Chen Style Taijiquan in London
with Kinthissa, pupil of Chen XiaoWang, 19th generation master
Introduction
There are many legends surrounding the origins of Taijiquan (see
Historical Background below), but it is generally
accepted that Chen Style Taijiquan is the oldest, originating in the 16th
century in Chenjiagou (Chen Village) in the province of Henan, China.
The original Chen style is composed of "silk twining" movements punctuated
with explosive actions such as stamping and leaping, thus combining "softness"
and "hardness" in an organic whole.
Chen Style fundamentals - the delicate precision that transforms untrained
movement into power.
Kinthissa and Laura teach on Mondays at movingeast
Beginners/new members welcome to join throughout the year.
| 6.00 – 7.30pm |
ZhanZhuang and Chansigong |
| 7.30 – 9.00pm |
19 Form, LaoJia and XinJia |
ZhanZhuang (standing qigong) is the heart of the practice to nurture the soft body.
Moving from the centre, the Chansigong "Reeling Silk" exercises develop the coiling power of
Chen Style TaiqiQuan.
Fees:
Beginners are welcome at any time of the year. Anyone wishing to watch a
class is welcome to do so. Newcomers wishing to try out a class can join in at a
cost per class £8 (conc £7) Both classes £14 (concessions £12)
Monthly subscription by standing order or cash/cheque:
- Both classes: £50 (concessions £40)
- Single class: £30 (concessions £25)
Contact: Laura Ichajapanich
Tel: 07939 043580
Email:
Kinthissa's Biography
Kinthissa was born in Rangoon in 1952. She studied Far Eastern art and
philosophy at Vassar and London, where she encountered the taijiquan she had
glimpsed as a child on her way to school. She was then apprenticed for 10 years
to Gerda Geddes who, inspired in Shanghai in 1949 by the sight of an old man
playing taijiquan along the Yangtze estuary, later studied with Master Choy
HawkPang (student of Yang ChengFu), and pioneered the teaching of taijiquan in
England upon her return.
From 1977 to 1989, Kinthissa taught Yang Style 108 Form, mainly in London and
Basel. She learned from Tew Bunnag the Beijing 24 Form and practised his method
of combining taijiquan with samadhi bhavana in the running of silent retreats.
Between 1982-89, she worked with students at the London Contemporary Dance
School to find ways for them to regenerate energy and maintain awareness during
strenuous training. In China, Kinthissa learnt Flying Crane Qigong, Sword Form,
and the modern 48 Form. She teaches at her home in Lunigiana, in England and in
Iceland.
Since 1995, Kinthissa has been studying intensively with Chen XiaoWang, the
19th generation representative of the Chen family of Chenjiagou, Henan Province,
China. The profundity of Master Chen's taijiquan and the clarity of his teaching
have drawn to him serious practitioners of the art from all over the world.
Following his advice and under his guidance, Kinthissa holds classes in the
fundamentals of taijiquan and form, including Master Chen's chanssujin ("Reeling
Silk") exercises which are easy to learn and offer a lifetime's exploration,
forging and dredging the energetic pathways of the body.
Laura's Biography
Laura Ichajapanich started Taijiquan (T'ai Chi Ch'uan) in 1994. She initially
studied the Yang-style Long Form in London with James Drewe before going on to
study the Yang-style Simplified 24-move Form (Beijing Short Form), 42-move
International Competition Form as well as the Yang Long Sword Form, the 32-move
and 42-move Sword with Professor Li Deyin and the Longfei Taijiquan Association
in the UK and Beijing. She has studied Tui Shou (push hands) with Master Wang
Yan Ji. Laura has also attended several seminars to learn qigong health sets of
exercises with Mark Atkinson of the European Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong
Association.
In 1991 Laura completed a post-graduate teaching certificate at the Institute
of Education in London and since 1998 has been teaching Taiji in various
colleges, offices and centres around London.
In April 2001 she attended a seminar in London to learn Zhanzhuang (standing
like a tree) and Chansigong (silk reeling) with Chen XiaoWang. Struck by the
powerful and spiralling energy of this style, Laura's focus changed and she has
gone on to learn the Yin/Yang Qigong and several Chen forms with Master Chen and
Kinthissa. Although Laura had met Kinthissa at school in Bangkok in the 1970s it
was by chance that their paths crossed at a Chen XiaoWang seminar in London
years later. Since then Laura has been training with Kinthissa in London and
Oxford, and attends taiji retreats in Kinthissa's home in Italy.
Events and Courses
Current
Watch this space!
Historical Background
The term of "taiji" first appeared in the Book of Changes compiled during the
Zhou Dynasty (11th century-256 BC), which was influential in the development of
Confucianism. It means "the universe" and was first used by Wang Songyue, a
wushu master in Shanxi Province during the 18th century, to explain the
philosophical theories of the martial arts.
As for the origin of taijiquan, the internal martial art, some people claim
that it was created by Zhang Sanfeng, a Taoist in Wudang Mountains in the 12th
century, while others attribute it to Xu Xuanping in the eighth century.
However, many historians affirm that it was founded by Chen Wangting, a 9th
generation descendant of the Chen family which moved from Shanxi Province to
Chenjiagou in Wenxian County, Henan Province, as early as the 14th century. He
named his wushu routine "taiji" because most of its movements were circular and
reminiscent of the symbol of the universe as conceived by the ancients – a
circle intersected by a curved line of "s", with one half blank and the other
black, representing respectively yin and yang, the two opposing principles in
nature, the former feminine, negative or void, and the other masculine, positive
or solid. The terms "void" and "solid" are still used for some of the taijiquan
movements today.
Chen Wangting developed the martial art based upon family-taught fighting
techniques in combination with external resources. Although almost four hundred
years have elapsed since taiji was created, it is only relatively recently that
Chen Style Tai Chi has been disclosed to the public. For the majority of its
existence, the art was kept secret and was only passed on from generation to
generation by males within the Chen Village. Over time, Chen Style Tai Chi
slowly began to spread outside of the village and its inhabitants, resulting in
the formation of several different styles of taiji. In fact, four of the five
main styles of Tai Chi are recognised by the Chinese government (Yang Style, Wu
Style, Wu Hao Style, Sun Style – the fifth being Chen Style) have their origins
directly and indirectly in Chen Style Tai Chi.
Links and Further Information
For a closer look at Chentaiji practice see:
http://dantian.net
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