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Basic Stances | Lao Jia Introduction

Styles Taught at Great Lakes Wushu

TAIJIQUAN (T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Grand Ultimate Style)
Practiced the world over and widely praised for its health benefits, the Chen Style is the original taijiquan, and until the last century was rarely taught to non-Chen family members. This rich and sophisticated art includes both slow and fast movements, the development of chan si jin (silk reeling power).


YIN STYLE BAGUAZHANG
This particular line of baguazhang has been passed down from the originator of baguazhang, Dong Haiquan to the individual of whom this art is representative,Yin Fu; from Yin Fu to Men Baozhen; from Men Baozhen to Xie Peiqi; and from Xie Peiqi to the current lineage holder, He Jinbao.

While Yin style baguazhang¹s health benefits are likely considerable it is, above all else, a fighting art. It is a vast system comprised of eight animal systems - Lion, Snake, Bear, Dragon, Phoenix, Rooster, Unicorn and Monkey - which are complete in their own right yet constitute a unified whole. Its training methods are logical, efficient, and exacting. The art is traditionally characterized by the following six words, or characters in Chinese: stable, accurate, vicious, cold, crisp, fast.

Our training focuses on the Lion system, the animal which is recognized for most rapidly developing strength and as the best animal with which to be introduced to Yin style baguazhang.

The training posesses four chief areas of training: standing practices, turning, strikes, changes. These practices are mutually sustaining and develop whole body unity, force, practicle fighting techinque and strategies.