Chen Panling Taiji FAQ

Taijiquan (太極拳), often shortened to Taiji or Tai Chi in English, is one of the three great internal kung fu systems, alongside Xingyiquan and Baguazhang. It is practised for defence training, health, and longevity — and for the hard and soft martial method that sits at its heart.

A multitude of training forms exist, both traditional and modern. Some are especially known for relatively slow movement; others include fast work, weapons, and partner application. Most modern styles trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu, and Sun.

At The Moral Dragon we study Chen Panling Taijiquan (陳泮嶺太極拳) — especially the Nanjing 99 form — as passed down through the Yizong lineage from master Luo Dexiu (羅德修).

This is martial Taiji: form, standing practice, push hands, and application in the same practical spirit as Bagua and Xingyi — not a health-only soft exercise class. Read the full overview on our Chen Panling Taijiquan page.

The 99 form (or Nanjing 99 form) is Chen Panling’s synthesised Taijiquan syllabus. One of his major accomplishments was combining the chief elements of the three dominant Taiji traditions of his day into a single form that is still practised internationally — especially in Taiwan.

It is trained not only as a long, flowing sequence but with partner work: pushing hands, application, and fighting method.

The Moral Dragon’s Yizong curriculum includes all three internal arts: Chen Panling Taijiquan, Gao-style Baguazhang, and Hebei Xingyiquan. They share body-method ideas but differ in rhythm and expression.

Monday classes in Bath focus on Baguazhang. Xingyi is available by booking. Chen Panling Taiji is part of the lineage syllabus studied here, but Ollie is not actively teaching it as a regular class at present.

In this school, Taiji is treated as an internal martial art: structure, intent, breath, and whole-body power — including silk-reeling, issuing power (fajin), and partner sensitivity — not floppy forms or vague mysticism.

Taiji requires that you nourish spirit and energy (shén qì, 神氣) internally, while externally using every joint to create spiral silk-reeling movement. The outside looks soft; the inside has power.

All good Taiji fighters traditionally studied:

• Theory
• Standing postures — 站樁 (zhàn zhuāng)
• Form exercise — large, middle, and small frame; fast and slow — plus stick, sabre, sword, and spear
• Push hands — single hand; vertical, horizontal, and diagonal
• Application and fighting method

Taijiquan uses eight energies — péng (ward off), lǚ (roll back), jǐ (press), àn (push), cǎi (pull down), liè (split), zhǒu (elbow), and kào (shoulder bump) — matched to Bagua’s four directions and four corners. It uses forward, backward, left, right, and central equilibrium to match five-element theory.

Combined, these make up the thirteen fundamental postures.

Silk-reeling is the spiral, continuous whole-body movement that characterises serious Taiji practice. Every joint contributes so that power winds through the body rather than stopping in the arms.

In Luo Dexiu’s teaching: nourish spirit and energy inside; use every joint outside to create that spiral — elegant, natural, and martial.

Push-hands practice develops and refines skill in application. Use stillness to control the opponent’s movement. Avoid solid and strike empty. Borrow their power, combine it with your own, and send it back.

The entire body, mind, and hands must be sensitive to the strength, direction, and origin of the opponent’s force — follow their movement in time and respond appropriately. In this lineage, partner work is part of the art, not an optional add-on.

Calm your thinking and use intention to guide movement so that breath and movement combine — mind, breath, and body in harmony. Movement should be soft, smooth, continuous, centred, and upright; the breath smooth, stable, deep, soft, and light.

Circles originate from the waist so upper and lower body act as one. The outside looks soft; the inside has power. When techniques are used, hard and soft support each other. Issuing power (fājìn) must concentrate the entire body’s force.

Yes. Traditional serious training includes weapons work — stick, sabre, sword, and spear — alongside empty-hand form, standing, and push hands. Chen Panling himself was skilled across many systems and weapons.

Ollie is not actively teaching Chen Panling Taijiquan as a regular class at present. Monday evenings in Bath focus on Gao-style Baguazhang. Hebei Xingyiquan is available by booking.

This site’s Taiji pages document the Yizong Chen Panling material studied in the lineage. If your interest is specifically Taiji, get in touch — we can advise honestly about what is available now.

Weekly group training is Gao-style Baguazhang — Mondays, 6:30pm–8:30pm, in person in Bath. Trial lesson £15; monthly membership £40. Full details are on the Classes page.

Yes. Hebei Xingyiquan is available by booking dedicated lessons or private tuition (£45/hour). Enquire if you want Xingyi in Bath, or join the Monday Bagua class if circle walking and palm changes suit you better right now.

Nowadays people’s reasons for learning Taiji often differ from when the art originated — health, sport, or leisure. In the Yizong transmission, Chen Panling Taiji is still taught as a martial internal art: form, neigong, push hands, and application alongside Bagua and Xingyi.

Health benefits can follow good practice, but the method here is not a watered-down “Tai Chi for relaxation only” product.