Chen Xiaowang

Chen Xiaowang (born 20 October 1945)^[1] is a Chinese taijiquan teacher, who was born and raised in Chen Family Village (Chenjiagou, 陳家溝), Wen County, Henan province, and is the 19th generation lineage holder of Chen-style taijiquan. His grandfather was the taijiquan grandmaster Chen Fake.

Background

Chen Xiaowang began his study of Chen-style taijiquan at the age of seven under his father, Chen Zhaoxu, and later with his uncles Chen Zhaopi and Chen Zhaokui.^[1] Recognized as one of four "Buddha's Warrior Attendants (Si Jingang)," the four outstanding exponents of the 19th generation in Chenjiagou,^[2] Chen Xiaowang was chairperson of the Henan Province Chen Push Hands Taijiquan Association; deputy head of the Wushu Academy of Henan Province; and technical advisor and official assessor for the standardized competition routines for the Chen, Yang, Wu, and Sun styles of taijiquan.^[3]

Chen was awarded the Chinese National Wushu Tournament Taijiquan gold medal three consecutive years beginning in 1980. In 1985, he was crowned Taijiquan Champion at the First International Wushu Competition in Xi'an.^[1]

Apart from his martial arts prowess, Chen is a carpenter by trade,^[4] a calligrapher, an author of three Taijiquan books, and is known to enjoy Mao Jian Cha tea (信阳毛尖茶).^[5]

Contributions to Chen-style Taijiquan

Grandmaster Chen has created two condensed forms of the laojia and xinjia forms; a 38-posture form and a 19-posture form. He told inside Kung-Fu Magazine in 1991, "I have tried to do away with all the repetitions and simplify the exceedingly difficult moves without destroying the characteristics of Chen Style Taijiquan, with special emphasis to attack/defense and the chansi technique."

Chen was also famously depicted in a March 1981 Japanese documentary on Taijiquan.^[6] In it, he demonstrates the laojia form, fa jin, and escapes from various qinna holds.

T'ai chi ch'uan lineage tree with Chen-style focus

Note:

• This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the 'gate-keepers' & most recognised individuals in each generation of Chen-style.
• Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the Chen style & not necessarily that of the family.
• Names denoted by an asterisk are legendary or semi-legendary figures in the lineage; while their involvement in the lineage is accepted by most of the major schools, it is not independently verifiable from known historical records.

References

External links

• Chen Xiaowang World Taijiquan Association