There are many styles of Tai Chi among the most common being Wu, Chen, Yang, Hao and Sun.
Tai Chi is actually Kung Fu or more correctly Internal Kung Fu. The word Kung translates as work and the word Fu translates as Skill so Kung Fu directly translates as Work Skill or Skillful Work.
Internal Kung Fu works on developing internal ability as much as external skills. Internal Kung Fu styles emphasize breath, posture, internal structural alignment, relaxation, mind intent, focus and chi development. Each Tai Chi style involves choreographed routines, some with bare hands, others including various weaponry.
There are many levels of Tai Chi practice.
• At a basic level it may be viewed as little more than choreography.
• On another as a slow motion martial art
• On another it become a meditation in motion
• And there are also spiritual aspects to Tai Chi for those seeking or requiring deeper purpose.
Tai Chi’s roots are intertwined with multiple Eastern philosophies and religions, among them Taoism being the most prominent. The acceptance of Eastern approaches to health and wellbeing have only in more recent years been accepted in our Western culture.
The style of Tai Chi form we teach is known as Cheng Ming. Great Grand Master Wang Shu-Jin passed away in 1981 and Grand Master Wang Fu-Lai took over as custodian of Cheng Ming. Since the death of Great Grandmaster, Grandmaster Wang Fu-Lai together with Master Huang continue to fulfill their teacher’s command to disseminate the three internal martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing-I Chuan and Ba Gua Zhang throughout the world.
The first 14 moves are demonstrated in the video below by Master Eric Hung from Cheng Ming USA. Eric Hung began training with Grandmaster Wang Fu Lai in 1983 and continues to learn and train with Grandmaster Wang Fu Lai.
Eric Hung - Cheng Ming USA
Master Wang Fu Lai and Master Huang teaching Tai Chi in Israel.
Master Wang Fu Lai teaching parts of section 3 and 4 in Florence, Italy.
Master Wang Fu Lai talks about Hsing I including demonstrations.
International Cheng Ming Championships in Taiwan - 2012
Instructional Photos
The links below open instructional photos to assist students to remember the various positions and forms we teach in class.