Taijiquan

   BRANCHES

DEVELOPMENT OF ZHAOBAO TAIJIQUAN

One of the reasons for the relative unknown nature of Zhaobao was due to the namelessness of the style. In fact it is only in the last century that the title Zhaobao taijiquan was given. In the past it was Taijiquan and the various followers of leading masters then named the style after their teachers such as Wu Style or Hulei Style or He Style or Hao Style and Sun Style, but in essence they are all branches of Zhaobao Taijiquan.

With the multi-frame to frameless nature of Zhaobao Taijiquan, the variations of the style are many. It is said that great masters such as Zhang Yan, Zhang Yingchang and Chen Qingping would teach different frames in accordance to their disciples suitability. This resulted in a few variations and also that many of the branches specialised in a particular frame rather than the range that may have been understood by forefathers. Inevitably since all frameless this is of little importance excepting for the understanding of differences and branches, since in the end they are part of Zhaobao Taijiquan practice.

ZHAOBAO CHENGJIA SANHEYI TAIJIQUAN

The descedents of Zhang Yingchang, are said to practice the older frames methods of Zhaobao, they emphasise the principles of Three combine into one, which means that the forms practice, push hands and combat are all equivocal, that is from forms practice to push hands to combat the movements are not modified. Some of the known recent masters descendent from Hou Chunxiu's teachings of this style include Liu Hongyi, Zhao Jianying and Zhou Yuyang.

ZHAOBAO HE STYLE TAIJIQUAN

Founded by He Zhaoyuan, one of the key students of Chen Qingping. It is said that he specialised in Daimaijia, which is central level frame. As a result the style is relaxed and flowing and movements are of a standard.

ZHENG BOYING'S LARGE FRAME ZHAOBAO TAIJIQUAN

Founded by Zheng Wuqing, one of the famous two Zheng's that are descendant from He Style Taijijquan. Zheng Boying taught a larger frame (Lower stance and larger body frame) consisting of 108 Postures. Some of the known recent generation masters of this style include Wang Haizhou and Zhao Cengfu.

ZHENG WUQINGS'S SMALL FRAME ZHAOBAO TAIJIQUAN

Founded by Zheng Wuqing, one of the famous two Zheng's that are descendant from He Style Taijijquan. Zheng Wuqing taught a smaller frame (higher stance and smaller body frame) consisting of 75 Postures. Some of the known recent generation masters of this style include Yuan Baoshan, Zheng Rui and Liu Rui

ZHAOBAO HULEI STYLE TAIJIQUAN

Founded by Li Jingyan, one of the key students of Chen Qingping. It is said that he specialised in Tengnnuojia, which was then modified. As a result the style is relaxed with sudden releases of energy or fajing, the shock power is thus known as Hulei (Thunderstorm). The Style also includes the practice of a few different frames but is most known for the Hulei frame which it emphasises.

WU STYLE TAIJIQUAN

Founded by Wu Yuxiang, one of the key students of Chen Qingping. It is said that he specialised in the small frame and this style became known as one of the 5 key forms of Taijiquan in China (along with Sun, Chen, Yang and Wu (different Character). This is of the Wu (Military Character). The style is practiced in a very small frame upright manner and is really formless in its interpretation.

HAO STYLE TAIJIQUAN

Founded by Hao Weichen who studied with Li Yiyu (disciple (and nephew) of Wu Yuxiang). The style follows the same principles of Wu Style with small movements and focusing on internal energy development.

SUN STYLE TAIJIQUAN

Sun Lutang was a famous scholar and master of the three arts of Taijiquan, Xingyi and Baguazhang. As a result of his many studies he developed his own form of Taijiquan which includes the genbu (following step) methodology and is based on the Hao Style Taijiquan which he learnt from Hao Weichen. Sun Lutang also exchanged with masters of other styles such as Yan Shaohou (Yang Style) and Wu Jianquan (Wu Style)

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