Tchoung Ta-chen

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Tchoung Ta-tchen (Chinese: 鍾大振; pinyin: Zhōng Dàzhèn) was a martial arts master who developed the Tchoung Dual Method of Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'üan. He died February 22, 2000.

[edit] Dual method of the Old Form of Yang Style T'ai-chi ch'uan, taijiquan.

Tchoung Ta-tchen developed his own form based on the Old Form of Yang style T'ai-chi ch'uan (taijiquan). His system is unique in that it is a symmetrical routine. His long form is 220 movements. His annotated form is 120 movements. He also teaches His own t'ai-chi ch'uan Fast Form and a partner application form called T'ai-chi San Shou. He taught several weapons including sword, broadsword, double sword, staff and walking stick. He also taught the pa-kua chang (baguazhang) of his good friend Wang Shu Jin and the Hsing-I Ch'uan of his friend Yuan Tao.

[edit] Tai Chi Ch'uan Exercise

The slow long form of Tchoung Ta-tchen was studied by Harvey Kurland at the National Athletic Health Institute. It was found that the slow form was a low to moderate aerobic exercise. Subjects averaged VO2 of 10.4 ml/kg/m and RER of 0.78. That means that the slow tai chi is similar in intensity to walking at 3 MPH.

[edit] Tchoung Ta-tchen's Major Influences

As a young man Tchoung studied his family style of t'ai chi ch'uan and tui-na (massage). He also was a track athlete. He became a professional soldier and Army officer. He traveled in China seeking out the top masters. Tchoung had a particular interest is studying the sword and stick forms. He learned several sword styles from the top masters of the day. The sword forms had names such as "Green Duckweed Sword", green bamboo sticks of the beggars style, Kun Lun (Kwin Lin) sword, Heaven and Earth sword, as well as the t'ai chi sword, double sword, as well as Yang and Wu t'ai-chi knife sets. He developed his own t'ai chi Tuan Kune or walking stick form which he taught to his students.

In 1943, he studied ch'i kung (qi gong) and t'ai chi ch'uan with the Senior Taoist, Abbott Hui Kung, at the O'mei (Emmei Shan) Mountain Monastery in Sichuan province. He also studied the Natural Style of Boxing with the Grand Old Man of Hangchow. Tchoung also studied Natural School (Nature School) Boxing, also called the "Natural Style" of kung-fu with a Hsiung Chien-yuan famous teacher of Nature School Boxing. Hsiung was called the "Great Old Man of Hangchow". Tchoung trained with his friend Wang Shu chin. He learned pa-kua chang (baguazhang) and I-ch'uan from his friend Wang Shu Chin and Hsin-I Ch'uan (Xing-Yi quan) from his friend Yuan Tao.

Tchoung studied with Shi Tiao Mei who was a student of Tian Shaolin. Tchoung studied the Old Form of Yang Family Style based on the lineage of Tian Zhao Lin (Tian Shaolin) of Hangzhou with Shi. Tian (also spelled Tien by some) was a famous student of Yang Chien-hou, though some say he studied with Yang Shou-hou, or both. Tchoung studied with Shi Tiao-mei, student of Tien and the head of the police academy. Tian was a disciple of Yang Chien-hou and considered one of the top Yang style students. Tian would fight in open competition representing the Yang Family.

Tchoung Ta-tchen also studied with Hsiung Yang-ho who was one of the few disciples of Yang Shao-hou. Hsiung also taught Tchoung's friend Liang Tsung-tsai. Tchoung and Liang were workout parnters. Tchoung was also a pushing hands partner of Cheng Man-ch'ing. Liang was Cheng's teaching assistant in Taiwan but had several other teachers as well. Kuo Lien Ying was another of Tchoung's practice partners. Tchoung included some homage techiques representing his friends forms in his own forms.

Tchoung's method combines the Tian Shaolin and Hsiung Yang-ho methods. For that reason Tchoung's method is considered the older form of Yang style, that is, in comparison to the newer versions that came after the modifications by Yang Cheng-fu.^[1]