The Sun-style tai chi ( zh, s=孙氏太极拳, p=Sūn shì tàijíquán) is one of the five primary styles of
tai chi. It is well known for its smooth, flowing movements which omit the more physically vigorous crouching, leaping and ''
fa jin'' of some other styles. Its gentle postures and high stances make it very suitable for
martial arts therapy
Martial arts Therapy refers to the usage of martial arts as an alternative or complementary therapy for a medical disorder. This can include disorders of the body or of the mind. The therapy may involve applications such as promoting kinaesthetic ...
.
History
Sun style tai chi was developed by
Sun Lutang, who is considered expert in two other
internal martial arts styles: ''
xingyiquan'' and ''
baguazhang'' before he came to study tai chi. Today, Sun-style ranks fourth in popularity and fifth in terms of seniority among the five family styles of tai chi. He was also considered an accomplished
Neo-Confucian and
Taoist
Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmony with the ''Tao'' ...
scholar, especially in the ''
I Ching
The ''I Ching'' or ''Yi Jing'' (, ), usually translated ''Book of Changes'' or ''Classic of Changes'', is an ancient Chinese divination text that is among the oldest of the Chinese classics. Originally a divination manual in the Western Zho ...
'' and the
tai chi classics. Sun learned
Wu (Hao)-style tai chi from
Hao Weizhen, who was Li Yiyu's (李亦畬) chief disciple.
Sun-style tai chi is considered to be part of the umbrella of Sun-style internal martial arts developed by Sun Lutang.
Besides his earlier ''xingyiquan'' and ''baguazhang'' training, Sun's experiences with Hao Weizhen,
Yang Shaohou
Yang Shaohou (, Pinyin: Yáng Shàohóu; 1862-1930) was a Chinese martial arts master who, along with Yang Chengfu (楊澄甫; 1883-1936), represents the third generation of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan. Grandmaster of his generation and known for ...
,
Yang Chengfu and
Wu Jianquan influenced the development of what is today recognized as the Sun style of tai chi.
The Sun style is a syncretic martial art, influenced by
tai chi, ''xingyiquan'' and ''baguazhang''. One of the styles of
tai chi influencing the Sun style is Wu (Hao). The footwork of both styles are similar in that when one foot advances or retreats, the other foot follows. The Sun style also exhibits small circular movements with the hand.
Sun's son Sun Cunzhou (孫存周; 1893–1963) and daughter, Sun Jianyun (孫劍雲; 1914–2003) were tai chi teachers, as well as Sun Cunzhou's daughter Sun Shurong (孫叔容; 1918–2005) who taught in Beijing until her death. Sun Wanrong (孫婉容; 1927—Present), who is the other daughter of Sun Cunzhou, still teaches tai chi in Beijing. Sun-style tai chi teachers in the USA include Tim Cartmell in Huntington Beach, CA, Way Sun in Chicago, Michael Garofalo in Red Bluff, CA, Aiping Cheng in Austin, TX, and Justin Harris in Fort Worth, TX.
References
{{Reflist
Tai chi styles
Neijia