Chen Qingzhou

Master Chen Qingzhou's Taiji Lineage:

Master Chen Qingzhou is a 19th-generation lineage holder in Chen Family Taijiquan Gongfu Frame and a direct descendant of the ancestral founder of Chen Village where Taijiquan originated. Born in 1934, he began training in Chen Family Old Frame under his father, Chen Wufang. He was later sent to study with the great 18th-generation master, Chen Zhaopei, a disciple of Chen Fake. Since early youth, Chen Qingzhou had a tremendous love for Taijiquan. He practiced diligently and took careful notes of all that he learned. As a result, Chen Zhaopei permitted him to teach after only one year of study and in 1962, granted him the status of "rumen dizi" (disciple).

Master Chen Qingzhou's Love of "Lao Jia":

In 1974, Master Chen Qingzhou began learning Chen Family New Frame (Xin Jia) from Chen Zhaokui, the youngest son of Chen Fake. He subsequently abandoned New Frame, asserting that Chen Family Taijiquan (Traditional Chen Taiji aka Zungu Chen Family Taiji, Gong fu frame) should be preserved and taught as it had been for hundreds of years. Master Chen Qingzhou spent twenty years training and teaching (and sometimes sleeping) in the Liberation Cemetry in Wenxian. Today, he teaches all over the world. It is often said among Taijiquan practitioners that two of the highest skills in the art are Chen Xiaowang's "fa li" (explosive force) and Chen Qingzhou's "zou hua"(neutralization).

Master Chen Qingzhou's Lao Jia Repertoire:

Persevering against all odds, Master Chen Qingzhou retains from Chen Zhaopei the following:

BAREHANDED SETS	WEAPON SETS	TECHNIQUES & TRAINING TOOLS
Old Frame First Form (Yi Lu)	Taiji Single Straight Sword	"Zhan Zhuang" (Standing Qigong)
Old Frame Second Form (Pao Chui)	Taiji Double Straight Swords	The 5 Push-hands Techniques of Chen Village
	Taiji Single Broadsword (Saber)	Taiji Sphere(18 postures)
	Taiji Double Broadswords (Sabers)	"Dou gun zi" (pole shaking)
	"Guan Dao" (Spring-Autumn Great Broadsword)	"Na fa" (joint locking and grappling)
	"Wu Hu Qun Yang Gun" (Five Tigers Encircling Sheep Staff)	"Xing gong bang" (Taiji Ruler)
	Three-Man Combative Staff	Eighteen Posture Long Pole
	"Li Hua Qiang Jia Bai Yuan Gun" (Pear Blossom Spear/White Ape Staff)

The empty-hand forms contain the core principles of Chen Family Taijiquan: chan si jin (silk-reeling energy), yin jing lou kong (leading into emptiness), zou hua (neutralization), na fa, the basic energies (peng, lu, ji, an, cai, lie, zhou, kao), zhan, you, lian, sui, etc. In addition to these skills, weapons are used specifically for building up fa li (explosive force), ling ji (sensitivity), and improving footwork.

Master Chen Qingzhou's Accomplishments:

Shortly after China liberalized its relations with the West, Chen Family Taijiquan research and training centers were established in both Wen County and Chen Village.

Master Chen Qingzhou -

• was named General Instructor and Head Coach of the Wenxian Center as well as Vice-Secretary General of the Wenxian International Annual Conference of Taijiquan.

• taught Chen Family Taijiquan for 39 years, exactly as it was handed down to him by Chen Zhaopi. Many of his more than 10,000 students have attained high skills and recognition.

• accepted the position of Head Coach of the Army Technology University of Nanjing.

• accepted teaching appointments in ten provinces in China.

• won three first places and outstanding performance prizes in forms, single-sword, and self-elected forms divisions at the Old Masters Competition in Henan Province.

• received outstanding performance awards in two consecutive Wenxian International Meetings of Taijiquan.

• was recognized in 1994 as one of the twelve outstanding taiji players in the world.

Master Chen Qingzhou's sons:

Eldest son:   Chen Youze is a China National Grade Coach, who won gold medals three years consecutively at the China National Confrontational Push Hands Competition, and six times in Henan Province.

Third son:   Chen Youqin is one of China's most highly acclaimed Taiji Masters (Mingjia). He bagan teaching in 1984. Since then, 300 of his students who competed in state, national, and international competitions have received gold, silver or bronze medals or were placed fourth. Chen Youqin is recognized throughout China as a leading promoter of Chen Family Taijiquan.

Fourth son:   Chen Youhua won first place for four consecutive years in the Henan Province Push Hands Championships.

Youngest son:   Chen Youqiang won first place for three consecutive years in the Henan Province Push Hands Championships.

Master Chen Qingzhou's Objective:

Master Chen Qingzhou believes that Traditional Chen Family Taijiquan (Zungu Chen Family Taiji) is a treasure of China that should belong to the world. This belief has led him to publish numerous teaching materials on Chen Family Taijiquan. He also had made an instructional videotape, Chen Family Taijiquan, Gong Fu Frame filmed on location at the Yellow River, the Shaolin Temple, in Nanjing, in Xulu Village, in Chen Village, and at the Luoyang Longmen Buddhist Caves. This videotape and his book, Chen Family Taijiquan Gong Fu Assembled published in 2002 in Chinese, can now be purchased in the United States. He has been in the United States several times to share his knowledge with interested practitioners of the art.

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Taiji History