TAICHI CHUAN STYLE ZHAOBAO

Zhaobao style Tai Chi Chuan originated in Zhaobao City, Wenxian County, about 4 km from Chenjiaggou, the Chen family village, in Henan Province, the cradle of Chinese civilization and martial arts.

The Zhaobao style is often considered to be derived from the Chen family style of Tai Chi Chuan. It is said to have been created by Chen Qing Ping (1795-1868).

But nowadays, the old masters of the Zhaobao school, agree on an older and independent origin of the Chen clan lineage, going back to Jiang Fa.

Jiang Fa (1st generation of Tai Chi Chuan Zhaobao) is said to have learned Tai Chi Chuan fighting from Wang Zongyue, and then taught it in the Zhaobao region.

Wang Zongyue

Jiang Fa (1st generation)

Xing Xihaui (2nd generation)

Zhang Chuchen (3rd generation)

Chen Jingbo (4th generation)

Zhang Zhongyu (5th generation)

Zhang Yan (6th generation)

Chen Qingping (7th generation)

Zhang Jingzhi (8th generation)

Chen Yingmimg (9th generation)

Unlike the other schools of Tai Chi Chuan: Chen, Yang, Sun, Wu, whose name comes from a family and in which the teaching was reserved for the members of the clan, the school of Tai Chi Zhaobao takes its name from the village of Zhaobao, and the transmission was done from master to disciple. Recently, a museum has been set up by the city in memory of the Zhaobao masters.

It is a traditional style of Tai Chi Chuan from Henan, of which Master Zhang Ai Jun (11th generation) is the only Master currently teaching in France.

Despite its ancient origins, Tai Chi Chuan Zhaobao practiced in Henan, remained for a long time in the shadows and little known outside its province of origin. Its teaching has only spread in China in the last fifteen years, thanks, among others, to Master Wang Qing 

While appreciating each of the Chen and Yang styles that he teaches, applying himself to transmit the foundations of the tradition through the ancient taolus "laojia Yilu" (1st ancient unarmed chaining of the Chen family), the traditional long chaining "108" of the Yang family, Master Zhang Ai Jun remains very attached to the Zhaobao school, and more particularly to the taolu of the 72 Zhaobao movements: "This is the form I prefer, because it has not undergone any modification since it has existed, and I think it should remain so". *

We practice the traditional form of the 72 Movements, combining the characteristics of the Zhaobao style:

By observing a practitioner practicing, one immediately notices the very martial aspect of this style. This practice implies a strong energy circulation in the whole body.

The legs are very solicited by low positions, with an important work of coordination with the arms. The gestures as a whole are wide and circular.

The work at the level of the shoulders and hips is marked, in roundness, led/carried by a strong rooting of the lower limbs.

The positioning of the feet in the movements is extremely important, the feet must remain "alive", supple and agile.

Particular attention is paid to keeping the spine straight, the back and the head must remain in the axis of the Dan Tian, an essential balance point in the development of the Zhaobao form.

The breathing is fluid and natural.

"Relaxing the shoulders is essential, and so is tucking the chin in, like a horse, as this allows the energy to flow and the right balance to be found. You must always be firmly anchored in the ground and keep your upper body relaxed, executing the movements with great breadth and fluidity, without tensing up. "*

It is a style that can be practiced by anyone. Just like in the other styles of Tai Chi, one can practice with low positions (see almost at ground level in the Zhaobao style for the most "leggy"!), medium or high, and adapt the speed of the techniques.