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The
most modern of the five major styles of Tai Chi, (the other
four being Yang, Wu, family Wu and Chen) Sun Tai Chi was developed
in the early 1900s by the famous grandmaster Sun Lutang and
is unique in that it fuses Ba Gua and Xing Yi with classical
Tai Chi Chuan.
Sun Lutang
was born in 1861 as the son of a poor farmer. While still
a young boy, Sun's father died, forcing Sun to go work for
a rich landowner to support his mother. Seeing that he was
physically weak, the man said that he would give Sun food
but refused to pay him any money. During this time, Sun took
many beatings from the man's cruel son but endured them for
the sake of his mother. (bio
continued here) |
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Sun
Lu Tang was one of the greatest Masters of martial arts of recent
times. In his youth, Mr. Sun mastered Xing Yi Quan and Ba Gua Quan.
It was only when he was 53 years old that he began the practice of
Tai Ji. His basic idea was that Xing Yi, Ba Gua and Tai Ji have the
same theoretical base: that of the “Internal” martial
arts (nei jia quan) in opposition to “external” martial
arts (wai jia quan) which is founded on harnessing maximum muscle
strength and striking force. According to a different way, the “Internal”
martial arts aim at reaching effectiveness in combat by the harmony
of the body and the optimal circulation of vital energy (nei gong).
It is while being based on this idea of coherence between Xing Yi,
Ba Gua and Tai Ji, that Sun Lu Tang created Sun Shi Tai Ji, synthesizing
these three preexistent arts. Many of the postures from Sun Shi Tai
Ji, have the same names as the postures of other Tai Ji, but are actually
radically different from the latter, owing to the fact that they come
from Xing Yi or of Ba Gua. It is the case of San Tong Bei, Lan Zha
Yi, Ti Shou Shang Shi, Lou QI Ao Bu, Cad Nian Hou, Ye My Fen Zong,
Yu Nu Chuan Suo, Yun Shou Xia Shi, Jin Bu Lan Chui, Jin Bu Zhi Dang
Chui, etc.
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The
first characteristic of Sun Shi Tai Ji:
The natural position of the body. The position
of the body is more natural than in other forms of Tai Ji. The basic
position - San Ti Shi - comes from Xing Yi. It differs from the
traditional basic position - Hun Yuan Zhuang. The position of the
body is higher (angle with the knees of 135°), the axis head
- centre of gravity falls on only one foot and not with equal distance
of the two feet, the feet are positioned one compared to the other
according to an angle of 45° and not in parallel or are aligned
like usually used in other schools of Tai Ji. All these characteristics
respect the natural positioning of the body with two consequences.
Initially a practice more favorable to health, without excessive
wear (of the knees in particular). Then, a good balance between
stability and flexibility.
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Second characteristic of Sun Shi Tai Ji:
Flexible and fast movement. The movement of the feet is flexible
and fast: as soon as a leg advances or moves back, the other leg
follows immediately. One does not find in Sun Shi Tai a horse riding
stance with feet equal distance apart or the bow and arrow posture
of traditional Tai Ji. In Sun Shi, one uses the free steps coming
from Xing Yi and of Bagua. The centre of gravity always falls on
one leg; a foot supports all the weight of the body, the other follows,
free. The steps forwards are the steps of Beng Quan, and backwards
the steps of Pi Quan. The steps of rotation correspond to the steps
of Ba Gua. Sun Shi is light, fluid and fast. It is compared with
the water which runs and with the clouds which slip into a windy
sky. |
Third characteristic of Sun Shi Tai Ji:
The specific figure of Kai He. Sun Shi Tai Ji has a very
specific figure; Kai He (to open - to close) which is found neither
in other forms of Tai Ji, nor in Ba Gua or Xing Yi. This Kai He
appears with each connection and transition. It makes it possible
to control and adjust breathing and to accumulate the Shi (energy
potential) in order to prepare for the next change. |
Fourth characteristic of Sun Shi Tai Ji:
It is an art which aims at effectiveness in combat. Sun Shi
Tai Ji is truly an art of combat. The amplitude of the gestures
is limited, the course of the hands are direct, natural and aims
to be effective. . It is not the force of the arms which strike,
but the sum total of the elastic force of each movement carried
out on a correct and uniform axis of gravity.
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