops good feelings about life. This. in turn. stimulates the circulation of blood and the Qi .
      To achieve this the practitioner must adjust his mind. posture and breathing and act on the whole organism. On one hand. this actively self-regulates the functional activities of the organism and maintains a dynamic equilibrium. On the other hand. it enables the body to produce an ˋˋenergy-storingˋˋ reaction. reduce energy consumption and increase energy accumulation. which helps regulate the Yin and Yang and smooth the channels and collaterals to emit the external Qi .
      The easy and convenient exercises add to the popularity of Qigong. which can be performed virtually anywhere and at any time. requiring little more than an open mind. The exercises themselves are generally slow and gentle. and are thus suitable for people of varying ages and health conditions. The elderly and even people suffering from ailments can benefit from Qigong .
      Chinese doctors have applied Qigong in hospitals and clinics to treat individuals suffering from a variety of ailments. including arthritis. asthma. bowel problems. constipation. diabetes. gastritis. headaches. heart disease. hypertension. lower back pain. sleeplessness. stress. obesity. neurasthenia and even cancer. The exercises can help treat aphasia. cerebral palsy. multiple sclerosis. Parkinsonˋs Disease and post-stroke syndrome. They are also especially useful in alleviating chronic pain and chronic disorders of the digestive. respiratory. cardiovascular and nervous systems.
      Today. millions of Chinese are practicing Qigong -- some for treatment and most for exercise. Qigong allows people to experience higher levels of energy and stamina and is believed to slow down the aging process. While Qigong may not be effective in treating acute illnesses or medical emergencies. it is ideal for preventing some diseases and treating certain chronic conditions or disabilities.