Saturday, September 1, 2007

Zhaobao Taijiquan From Wikipedia

Zhaobao Taijiquan
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Zhaobao Taijiquan (pronouced jao-bao) is a style of Taijiquan that is often considered to be a modern style, but actually has a strong documented lineage that confirms its authenticity as an ancient style of Taijiquan and as a true transmission from Chen Qingping.

Contents
1 Form and Characteristics
2 History and Lineage
3 Reference
4 External links



[edit] Form and Characteristics
The main set of Zhaobao Taijiquan, or Zhaobao Jia, consists of 108 movements progressing in difficulty. Great emphasis is placed on Yi (mind/intent) in Zhaobao training. Like many other styles, Zhaobao Jia can be practiced at three heights, each providing a different degree of complexity. Generally students begin with the Middle Frame (Ren Pan Jia), progress to the Low Frame (Pan Gong Jia) and end with the High Frame (Da Li Jia). Some more vigorous postures usually found in Chen style's Cannon Fist (Er Lu) sets are commonly performed in Zhaobao's first slow set.

Zhaobao Taijiquan's practical applications rely heavily on spiral uprooting techniques controlled through the use of Qinna, often followed with the use of sweeps or trips to bring the opponent to the ground. Flowing and coordinated the techniques conform successfully to the basic tenets of the Taiji Classics.

Zhaobao Taijiquan also has its own Neigong system based on traditional Daoist practice, that enables the practitioner to develop the required physical and mental skills needed for successful mastery of the art.


[edit] History and Lineage
The Zhaobao Taijiquan style shares a lot of similarities with Chen style Taijiquan, and this commonality is considered by the school to be the manifestation of influences introduced by a member of the famed Chen family- Chen Qingping. He created a style known as the "New Frame", which he taught to many disciples including He Zhaoyuan and Wu Yuxiang. The result of this influence means that the Zhaobao Taijiquan style is often considered by observers to simply be a recent off-shoot of the Chen style. But actually the style has a much longer history and retains many unique qualities based on traditional Taijiquan theory and practice, clearly differentiating it as a complete and separate system of practice. See lineage diagram below.

The evolution of the Zhaobao Taijiquan style can be compared effectively to the evolution of Yang style Taijiquan. Yang Luchan the founder of the Yang style was a disciple of a Chen family teacher called Chen Changxing, and is said to have adapted the fundamentals of the martial arts he was taught to fit his own interpretation of Taijiquan practice and principles, and thus originated a similar looking, yet independent style of Taijiquan.

Zhaobao Taijiquan is not a family style (although there exists the He Family off-shoot) and has traditionally been passed down from master to chosen disciple. The Zhaobao name is given to the style as a way of honouring Chen Qingping and the village where he lived; Zhaobao Village in Wenxian County, Henan Province, China.

According to the style's tradition Chen Qingping was the 7th generation master from the time that the grand master Jiang Fa brought the style taught to him by Wang Zongyue to the local area in Wenxian County.

Zhaobao Taijiquan's lineage down to Chen Qingping is as below:

Zhang Sanfeng

Various Daoists

Wang Zongyue

Jiang Fa (1st generation)

Xing Xihaui (2nd generation)

Zhang Chuchen (3rd generation)

Chen Jingbo (4th generation)

Zhang Zhangyu (5th generation)

Zhang Yan (6th generation)

Chen Qingping (7th generation)



[edit] Reference
Zheng, Wuqing. Wudang Zhaobao Taijiquan Small Frame, Da Zhan Publishing Company, Taiwan. ISBN 957-468-163-7 (only available in Chinese)

video clip of Zhaobao taiji tuishoudao

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-BN5cKNAX0

An introduction of Zhaobao Taiji

An introduction of Zhaobao Taiji

Zhaobao Tai Chi Chuan is a very old form of boxing. It is an excellent exercise method which promotes good health and longevity. The consistent and faithful practice of this style is reported to have strengthening effects on people suffering with poor health or chronic illnesses. The characteristic upright headline of Zhaobao Style with its prolonged deep breathing clears the mind, harmonizes blood and qi (ch’i) circulation – thus helping to establish a general state of well being.
Jiang Fa, who studied with Wang Zhong Yue (whose Treatise on Tai Chi Chuan is a classic), was the last survivor of the seventh generation of Zhaobao Tai chi Chuan. According to a manuscript copy of Zhaobao Tai chi Chuan, Jiang Fa taught the Zhaobao style to Xing Xi (Hsing Hsi) Huai in the final years of Wan Li in the Ming Dynasty (around A.D.1620). Xing passed this style onto Zhang Chu Chen, Zhang onto Chen Jing Buo, Chen onto Zhang Zhong Yu, Zhang on to Zhang Yian, and Zhang Yian onto Chen Qing Ping. Chen Qing Ping have 8 famouse students , the oldest one is He Zhao Yuan , He Zhao Yuan passed on what was now called Zhaobao He Style Tai Chi Chuan to his sons He Jing Zhi and He Ren Zhi, and to his oldest grandson He Qing Xi. Later He Qing Xi taught many students, of whom his nephew He Xue Xing, Zheng Wu Qing, Zheng Buo Ying, Hao Yu Qiao and Guo Yun are the best known.Chen's another famouse student Li Jingyan created Zhaobao Hulei Taiji , also named as Thunder form .

The basic framework of Zhaobao Style tai chi chuan consists of 72 postures. Each has a collection of large and small, and flowing and reversed circular movements; even the qi inside the dantian is traveling in circles. Every circle is intertwined, thus inside and outside circles become one. Because of this characteristic, He Style is often called the circular fist form.
Framework exercises can be divided into large, medium and small frames. Each pose in each frame is light, agile, circular, brisk and open. In order to meet the requirements of proper body postures such as “three points facing”, “steps following body movement”, “movement without moving”, and “conformity with the bends and the shape of the body,” one must step as if reeling silk, move like flowing water (with each move remaining connected like a lotus root breaking with the fibers still holding together), and follow one form closely after another.
Throughout the whole fist form, the body frame maintains a posture that is central, upright, level, even, light, agile, rounded, and lively, with hard and soft movements complementing one another. During the entire exercise, thoughts are linked together to unite body applications. The exercise can make one healthy, as well as provide self-defense.
One should not expect to be successful in this style in haste. The first step to success is to learn the form. The second step requires accuracy. The third step requires internal energy to lead external movements. The fourth step is to inquire into the truth of applications. A piece of ice that is three feet thick is not formed in one cold day. Those who have patience will be successful in learning the style, and those lacking patience will fail. If one can devote oneself to study this style, learn diligently and practice hard, one can get better and better, attaining lightness, agility, smoothness, vitality, and a state of well being.

This site is for those who love Zhaobao taiji in the world

This site is for those who love Zhaobao taiji in the world . I will try to collect more information about Zhaobao in English and put here .
Let me introduce myself first , my nick name is Zhaobao3in1 , before I learned Zhaobao , I learned Yang Style Taiji for about 10 years , my Zhaobao Shifu is Jin Gensheng , who learned Zhaobao from Grandmaster Li Suicheng , Grandmaster Li Suicheng is Zhaobao the 11th successor , Master Li learned from Master Zheng Wuqing .
Zhaobao Taiji is not so popular as Yang , Chen , Wu3 , Wu2, Sun Taiji , but it's really good Taiji style . I will introduce more about Zhaobao taiji in the future .