Page 11 - Illustrated Chen Taijiquan Routine Ⅱ (Cannon Fist)

I. Features of Chen Taijiquan Routine II
(Cannon Fist)

Chen Taijiquan Routine II, also known as Cannon Fist, is one of the two com-
plete routines, into which Chen Changxing, member of the fourteenth generation
of Chen family and the sixth generation successor of Taijiquan in Chenjiagou, Wen
County, Henan province, synthesized the Taijiquan sets created by Chen Wangting
in the early Qing Dynasty. The two routines have been handed down till now.
Chen Taijiquan Routine I is the foundation, which is practiced from loose to
soft, with more soft and less hard. Routine II is mainly characterized by explosive
force release, with more hard and less soft. The traditional method is to teach Rou-
tine II after the basic skills of Routine I have been mastered.
Chen Taijiquan Routine II is performed rhythmically, with more jumps, kicks,
wrestles and grasps. As the force is emitted, it is elastic, powerful and abrupt. The
posture of “Yan Shou Gong Chui (Cover Hand, Thrust Punch)” appears six times,
joining the other postures into a whole set.
Chen Taijiquan Routine II features the four diagonal methods of the Eight
Energies, cai (pluck), lie (split) , zhou (elbow) and kao (bump) as primary, and the
four frontal methods, peng (ward off), lü (roll back), ji (squeeze), and an (press
down) as secondary. More applications of elbows and knees are used. Owing to the
hardness of elbows and knees, and the short power transmission distance of joint
flexion, their strikes are fast and lethal. There is also a saying in boxing that it is
better to get ten punches than one elbow.
Chen Taijiquan Routine II is generally performed fast, but not in a disorderly
manner. The postural alignment and force issuing should conform with the relevant
requirements in Routine I. Routine II practice also requires that closing and open-
ing movements come together and complement each other, internal energy travel
along a spiral path, the chest and abdomen fold, qi swell like a drum in dantian,
footwork be agile and heels be rooted, conserving energy and expressing force con-
stantly interchange. Qi should be channeled in sequence as a whole to all joints and
sections of the body.
Chen Taijiquan Routine II has higher requirements for the overall coordination

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