Victoria Chen Taiji Academy

Taiji is the art of Peng

Hong Junsheng  

Peng is the basis of all movement 

Taiji movement is based on peng and the initial training is directed to the goal of manifesting that basic energy in the body.

Both the legendary taiji master Chen Fake, and his long term student Hong Junsheng had a beginner regimen that consisted of daily practise of jibengong (also called silk reeling or circles) for up to a year and a half. Until the students progress was satisfactory with that initial training they would not be instructed in form or push hands.

A new student approached Hong one day and inquired about silk reeling and its importance. Hong replied that he did not know that term but asked the student to demonstrate. After watching his movements Hong said, "Oh, you mean jibengong (foundation exercises, also called silk reeling), without that training you cannot move."

He meant that you cannot move in a taiji or 'internal' manner.

Peng is one of the major defining differences between taiji and other martial arts.

Peng is the basic energy of taiji.

Silk reeling is an exercise that helps to create peng and the correct way of moving.

Jibengong (foundation exercises) or circles also refer to silk reeling.

The term silk reeling comes from the process of pulling silk from a cocoon. If in trying to pull the thread out you are jerky or uneven the thread will break. When you suddenly stop the thread will break. To get a long useful thread the silk must be pulled in a long, continuous, circular manner. This describes taiji movement.

Taiji movement is not normal

Taiji's method of moving is known by several descriptive terms. Some call it silk reeling, jibengong or internal movement. It is a very different way of moving and powering the body than that used by other martial arts. Although it is very powerful, taiji movement is based more on rooting, body alignment and joint rotation than it is on the use of muscle. Commonly the basic energy and way of moving is called Peng.

Hong described Peng as an expanding, rotating kind of energy. He declined to describe it further saying that "it would not be useful". Peng must be felt and experienced before the student has an idea of what it is they are striving for.

Taiji began with the Chen family

According to historical records, taiji can be traced back to its creation by the Chen family over four hundred years ago. Wild history says that taiji was created thousands of years ago by a Taoist priest named Chang San Fang but there are no records to support this and Chang San Fang's tomb says nothing about taiji.

The records that do exist state that Chen Wang Ting created Taiji as a synthesis of several other martial arts so that his village could protect itself from marauding bandits. The art matured over the generations so much so that Chen Jiagou village established a strong reputation for its unique soft style martial art. It was during this time of continual testing and researching that the art changed from being a synthesis of other martial arts to what is today a distinctive, unique and effective martial art

Today taiji has been altered in many ways and is often thought of as a new age, light exercise for elderly people. Many people have no idea that taiji is a martial art. Taiji is often advertised as meditation, qi gong, a health art that will cure various illnesses, and as a method of restoring vigor and youth. There are also many stories about taiji masters having incredible energies and abilities. Some of these claims are true, some are completely false, even the stories that are true are simply reflect side effects of the very different kind of training taiji promotes in its students.

The separation of yin and yang

Taiji's basic energy is based on the separation of yin and yang. In physical terms this has to do with the rotation of the joints. Through the proper training of taiji every joint in the body is exercised and encouraged to open and rotate in the correct manner. The support tissues around the joints are strengthened during this process and the joints themselves become very healthy. As a result of this part of the training practitioners bodies do become very strong and healthy. This is simply a side effect of the goal, which is to produce true internal strength.

All movement in taiji is circular and based on rotation.

Hong Junsheng was known to have made some students practise foundation movements for up to a year and a half before allowing them to move on.

In other martial arts students are taught to block, kick, punch, evade, parry and many other skills. The body must coordinate well so that the punch is hard and fast, the block is timely and precise. In taiji there is a skill that underlies all similar movements. That skill is the heart of taiji. Chen Fake and Hong Junsheng both said that taiji was the art of peng. It is to gain this ability that students must practise the foundation exercises for so long.

The first form learned in Chen taiji is Yi Lu. It can take up to a year just to learn the form correctly. Students are expected to diligently practise for several more years before moving on to learn Er Lu or Cannon Fist form.

The practise of Yi Lu is like practising advanced jibengong. Every movement in the form must be infused with the basic energy of taiji, peng. Without the ability to create peng in every movement, at all times the student has not yet learned the form satisfactorily.

The second set, Er Lu, also called Cannon Fist, depends on the student having developed their silk reeling and peng to a satisfactory level. Without the ability to manifest these taiji energies, practising Cannon Fist will be futile.

To help with feedback on how well a student is doing with their taiji, for further conditioning and to begin to practise practical applications, push hands is taught to the student.

In the last stages of training students are taught weapons, including sword, broadsword, staff, spear and kwan do. Students also engage in higher level partner training culminating in free fighting.