Each class will begin with the Silk-Reeling Exercises (Chan Si Gong), this series of movements consist of stretches, rotations, circles, spirals, shaking and the basic 8-directional energy drills of taijiquan. Silk -Reeling Exercises will open up and exercise the 18 major joints (in sequence from the head to the ankles) of the body as well as promote muscle relaxation and flexibility by reducing physical tension and strain. Sifu Tony will lead these exercises during the first several classes. He will go over the priciples of Taijiquan and the body alignments for these exercises. Sifu Tony will then have senior students lead the exercises while he goes around the class to correct students.

Wuji Qigong is the core of Taiji qigong and will be taught and practiced for several weeks in class to help students build a strong foundation in qigong theory. Students will be taught a few major accupressure points and how to align these points to improve the students' postures for the promotion of "qi" circulation. It will also assist students in enhancing their focus and improving their immune system by gathering the scattered "qi" (internal energy) back to the dantian. Finally, Wuji Qigong can help students to know themselves better by helping them find their inner center.

Once the class understands the premise and has practiced the Wuji Qigong standing meditation, instruction will begin in the Hun Yuan Qigong exercises. The Hun Yuan Qigong exercises can help students reduce mental stress and tension as well as improve concentration and health.

For Community Center Classes:
Following the Silk-Reeling and Qigong Exercises, the first section of Chen Family Taijiquan 1st Form (Lao Jia Yi Lu) will be taught to introduce students to the martial art aspects of Chen Taijiquan.

For YMCA Classes:
Students will have the option of choosing to learn either the Hun Yuan Chen Taijiquan 48 Form or the Chen Family Taijiquan 1st Form (Lao Jia Yi Lu). Currently, the Cupertino YMCA class chose to learn the Hun Yuan Chen-Style Taijiquan 48 Form while the San Jose YMCA class chose to learn the Chen Family Taijiquan 1st Form.

*Beginning classes will be taught in a very slow pace to ensure each student has a chance to learn the basic principles of Taijiquan and Qigong as well as the beginning movements of the First Chen Taiji Form (Lao Jia Yi Lu). This is a good class for new students to learn how to slow down and appreciate the opportunity to learn/practice with different kinds of people. Sifu Tony does not allow students in any of his classes to intrude into other students' space UNLESS you are being asked to help by the individual student or instructed by Sifu Tony to help and lead the group. Please be courteous; give room and time for others to learn and grow at their own pace. Read Class Philosophy for more details.

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Beginning / Intermediate Chen Taiji Classes

Beginning/Intermediate Chen Taiji classes will introduce:

Silk-Reeling Exercises (spiral training exercises known as Chan Si Gong)
Traditional Chen Family Taijiquan 1st Form (Lao Jia Yi Lu) for beginning students
Continuation of Traditional Chen Family Taijiquan 1st Form and review of Hun YuanChen Taiji 48 Form for intermediate students who previously studied the form.
Push-hand (5 kinds of Chen Taiji push-hand)

Taijiquan principles and applications

*See the descriptions above for Silk-Reeling Exercises and how Sifu Tony conducts his classes. You are expected to practice at home for the materials that are taught in the Intermediate classes.

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Saturday Class Curriculum

The Saturday classes will include the following:

Silk-Reeling Exercises (spiral training exercises known as Chan Si Gong)
Qigong exercises
Eight essential energies (jing) of taijiquan with basic footwork exercises: peng, lu, ji, an, cai, lie, zhou, kao

Free step push-hand pattern with eight essential energies (jing) of Hun Yuan Taiji System

Traditional Chen Family Taijiquan 1st Form (Lao Jia Yi Lu)

Hun Yuan Chen Taiji 48 Form

Hun Yuan Chen Taiji "24 Cannon Fist"

Chen Taiji Weapon sets (sword, broadsword, spear)

Push-hands (5 kinds of Chen Taiji push-hand: First Saturday for SF group; second Saturday for Los Altos group; and third Saturday for Cupertino Y group)

Taijiquan principles and applications

Training tools (pole shaking)

In the Saturday class, students will learn at their own pace and at the discretion of the instructor.

Students who wish to lead the SRE must have been with the group for at least two years, finish the first form, and be able to perform the SRE in the right sequence. These students will be scheduled to lead the SRE for the Saturday classes to excel their taiji level. Sifu Tony has the discretion to give corrections to these students' first form, SRE, Qigong and/or other taiji trainings in the following Saturday. Sifu Tony will teach most of the Saturday classes and might occasionally miss no more than one Saturday class a month. Sifu Tony's senior students will run the Saturday classes when Tony is not available.

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Sunday Advance Class Curriculum

Sunday classes are offered to students who have demonstrated that they are diligently practicing and participating in regular class/group routines and trainings. Generally, this happens after a student has been appointed and scheduled to lead the Saturday SRE and his/her Yi Lu form has been corrected by Sifu Tony. Sunday classes will include the following:

Traditional Chen Family Taijiquan 2nd Form (Lao Jia Er Lu "Paochui")
Corrections on Silk-Reeling Exercises, Qigong exercises, Eight essential energies and Lao Jia Yi Lu.

Chen Taiji Weapon sets (Double dao, short staff, guan dao)

Push-hands (5 kinds of Chen Taiji push-hand and competition push-hand)

Taijiquan principles and applications

Training tools (taiji ruler, taiji sphere, pole shaking)

Chen Style Taijiquan Xin Jia System

In the Sunday class, students will learn at a faster pace with an aggressive program, and at the discretion of Sifu Tony. Advance students who are certified and currently teaching the approved Chen Taijiquan system will be offered to attend these Sunday classes at no charge for their dedication in spreading the art.

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Private Lesson

Private lessons available with arrangement:

General Public:$70 per hour for each person; $20 per hour for each additional person taking the lesson at the same time.

Current Students:$50 per hour for each person; $15 per hour for each additional person taking the lesson at the same time.

*** Although private lessons with Sifu Tony are available, this is not an efficient method of spreading the art of Chen Taijiquan. If you are currently enrolled in weekly classes of Tony, it is not recommended that you take more than a one-hour private lesson each week with Sifu Tony. The material covered in the private lesson is generally determined based on the request of the student(s), and at the discretion of Sifu Tony. Tony will determine the level of teaching that best fits the student(s).***

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Class Schedule and Locations

ACTS Certification