Curriculum Overview
Exploreing the many ways to One goal, your health
Taiji for Health
Taiji for Health is based on the 18 Essence Form, developed by Chen Zhenglei to distill the health benefits of Taijiquan into an accessible practice. Through gentle, flowing movements and postures, this program improves circulation, flexibility, and overall vitality while reducing stress and building physical balance. It's designed as a welcoming foundation of wellness for practitioners of all ages and experience levels.
Curriculum includes:
Standing Meditation — building rooted posture and internal awareness
Silk Reeling Exercises — developing the spiraling movement at the core of Taiji
Chen 18 Essence Form — the primary form practiced in this program
Partner Drills — light, cooperative push-hands-style exercises to apply what you've learned
Chen Village Taijiquan
Chen Village Taijiquan reflects the classical martial roots of Taiji, characterized by a dynamic blend of slow, flowing movements and sudden bursts of power. Originating from Chenjiagou (Chen Village) in China, this style emphasizes both health benefits and practical combat applications, preserving the art's rich heritage.
Curriculum includes:
Standing Meditation — building rooted posture and internal power
Silk Reeling — the spiraling movement mechanics underlying every form and technique
Lao Jia Yi Lu (Old Frame First Road) — the foundational form, emphasizing structure, softness, and whole-body coordination
Lao Jia Er Lu (Old Frame Second Road) — a more explosive, martial-focused form building on the first
Single Straight Sword — weapons training developing precision and extension
Single Broadsword — weapons training developing power and cutting technique
Push Hands — two-person sensitivity and application training
Taiji Meditation
Taiji Meditation emphasizes cultivating a calm mind and refining internal energy through slow, mindful movement and breath regulation. Its primary aim is to develop heightened self-awareness, relaxation, and mental clarity.
ART Taiji Lexicon
A growing collection of the terms, concepts, titles, and phrases used within Ancient Root Taijiquan (ART). It gives students a shared language for understanding our practice, tradition, and community.
1. Foundations of Practice - Core ideas students encounter early.
Taiji / Taijiquan
Chinese: 太极 / 太极拳
Pinyin: Tàijí / Tàijíquán
Common spelling: Tai Chi / Tai Chi Chuan
Taiji refers to the principle of complementary forces—such as stillness and movement, softness and firmness, or opening and closing—working together as parts of a unified whole.
Taijiquan means “Taiji boxing” or “Taiji martial art.” It is a traditional Chinese martial art that develops coordinated movement, balance, awareness, internal strength, and martial skill.
In our practice:
We often use Taiji as a shortened name for the art, while Taijiquan more clearly acknowledges its martial foundation.
Chen Taijiquan
Chinese: 陈氏太极拳
Pinyin: Chénshì Tàijíquán
Common spelling: Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan
Chen Taijiquan is a traditional system of Taijiquan associated with the Chen family and Chen Village in Henan Province, China. It is known for its use of spiraling movement, changing rhythms, coordinated whole-body power, rooted movement, and a balance of softness and firmness.
In our practice:
Chen Taijiquan is the foundation of the curriculum taught at Ancient Root Taijiquan. Our training includes standing practice, silk reeling, forms, partner exercises, push hands, and traditional weapons.
Standing Meditation
Chinese: 站桩
Pinyin: Zhàn Zhuāng
Common translation: Standing Like a Post
Standing Meditation is a foundational practice in which the body is held in a stable, upright posture while unnecessary tension is gradually released. It develops alignment, balance, awareness, rooting, and whole-body connection.
In our practice:
We use Standing Meditation to develop stillness, structure, relaxation, and the internal qualities that support all other Taiji training.
Silk Reeling
Chinese: 缠丝功
Pinyin: Chán Sī Gōng
Common translation: Silk-Reeling Practice
Silk Reeling refers to the continuous spiraling and circular movement characteristic of Chen Taijiquan. The name suggests drawing silk from a cocoon: the movement should be smooth, connected, and unbroken, without becoming stiff or slack.
In our practice:
We use Silk Reeling exercises to develop coordinated whole-body movement, spiraling power, joint mobility, and clearer connections between the center and the limbs.
Form
Chinese: 套路
Pinyin: Tàolù
Common meaning: A structured sequence of movements
A form is a set sequence of postures, transitions, and martial techniques practiced as a continuous whole. Forms preserve the movement principles, strategies, and training methods of a martial tradition.
In our practice:
We study forms not simply as movements to memorize, but as a way to develop structure, coordination, timing, intention, and the principles of Chen Taijiquan.
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