Zhaobao tai chi

Zhaobao Taijiquan (pronouced jao-bao) (Chinese: 趙堡忽靈架太極拳) is a style of Taijiquan that is often considered to be a modern style, but actually has a strong documented lineage that confirms its authenticity as an ancient style of Taijiquan and as a true transmission from Jiang Fa.

Form and Characteristics

The main set of Zhaobao Taijiquan, or Zhaobao Jia, consists of 108 movements progressing in difficulty. Great emphasis is placed on Yi (mind/intent) in Zhaobao training. Like many other styles, Zhaobao Jia can be practiced at three heights, each providing a different degree of complexity. Generally students begin with the Middle Frame (Ren Pan Jia), progress to the Low Frame (Pan Gong Jia) and end with the High Frame (Da Li Jia).

Zhaobao Taijiquan's practical applications rely heavily on spiral uprooting techniques controlled through the use of Qinna, often followed with the use of sweeps or trips to bring the opponent to the ground. Flowing and coordinated the techniques conform successfully to the basic tenets of the Taiji Classics.

Zhaobao Taijiquan also has its own Neigong system based on traditional Daoist practice, that enables the practitioner to develop the required physical and mental skills needed for successful mastery of the art.

Zhao Bao Form

1. 預備式 2. 領落 3. 翻掌 4. 懶扎衣 5. 如封似閉 6. 單鞭 7. 領落 8. 白鶴亮翅 9. 摟膝斜行 10.開合 11.琵琶式 12.摟膝拗步 13.上步十字手 14.摟膝斜行 15.開合 16.收回琵琶式 17.摟膝拗步 18.上步十字手 19.摟膝高領落 20.束手解帶 21.伏虎 22.擒拿 23.指陰捶 24.迎面捶 25.肘底看拳 26.倒攆猴 27.白鶴亮翅 28.摟膝斜行 29.左旋右轉 30.海底針 31.閃通背 32.如封似閉 33.單鞭 34.雲手 35.腰步 36.高探馬 37.轉身 38.右拍腳 39.再轉身 40.左拍腳 41.雙風貫耳 42.旋腳蹬跟 43.三步捶 44.青龍探海 45.黃龍轉身 46.霸王敬酒 47.二拍起腳 48.跳換腳 49.分門樁 50.抱膝 51.喜鵲登枝 52.鷂子翻身 53.裹膝 54.再裹膝 55.研手捶 56.迎面肘 57.抱頭推山 58.如封似閉 59.單鞭 60.前招 61.後招 62.勒馬式 63.野馬分鬃 64.右高探馬 65.白蛇吐信 66.玉女穿梭 67.轉身插衣 68.如封似閉 69.單鞭 70.雲手 71.跌岔 72.掃腿 73.轉身 74.右金雞獨立 75.左金雞獨立 76.雙震腳 77.倒攆猴 78.白鶴亮翅 79.摟膝斜行 80.左旋右轉 81.海底針 82.閃通背 83.如封似閉 84.單鞭 85.雲手 86.腰步 87.高探馬 88.穿心肘 89.單擺蓮 90.指襠捶 91.領落 92.翻掌 93.懶扎衣 94.右七星下式 95.擒拿 96.回頭看畫 97.進步指襠捶 98.黃龍絞水 99.如封似閉 100.單鞭 101.左七星下式 102.擒拿 103.進步砸七星 104.退步跨虎 105.轉身 106.雙擺蓮 107.搬弓射虎 108.領落

1. yu bei shi: (wu ji) Position of preparation (without polarization) 2. tai ji qi shi: Sprouting of tai-chi. 3. lan que wei: Support the tail of the peacock. 4. jin gang dao chui: The Buddhist soldier strikes mortar. 5. fan zhang lan zha yi: Do up and tie the coat with a rotating palm. 6. liu feng si bi: Six sealed and four closing. 7. ling luo ji: an Direct above, direct down, push and sink. 8. dan bian: Simple Whip. 9. jin gang dao chui: The Buddhist soldier strikes mortar. 10. bai he liang zhi: The white stalk extends its wings. 11. lou qi xie xin: Brush the knee and inclined step. 12. kai he shou: there am shou Open and close the hands. 13. shou hui pipa: Play the Chinese Lute 14. lou qi ao bu: Brush the knee and inverted step. 15. shizi shou: Crossed Hands. 16. lou qi xie xin: Brush the knee and inclined step. 17. kai he shou: Open and close the hands. 18. shou hui pipa: Play the Chinese lute 19. lou qi ao bu: Brush the knee and inverted step. 20. shizi shou: Crossed Hands. 21. ye xia zhang: Palm under the armpits. 22. shu shou jie dai: Open tied hands. 23. fu hu shi: Subdue the tiger. 24. qin n:a Catch and block the joint. 25. jin bu zai: chui Jump to the front and to strike downwards. 26. zhou di kan chui: I gave kan chui Fist under the elbow. 27. dao juan hou: Back away to repel the monkey. 28. bai he liang zhi: The White Crane extends its wings. 29. lou qi xie xin: Brush The knee and inclined step. 30. zuo xuan tu zhuan: Left and right turn. 31. hai di zhen: Needle at the bottom of the sea 32. shan tong bei: Fan that crosses the back. 33. ling liu jian an: upwards Clutch, downwards, push and sink. 34. dan bian: Simple Whip 35. yun shou: Hands like clouds. 36. gao tan ma: Guess the horses height 37. ce shen shang bu: Tilt the body and advance step 38. you pai jiao: Tap the right foot. 39. ce shen shang bu: Tilt the body and advance step 40. zuo pai jiao: Tap the left foot. 41. shang feng guan er: Hands cross the ears like the wind. 42. xuan jiao deng gen: Hook the foot and kick. 43. san bu chui: The blow of the three steps. 44. qin long tan hai: The green dragon tests the sea. 45. huang long zhuan shen: The yellow dragon turns its body. 46. ba wang jing jiu: The emperor makes a toast. 47. er qi pai jiao: Two hops and plant a kick 48. hou gou jiao: Hook the foot backwards. 49. fen men zhuang: Open the door and pause position 50. shuang shou peng xi: The hands raise the knee. 51. xi que deng zhi: The magpie steps on a branch. 52. yao zi fan shen: The sparrow hawk returns. 53. you ke xi: Strike the right knee. 54. zuo ke xi: Strike the left knee. 55. yan shou chui: Cover the hand and strike. 56. zuo you wo lan zhou: Grasp and intercept with the elbow, left and right. 57. sao tang shou: Hands that sweep the crotch. 58. guo tou chan nao: Free the seized head 59. ling luo ji an: Grasp upwards, downwards, push and sink. 60. dan bian: Simple Whip. 61. qian zhao: Defend yourself from ahead. 62. hou zhao: Defend yourself from behind. 63. lei ma shi: Pull the bridles of the horse. 64. ye ma fen zong: The wild horse moves it’s main 65. dan pai jiao: Merely swing the foot 66. shuang zheng jiao: Shake both feet. 67. bai she tu xin: The white serpent shows its tongue. 68. yu nü chuan suo: The jade girl sends the loom shuttle. 69. ling luo ji an: Grasp upwards, downwards, push and sink. 70. dan bian: Simple Whip. 71. yun shou: Hands like clouds. 72. chuan xin zhen: Like a needle that crosses the heart. 73. er lang dan shan xia shi: The great sly Er Lang carries the mountains. 74. sao tang shou: Leg sweep. 75. jin ji du li: The golden rooster supported on one leg. 76. zhuan shen jin ji du li: Twist the body and the golden rooster supports itself on one leg. 77. shuang zheng jiao: Shake both feet. 78. dao juan hou: Back away to repel the monkey. 79. bai he liang zhi: The white crane extends its wings. 80. lou qi xie xin: Brush the knee and inclined step. 81. zuo xuan you zhuan: Left and right turn. 82. hai di zhen hai: I gave zhen Needle at the bottom of the sea 83. shan tong bei: Fan that crosses the back. 84. ling luo ji an: Direct above, direct down, push and sink. 85. dan bian: Simple Whip. 86. yun shou: Hands like clouds. 87. gao tan ma: Guess the horses height 88. kou bu shi zi shou: Rotate the foot and cross hands inwards 89. dan pai jiao: Merely swing the foot 90. zhi dang chui: Point at the crotch and strike. 91. jin gang dao chui: The Buddhist soldier strikes mortar. 92. lan zha yi: Do up and tie the coat 93. you pu di jin: I gave jin Tender the brocade on the ground, right. 94. qi xing xia shi: The seven stars and position downwards. 95. wan ci xing: Roll up and stab. 96. hui tou tan hua: Turn the head to guess the flower. 97. zhi dang chui: Point at the crotch and strike. 98. huang long jiao: shui The yellow dragon wades in the water. 99. ling luo ji an: Direct above, direct down, push and sink. 100. dan bian: Simple whip. 101. zuo pu di jin: Spread the brocade on the ground, left. 102. qi xing xia shi: The seven stars and lower your posture. 103. jin ci xing: Enter and stab 104. tui bu kua hu: Back away and ride the tiger 105. zhuan shen shuang pai lian: Rotate the body and prepare the lotus 106. dang tou pao: Bombard the head. 107. shang jin gang: Advance and the Buddhist soldier strikes mortar. 108. Tai ji huan yuan shi: Tai-Chi returns to its origin.

History and Lineage

The Zhaobao Taijiquan style shares a lot of similarities with Chen style Taijiquan, and this commonality is considered by the school to be the manifestation of influences introduced by a member of the famed Chen family- Chen Qingping. He created a style known as the "New Frame", which he taught to many disciples including He Zhaoyuan and Wu Yuxiang. The result of this influence means that the Zhaobao Taijiquan style is often considered by observers to simply be a recent off-shoot of the Chen style. But actually the style has a much longer history and retains many unique qualities based on traditional Taijiquan theory and practice, clearly differentiating it as a complete and separate system of practice. See lineage diagram below.

The evolution of the Zhaobao Taijiquan style can be compared effectively to the evolution of Yang style Taijiquan. Yang Luchan the founder of the Yang style was a disciple of a Chen family teacher called Chen Changxing, and is said to have adapted the fundamentals of the martial arts he was taught to fit his own interpretation of Taijiquan practice and principles, and thus originated a similar looking, yet independent style of Taijiquan.

Zhaobao Taijiquan is not a family style (although there exists the He Family off-shoot) and has traditionally been passed down from master to chosen disciple. The Zhaobao name is given to the style as a way of honouring Chen Qingping and the village where he lived; Zhaobao Village in Wenxian County, Henan Province, China.

According to the style's tradition Chen Qingping was the 7th generation master from the time that the grand master Jiang Fa brought the style taught to him by Wang Zongyue to the local area in Wenxian County.

Zhaobao Taijiquan's lineage down to Chen Qingping is as below:

Zhang Sanfeng Various Daoists Wang Zongyue Jiang Fa (1st generation) Xing Xihuai (2nd generation) Zhang Chuchen (3rd generation) Chen Jingbo (4th generation) Zhang Zongyu (5th generation) Zhang Yan (6th generation) Chen Qingping (7th generation)

References

• Zheng, Wuqing. Wudang Zhaobao Taijiquan Small Frame, Da Zhan Publishing Company, Taiwan. ISBN 957-468-163-7 (only available in Chinese)

External links

• Chenstyle.com This resource guide to Chen and related styles has a description and short video of middle frame Zhaobao Jia
• [1] A guide to the history, lineage, contents and description of Zhao Bao Taijiquan