Chuántǒng Nèi Jiā Qìgōng

Why Practice Chen Taijiquan?

People come to Chen Taijiquan for many reasons.

Some are looking for better health, balance, mobility, and vitality.

Others want to cultivate internal energy (Qi), develop martial skill, or explore a lifelong path of personal growth and self-cultivation.

But many serious students eventually find themselves drawn to a deeper question...

What did the original art actually look like before it was simplified, modified, or divided into specialized pieces?

Chen Taijiquan is the original source from which the major Tai Chi styles emerged. For that reason, many practitioners eventually return to Chen Taijiquan in order to better understand the roots of the art itself.

What often surprises them is that Chen Taijiquan is far more than a collection of forms.

Beneath the movements lies a complete and interconnected training system built around Silk Reeling, Shen Fa (Body Method), internal power development (Neigong), martial applications, Push Hands, weapons training, and self-cultivation. The same principles appear again and again throughout every part of the curriculum.

Many practitioners spend years learning movements before discovering that the movements themselves are only the visible surface of the art. Hidden beneath the form are the body mechanics, internal methods, power-development practices, and training principles that give the movements meaning.

Students frequently discover that the benefits unfold in stages.

Beginning students often notice improved posture, balance, mobility, coordination, relaxation, and increased energy.

Intermediate students begin developing stronger whole-body connection, more efficient movement, greater structural integrity, and a practical understanding of how power is generated through the entire body rather than through isolated muscles.

Advanced practitioners start exploring the deeper layers of the art, including sophisticated Silk Reeling methods, Fajin, Push Hands, martial strategy, internal development, and the training principles that make Chen Taijiquan one of the world's great internal martial arts.

Perhaps most importantly, Chen Taijiquan offers a rare opportunity to study a complete traditional system preserved through an unbroken lineage descending from its founder, General Chen Wangting.

The various parts of the system work together:

• The Forms teach the movements and provide the external frame of the art.
• Silk Reeling develops the power and serves as the "engine" of the system.
• Push Hands develops sensitivity and refines the principles through partner training.
• Fajin teaches the expression of the power developed through training.
• Weapons Training extends that power into an object while further developing the unique Shen Fa (Body Method) of the system.

Together, these methods form an integrated training system that has been preserved and transmitted through the Chen lineage for generations.

Whether your goal is health, martial skill, internal development, personal cultivation, or simply a deeper understanding of the original art of Tai Chi, Chen Taijiquan offers a path that can be explored for a lifetime.

Students may choose either a Tai Chi for Health Program or study the complete Chen Taijiquan Martial Lineage Training Program, which includes forms, Push Hands, applications, weapons training, and advanced internal methods.

How is this Chen Taijiquan different?

Many schools teach Taijiquan.

A few teach Chen Taijiquan.

Only a handful inherited the complete, original system of Chen Taijiquan, including all of the specialized training methods and internal cultivation.

So the real question is "What was actually transmitted?"

Was it merely the form?

Or was it the complete system that made the form work?

Over the last several generations, many students learned only parts of the art. Some focused primarily on forms. Others specialized in Push Hands, health methods, martial applications, or competition training. As a result, students often encounter fragments of the system without ever seeing how the pieces fit together.

Traditional Chen Taijiquan was never intended to be studied as isolated components.

It was designed as a complete training system which integrated Silk Reeling, Shen Fa (Body Method), Forms, Push Hands, Fajin, applications, internal energy work (Neigong), weapons, principles, and lineage specific training methods that were traditionally reserved for serious indoor students.

That integrated system approach, properly taught and practiced, creates something far greater than the sum of the individual parts.

Look, superficial information is abundant, but genuine transmission is rare.

In fact, many can copy a form... few understand the Silk Reeling that powers it.

Many can imitate Fajin... few can teach the precise origin of the power and how to develop it.

Some can demonstrate applications... few understand the Shen Fa (Body Method) and tactical principles to make them work as intended.

Many so called "instructors" can recite fortune cookie platitudes, but few can transmit the wisdom of the lineage.

And that is what makes this program different.

A System Rooted in the Original Art

Chen Taijiquan was created by General Chen Wangting in the 17th century. Faced with the challenge of protecting his village from armed bandits while advancing in age himself, General Chen combined Chen Family martial arts, military strategy, weapons training, traditional Chinese medicine, Daoist philosophy, and internal cultivation methods into what became known as Taijiquan.

His goal was not merely fighting skill or health training alone. It was the integration of life-protecting and life-nourishing methods into one complete system.

Over the centuries, many later styles emerged from this original art. Yang, Wu, Hao, Sun, and numerous other branches can trace their roots back to the Chen Family system.

A Rare Lineage Preservation

Our lineage comes through International Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong (1925-2025), one of the most senior representatives of the Chen Family tradition.

Grandmaster Chen is believed by many practitioners and researchers to have preserved one of the oldest surviving methods of Chen Taijiquan. A major reason for this is that he was among the rare Chen masters of his generation who trained directly with both 16th and 17th Generation Chen Family members, providing a direct link to earlier generations of the art.

His teaching preserved not only the forms, but also the Shen Fa, Silk Reeling methods, Push Hands, Fajin, weapons training, martial applications, and internal development methods that historically transformed the movements into a complete Taijiquan system.

Direct Family-Style Transmission

Shifu Shawn Cartwright is a 20th Generation Indoor Student of Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong.

More importantly, he is widely believed to be the only indoor disciple of Grandmaster Chen in North America and was formally accepted as Grandmaster Chen's adopted Taiji son.

In traditional Chinese martial arts, this relationship is far more significant than a certification, seminar attendance, or instructor ranking.

An adopted Taiji son is expected to inherit, preserve, and transmit the complete system. The relationship resembles that of a family heir receiving a treasured legacy rather than a student merely learning techniques.

Because Grandmaster Chen taught Shifu Shawn as his own son, the goal was not simply to transmit movements, but to pass on the principles, methods, corrections, training progression, and deeper understanding behind the art.

What makes this lineage especially rare is not merely the age of the transmission but also the preservation of the complete traditional system. Grandmaster Chen transmitted the art according to the principles of the Liu He Ta (Six-Sided Tower), a traditional framework used to preserve a complete martial art. In addition,  we use the P5LIM (PhD 5 Level Interpretation Method) developed by Dr. Yinong Chong to accurately translate and preserve the deeper principles, methods, and training concepts for modern Western students.

Documented for the Next Generation

Recognizing how rare this transmission had become, Shifu Shawn documented the art while teaching his own son, Drake Cartwright.

The result is a structured training program based on actual lineage instruction rather than reconstructed material, second-hand interpretation, or isolated techniques gathered from multiple sources.

In practical terms, this means students are not simply learning a Tai Chi form.

They are studying a traditional Chen Taijiquan system that includes:

• Forms and Exercises
• Silk Reeling (Chan Si Jin)
• Internal Development (Neigong)
• Push Hands (Tui Shou)
• Martial Applications
• Fajin training
• Traditional Weapons
• Strategic Principles
• Lineage Methods

The objective is to preserve and transmit the art as a complete system, just as it was passed from teacher to student through the Chen Family lineage for generations.

Our Chen Taijiquan Lineage

Our Chen Taijiquan curriculum comes through International Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong (1925-2025), one of the most senior representatives of the Chen family tradition and a 19th-generation inheritor of Chen Taijiquan.

Shifu Shawn Cartwright is a 20th-generation indoor student of Grandmaster Chen and has spent decades studying, documenting, and preserving this lineage. The curriculum taught through TCCII includes the foundational training, forms, Push Hands, applications, weapons, and internal methods passed down through this lineage.

The goal is not simply to learn a sequence of movements, but to study Chen Taijiquan as a complete traditional system for health, vitality, personal development, and martial skill.

Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong

Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong was among the senior-most Chen Family Taijiquan Grandmasters in the world. His teaching preserved one of the oldest and rarest methods of Taijiquan in existence. He studied with several legendary Grandmasters whose lineages reached back to the 1800s and was entrusted with the Original Chen Taijiquan family legacy.

Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong's method preserves the oldest and most original of all the systems. These include the true Yin-Yang practice methods, Chan Si Jin (Silk Reeling) energy, Fajin power, weapons, and devastating martial applications.

I am forever grateful that Grandmaster Chen taught me the Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan system before he transitioned to the next world.

Shifu Shawn Cartwright

My students call me Shifu Shawn Cartwright. Shifu is a Chinese term that literally means "Father Teacher". I'm the 20th Generation Indoor Student of Grandmaster Chen.

Because Grandmaster Chen taught me like his own son (I'm his adopted Taiji son, which means I inherit his system... not his car)

I taught my son, Drake Cartwright, like... well... he's my own son (of course, he also gets the car).

Because the complete original Chen Taijiquan system is so rare and difficult to find, I decided to document the entire system for posterity as I was teaching Drake.

Recall that "Shifu" is a Chinese term that literally translates as "Father-Teacher." The deeper meaning is that a real Shifu will teach his students like they were his own son.

Which is why we decided to release these training films for serious students.

And since I won't hold anything back from my son, Drake... this means you get exactly what he learned! (except for the car key thing, okay?)

I've documented the original Chen Taijiquan Lineage Training Program on film.

It’s the complete program of the original form of Tai Chi delivered over dozens of videos. Each movement, technique, step, kick, application, principle, and even the weapons.

I even filmed the Five Stage of Push Hands and weapons such as the Taiji Jian (Sword).

 We laid out a clear, logical progression from foundational practice to advanced material.

It’s straightforward and designed to help you begin with structure and clarity in the original form of Taijiquan.

The origin of Taijiquan

Ancient China: Late Ming Dynasty

General Chen Wangting, 9th generation Chen family in China, had served his country for many years and retired to his ancestral village, Chen Jiaogou.

As fate would have it, his peaceful retirement was interrupted by the threat of roving marauders.

Renegade soldiers turned bandits pillaged the land and threatened the Chen Family Village. The imperial government was no help as they had become entangled in ceaseless wars against the northern barbarians.

The only "troops" available to the General were the local villagers. The Chen family was known for practicing a powerful martial art called Pao Chui, or Cannon Fist, but they were farmers, not trained soldiers.

In contrast, many of the bandits were seasoned veterans who knew military combat methods and were hardened by constant fighting.

There was another problem... General Chen was old. How could he expect to keep up with the demands of fighting younger, stronger men?

Heeding the advice of the legendary strategist, Sun Zi, General Chen realized he must use Unorthodox methods to defend his village against the bandits.

The General combined the Chen Family's powerful art of Pao Chui with military weapons, methods and tactics. To overcome the advantages of his younger opponents, he incorporated ancient Daoist Neigong secrets to build Internal Power... not as a replacement for external strength, but as a "Force Multiplier."

The Chen Family used these innovative methods to not only defend their village from bandits, but also to improve and extend the quality of their life. It spawned a revolution in the martial arts of combining life nourishing skills with life protecting skills.

Over the centuries, many derivative styles emerged. Yang, Wu, Hao, Sun, Beijing Simplified, Cheng Man Ching, and numerous other branches trace their origins back to the original Chen family Taijiquan methods. While many later teachers only got part of General Chen's art, there is one line that inherited the complete system.

Considered a priceless family treasure, Chen Taijiquan was passed down in an unbroken lineage from General Chen Wangting to Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong, the 19th generation inheritor of Chen Taijiquan.

Who Is The Chen Taijiquan Program For?

Chen Taijiquan can be practiced by people of many backgrounds and experience levels. You don't need any particular experience in Taijiquan or other martial arts.

That said, this program is not really defined by background or martial arts experience.

It is defined by the type of student you want to become.

This Program Is For You If...

• You want to study the original source of Tai Chi rather than only its later derivatives.
• You've practiced Tai Chi before and suspect there is more beneath the movements than you've been shown so far.
• You are interested in understanding how the forms, Silk Reeling, Push Hands, Fajin, applications, and weapons all fit together as one integrated system.
• You want to understand not only what to practice, but why the methods work and how they were traditionally transmitted.
• You value traditional training methods and learning directly from complete lineage transmission.
• You are willing to develop real skill through consistent practice rather than searching for shortcuts or quick fixes.
• You are interested in both the life-nourishing and life-protecting aspects of the art.
• You want a training system that can continue revealing deeper levels of understanding for years or even decades.

This Program May Be Especially Valuable If...

• You've learned forms but were never taught the body mechanics that power them.
• You've seen demonstrations of Fajin and wondered where that power actually comes from.
• You've encountered Push Hands but were never shown how it connects to the forms.
• You've studied martial arts, Qigong, or Tai Chi and want to understand how the pieces fit together as a complete system.
• You've become frustrated with collecting information and are now seeking genuine understanding.

This Program May Not Be For You If...

• You're looking for instant results or effortless mastery.
• You want entertainment more than training.
• You are only interested in memorizing forms without understanding what they do.
• You prefer collecting techniques rather than developing skill.
• You are unwilling to be corrected or challenged.
• You want a simplified version of Tai Chi separated from its traditional roots.
• You have no interest in the deeper principles, methods, and training culture behind the art.

Ultimately...

The ideal student is not necessarily the strongest, the youngest, or the most experienced.

The ideal student is the one who looks at the art and asks:

"How does it all fit together?"

If that question resonates with you, this program was designed for exactly that journey.

What Will You Learn First?

Many beginners assume the first step in learning Chen Taijiquan is just memorizing the form.

Traditionally, that is not exactly how the art was taught.

While it's true that you do begin learning the form when you start, you also begin several specialized training methods that make the form work as intended.

That's because before you can fully understand the form, you must first begin developing the body mechanics that make the form work.

For that reason, your training typically begins with:

1. Standing Practice
2. Body-Opening Exercises
3. Silk Reeling
4. 13 Postures
5. 36 Posture Form
6. Push Hands Foundations

At first, these may appear to be separate exercises.

They are not.

Each develops qualities needed to understand the next layer of training. In other words, each training method helps inform, explain, and refine the others.

Standing Practice develops structure, alignment, and awareness.

Body-Opening Exercises help remove unnecessary tension and improve mobility.

Silk Reeling begins training the whole-body connection and power generation that drives the system.

The 13 Postures introduce the core principles of Taijiquan.

The 36 Posture Form provides a structured vehicle for developing those principles.

Push Hands begins teaching how those principles function when another person is involved.

Unlike many martial arts systems where early exercises are eventually discarded in favor of newer material, the foundational practices of Chen Taijiquan remain relevant throughout your training.

Standing Practice, Silk Reeling, the 13 Postures, and the forms are not beginner material you eventually graduate from. They become the foundation for increasingly deeper study of the 72 Form, Shen Fa (Body Method), internal power development, Fajin, Push Hands, martial applications, strategy, breathing, intention, and self-cultivation.

As your skill develops, you do not simply memorize more and more material.

Instead, you learn how to extract greater depth, precision, and understanding from the same core training methods.

New exercises, applications, Push Hands methods, weapons, and advanced practices are added, but they all grow from the same root.

This means your training becomes deeper rather than merely broader.

Instead of collecting dozens of unrelated forms, you continually refine the principles that unite the entire system.

How to Begin the Chen Taijiquan Lineage Training Program

By now you've probably noticed a recurring theme throughout the original Chen Taijiquan method.

The forms are not the destination.

Silk Reeling is not a separate exercise.

Push Hands is not simply a drill.

Fajin is not the power itself.

The weapons are not separate arts.

Each method exists to help explain and reinforce the others.

That is what makes Chen Taijiquan such a remarkable system.

And that is what this Lineage Training Program was designed to preserve.

This is much more than a collection of lessons.

It's a living transmission of an art passed directly from Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong to me, from me to my son Drake, and from Drake and me to you.

I didn't hide anything from Drake and you get to see exactly what he got.

It is a structured progression through the original Chen Family method, bringing together Standing Practice, Silk Reeling, Forms, Push Hands, Fajin, Martial Applications, Weapons Training, Internal Development, and Lineage Methods into one integrated system.

As you progress through the curriculum, you will discover that Chen Taijiquan is not simply a series of movements to memorize.

It is a method for developing the body, refining the mind, cultivating internal power, understanding martial principles, and uncovering deeper layers over a lifetime of study.

Opportunities to study Tai Chi exist.

Opportunities to study the original Taijiquan created by General Chen Wanting through a documented indoor transmission passed from teacher to adopted son and then systematically preserved for the next generation are far more rare.

Why This Opportunity Is Unique

• Original Chen Family Taijiquan lineage
• Transmission from Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong
• Training preserved through a master who studied with both 16th and 17th Generation Chen Family teachers
• Direct indoor lineage transmission
• Taught by Grandmaster Chen's adopted Taiji son and 20th Generation Indoor Disciple
• Complete Liu He Ta (Six-Sided Tower) training framework
• P5LIM interpretation method designed to preserve the deeper meaning of traditional teachings
• Structured progression from foundational training through advanced methods

Ultimately, the decision comes down to a simple question:

Do you want to learn the movements... or do you want to understand the system?

If you're seeking a deeper understanding of the original art of Tai Chi and you're willing to train patiently, consistently, and with an open mind, I believe you'll find this journey worthwhile.

Sincerely,

Shifu Shawn Cartwright
20th Generation Indoor Disciple and Adopted Taiji Son of Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong

What Does "Taijiquan" Mean?

The Chinese term Taijiquan (太極拳) is often translated as "Grand Ultimate Boxing" or "Supreme Ultimate Fist."

But like many traditional Chinese terms, the literal translation only scratches the surface.

Tai Ji (太極) refers to the dynamic relationship between Yin and Yang. It is the idea that seemingly opposite forces are not truly separate, but continuously change and transform into one another.

Hard becomes soft.

Soft becomes hard.

Fast becomes slow.

Slow becomes fast.

Attack becomes defense.

Defense becomes attack.

The art is built upon understanding those changes and learning how to use them to your advantage.

Quan (拳) means "fist" or "boxing," indicating that Taijiquan is fundamentally a martial art rather than merely a health exercise or moving meditation.

The name itself reveals an important insight about the system.

Many martial arts rely on meeting force with force.

Taijiquan often seeks a different solution.

Rather than resisting pressure directly, students learn how to yield, redirect, absorb, neutralize, and ultimately return force in a more advantageous way.

This is why many practitioners eventually discover that Taijiquan is not really about learning techniques.

It is about learning principles.

The individual movements are simply vehicles for expressing those principles.

The same Yin-Yang relationships appear throughout the art:

• Relaxation and power
• Softness and hardness
• Empty and full
• Stillness and movement
• Yielding and issuing
• External strength and internal Qi
• Health and martial skill

At first, students encounter these ideas through the movements.

With deeper study, they begin to recognize the same principles in Push Hands, Silk Reeling, Fajin, martial applications, strategy, self-cultivation, and everyday life.

In that sense, the name Taijiquan is more than a label.

It is a description of the art itself.

The movements change the body.

The principles guide the art.

And the relationship between the two is what makes Taijiquan such a profound system of lifelong study.

How Is Chen Taijiquan Different From Other Tai Chi Styles?

All authentic Tai Chi styles share the same historical roots and many of the same underlying principles.

The question is not whether one style is "better" than another.

The more useful question is:

What aspects of the original system did each style choose to emphasize and preserve?

Many practitioners believe that Chen Taijiquan preserves the most complete expression of the original art.

Because Chen Taijiquan is the source from which the major Tai Chi styles developed, it retains many training methods that later branches either modified, de-emphasized, or approached differently.

This includes:

• Silk Reeling (Chan Si Jin)
• Shen Fa (Body Method)
• Fajin (Power Expression)
• Push Hands (Tui Shou)
• Martial Applications
• Weapons Training
• Internal Development (Neigong)

These methods were never intended to exist as separate subjects. They were designed to function together as a complete training system.

Silk Reeling And Whole-Body Power

Perhaps the most recognizable characteristic of Chen Taijiquan is Silk Reeling.

Silk Reeling teaches the body to move as a single integrated unit rather than as independent parts.

It is the engine that powers the system.

The same Silk Reeling principles that appear in the forms also appear in Push Hands, martial applications, weapons training, and Fajin.

Fajin And Power Expression

Chen Taijiquan is also known for its use of Fajin, or the expression of refined power (Jin).

Many people notice the visible explosions of power first.

Experienced practitioners understand that Fajin is simply the visible expression of deeper training methods such as Silk Reeling, Shen Fa, timing, structure, and whole-body connection.

In other words, Fajin is not the power itself.

It is the expression of power developed through the system.

Martial Skill And Self-Cultivation

Many modern students first encounter Tai Chi through health-oriented practice.

Health training is certainly an important part of Chen Taijiquan.

However, traditional Chen training was designed to develop both life-nourishing and life-protecting skills.

Health, vitality, internal development, martial skill, strategy, body mechanics, and self-cultivation were all intended to support one another.

For this reason, traditional Chen Taijiquan includes striking, locking, throwing, Push Hands, weapons training, and martial applications alongside its health benefits.

A System Of Depth

Perhaps the greatest difference is not any one technique or training method.

It is the depth of the system itself.

Many arts teach a sequence of movements.

Chen Taijiquan teaches movements, body mechanics, power development, strategy, internal training, and the principles that connect them all together.

A beginner sees movements.

An intermediate student begins to feel connection and power.

An advanced practitioner discovers increasingly deeper layers hidden within the same training.

This is one reason practitioners can spend decades studying Chen Taijiquan without exhausting its depth.

The goal is not simply to learn more forms.

The goal is to uncover greater understanding within the same principles.

What Is The Difference Between Chen Tai Chi And Yang Tai Chi?

Both Chen Taijiquan and Yang Taijiquan are authentic expressions of Tai Chi and share the same fundamental principles, including relaxation, whole-body coordination, balance, efficient movement, and the dynamic relationship between Yin and Yang.

In fact, Yang Taijiquan developed directly from Chen Taijiquan. Both systems ultimately trace their roots back to the original art created by General Chen Wangting.

The difference is not one of legitimacy.

The difference is largely one of emphasis and training approach.

Chen Taijiquan

Chen Taijiquan tends to preserve more of the original martial training framework and makes many of its underlying training methods highly visible within the curriculum.

Students encounter:

• Silk Reeling (Chan Si Jin)
• Shen Fa (Body Method)
• Fajin (Power Projection)
• Push Hands
• Martial Applications
• Pao Chui (Cannon Fist) and other advanced training sets
• Weapons Training
• Internal Development (Neigong)
• Alternating slow and fast movement

Perhaps most importantly, Chen Taijiquan tends to place greater emphasis on the direct training of Silk Reeling and the development of Fajin as integral parts of the system. These elements are visible throughout the forms and are often trained through specialized exercises designed specifically for that purpose.

Unlike systems that maintain a relatively even pace throughout the form, Chen Taijiquan deliberately alternates between slow, fluid movement and sudden expressions of power. Students learn not only relaxation and continuity, but also timing, changes of speed, and the ability to rapidly express the power developed through Silk Reeling and Shen Fa.

For this reason, many students describe Chen Taijiquan as more obviously martial in both appearance and training methodology.

Yang Taijiquan

Yang Taijiquan developed from Chen Taijiquan and retains the same fundamental principles, including Silk Reeling, Fajin, internal development, martial applications, and Push Hands.

However, many of these elements are expressed differently.

Yang Taijiquan is known for its smooth, continuous movements, relatively even pace, and strong emphasis on relaxation, structure, balance, body alignment, and efficient movement.

For example, while Yang Taijiquan certainly contains Fajin, it is often trained separately from the primary form curriculum and may be less visually apparent than in Chen Taijiquan. As a result, some modern schools place less emphasis on Fajin training than was traditionally found within the system.

Likewise, Silk Reeling principles remain present within Yang Taijiquan, but are generally expressed in a subtler manner than the more explicit Silk Reeling training methods found in Chen Taijiquan.

Yang Taijiquan also omits some of the advanced forms and weapons training methods preserved within the original Chen curriculum, including Pao Chui (Cannon Fist) and several Chen family weapons sets.

Many students find Yang Taijiquan especially accessible because its more even pacing allows them to more easily focus on relaxation, softness, and the meditative aspect of Tai Chi.

Because both systems contain the same core principles, the difference is often found less in what is present and more in what is emphasized and how it is trained.

Which Style Is Right For You?

If you're primarily interested in exploring the original source of Tai Chi, studying explicit Silk Reeling training, developing Fajin, understanding martial applications, and investigating the broader traditional curriculum, Chen Taijiquan may be the better fit.

If you're primarily interested in smooth, continuous movement, relaxation, body alignment, balance, efficient movement, and a more gradual approach to the internal principles of Tai Chi then Yang Taijiquan may be the better fit.

Many practitioners eventually discover that studying both systems deepens their understanding of each. The underlying principles are ultimately the same. The difference lies largely in how those principles are organized, expressed, and trained.

Is Chen Taijiquan Good For Beginners?

Yes. Chen Taijiquan can be learned successfully by beginners when taught through a structured progression.

Students typically begin with posture, body alignment, standing practice, body-opening exercises, Silk Reeling, and foundational forms before advancing to more complex material such as Push Hands, martial applications, Fajin, and weapons training.

While Chen Taijiquan contains advanced methods, beginners are not expected to learn everything at once. The system is traditionally taught layer by layer, with each stage building upon the one before it.

In fact, many of the foundational exercises taught on the first day remain important throughout a practitioner's entire training journey, providing a solid basis for health, internal development, and martial skill.

Is Chen Taijiquan A Martial Art?

Yes. Chen Taijiquan was originally developed as a martial art by General Chen Wangting as a system for both self-defense and personal cultivation.

While many people practice Chen Taijiquan for health, balance, relaxation, and longevity, the traditional system includes striking, kicking, locking (Qinna), throwing (Shuai Jiao), Push Hands (Tui Shou), weapons training, martial strategy, and internal power development.

The solo forms are only one part of the art. Traditional Chen Taijiquan also includes partner drills, applications training, sensitivity development, and methods for understanding how the principles of the form can be expressed in practical martial situations.

One of the defining characteristics of authentic Chen Taijiquan is that it seeks to preserve both the life-nourishing and life-protecting aspects of the art, developing health, internal strength, and martial skill as parts of a single integrated system.

Does Chen Taijiquan Include Push Hands?

Yes. Push Hands (Tui Shou) is a traditional two-person training method found in Chen Taijiquan.

Tradition holds that General Chen Wangting himself developed Push Hands as a way to train important martial skills in a safer and more structured environment than simply free fighting. It's a powerful method to develop sensitivity, timing, yielding skill, structure, balance, rooting, and the ability to read and redirect force.

The Push Hands curriculum has several levels which help bridge the gaps between solo form practice, martial applications, and eventual sparring.

The skills Push Hands trains are often difficult to learn alone. For example, when someone tries to disrupt your structure with force, you discover whether your balance is real, whether your rooting is solid, and whether your relaxation is proper (yes, contrary to opinion, you can relax too much.) Think of your training partner as a kind of "mirror" who helps you see yourself and where you can improve.

The most important thing to remember is that Push Hands is primarily a training drill. It is not sparring, nor was it originally intended to be a competition... although many misguided people seem to drift in that direction.

If you practice Push Hands the traditional way, you'll often find your understanding of Taijiquan develops far more quickly than someone who only practices forms in the air.

What Is Silk Reeling In Chen Taijiquan?

Silk Reeling (Chan Si Gong / Chan Si Jin) is perhaps the single most defining characteristic of Chen Style Taijiquan. It is the specialized Shen Fa (Body Method) responsible for the unique power generation found within the Chen system.

While Fa Jin is the explosive release of power, the power itself is developed through the spiraling whole-body mechanics trained in Silk Reeling.

Specifically, Silk Reeling is how to connect the feet, legs, waist, torso, and hands so they work together as a single integrated unit rather than as separate parts moving independently. It teaches the body to move as a single integrated unit so power can travel from the feet, through the waist and torso, and ultimately express itself through the hands, elbow, shoulder, or virtually anywhere in the body according to your needs.

Think of Silk Reeling as the "engine" and the form as the "car" in Chen Taijiquan. This means that simply memorizing the form is not enough. Without the proper Silk Reeling mechanics, a student may know the choreography of Chen Taijiquan but not have the unique power of the system.

In fact, the subtle Silk Reeling variations within different Chen family branches are often enough for a trained eye to identify a practitioner's teacher or lineage. That's because the Shen Fa used in Chen Taijiquan are highly specialized and form one of the clearest signatures of the system.

Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong, the source of our Taijiquan, is believed to have preserved the oldest surviving method of Tai Chi. His method of training Silk Reeling contains several levels which systematically and progressively train your body to properly execute the movements and principles of Chen Taijiquan. These methods are integrated into the form, applications, Push Hands, weapons, and sparring.

What Is Fajin In Chen Taijiquan?

Fajin (Fa Jin) literally means "issuing power" or "releasing force." It is one of the most recognizable characteristics of Chen Style Taijiquan and one of the features that separates traditional Chen training from many modern approaches to Tai Chi.

However, Fajin is often misunderstood.

Many people think Fajin is the power itself. It isn't.

Fajin is the expression of power. More specifically, it is the expression of a particular type of power known as Jin, or Refined Power.

The power itself is developed through Silk Reeling, Shen Fa (Body Method), proper structure, timing, relaxation, whole-body connection, and years of correct training. But the power remains stored potential until the practitioner learns to release it through Fajin.

A useful analogy is a crossbow. Pulling the trigger fires the bolt, but the trigger did not create the power. The power was already stored within the system. In much the same way, Fajin is the moment when the power developed through your training is released and expressed.

Traditional teachers often compare Fajin to the crack of a whip. The force is not generated by a single muscle or body part. Instead, the entire body works together as one integrated unit, allowing power to travel from the ground, through the legs, waist, and torso, and ultimately express itself through the striking surface (which may not always be the hand or fist.)

In Chen Taijiquan, Fajin appears throughout the forms, martial applications, Push Hands, weapons training, and sparring. Students often notice the obvious explosive movements first, but experienced practitioners understand that the visible release is only the final result of many hidden skills working together.

For this reason, authentic Chen Taijiquan training does not focus exclusively on Fajin. The goal is not simply to release power, but to develop the body mechanics, structure, timing, and connection that make efficient power possible in the first place.

When trained correctly, Fajin is no longer viewed as a separate technique. It becomes a natural expression of the power developed through the system itself. It's ultimately applied not just to striking, but also the locking (Qinna) and the throwing (Shuai) methods of the system.

How Long Does It Take To Learn Chen Taijiquan?

That depends entirely on what you mean by "learn."

If your goal is simply to memorize the movements of the Chen Taijiquan form, most students can learn the foundational 36 Posture Form within a few months of consistent practice. The original 72 Posture Form takes a few additional months to learn.

But Chen Taijiquan is not merely a sequence of movements.

The forms are designed to teach principles, body mechanics, power development, strategy, and internal methods that continue revealing deeper levels of understanding over time.

Many students initially believe that the goal is to learn the entire form.

Later, they discover that learning the movements was actually the easy part.

The real challenge is learning to express the principles hidden within those movements.

For example, a beginner may focus on remembering the choreography.

An intermediate student refines structure, balance, coordination, and whole-body connection.

An advanced practitioner explores the deeper layers of Silk Reeling, Shen Fa (Body Method), Fajin, Push Hands, internal development, martial applications, and the underlying principles that unite the entire system.

Eventually, students discover that the forms are not the destination. They are the vehicle through which the deeper principles are transmitted.

This is one reason skilled practitioners can practice the same form for decades without exhausting its depth.

The goal is not simply to accumulate more techniques or memorize additional forms.

The goal is to continually refine the quality of the movement, the body mechanics behind it, and the principles that bring the art to life.

So how long does it take to learn Chen Taijiquan?

A few months to learn the movements.

A few years to develop meaningful skill.

A lifetime to explore the depth hidden within the movements of Taijiquan.

And for many practitioners, that's precisely what makes the journey worthwhile.

Can Chen Taijiquan Be Learned Online?

That is a fair question and one that more people should be asking in this online age.

In fact, I used to be skeptical myself.

Chen Taijiquan has traditionally been taught through direct teacher-to-student instruction, hands-on correction, and years of careful practice. Like many martial artists, I originally assumed that serious training had to take place in person.

After all, "hands on, bruises and blood" was how I was trained for decades.

Then something happened.

The pandemic forced many instructors, including me, to teach online.

To my surprise, I discovered that some students actually progressed faster than I expected.

The reason wasn't that online training was better than direct instruction.

It was that online training has advantages that traditional group classes do not.

Students can review lessons repeatedly, study movements from multiple angles, practice at their own pace, and revisit corrections they would normally hear only once.

Which is huge... I can't tell you how many times I wished I had film of some of my training sessions so I could go back through all the stuff I was taught rather than wait until the next lesson to ask for a review. And given that so many of my teachers have transitioned to the next world, there is no "next lesson."

Anyway...

I've found that students can successfully learn standing practice, Silk Reeling, forms, Fajin training, Neigong methods, martial applications, weapons training, and the theoretical foundations of the art through high-quality video instruction and consistent practice.

Of course, some aspects of the art benefit greatly from direct interaction.

Push Hands, partner drills, sensitivity training, and advanced application work are naturally enhanced when practiced with another person.

However, that does not mean students must wait until they find a training partner before beginning.

In many cases, students can build an exceptionally strong foundation before ever stepping into a training hall.

In fact, I have found that students who arrive for in-person instruction after studying the material online often have a deeper intellectual understanding of the movements, principles, and training methods than they would otherwise.

This allows the in-person training to focus less on explanation and more on refinement. The student ends up getting far more value from the lesson because they already understand the basics and we can focus on the deeper layers of the art.

Look, no video can completely replace direct "hands on" teacher correction in the martial arts.

But a well-structured online training program can provide an excellent foundation in the forms, principles, Shen Fa (Body Method), internal development methods, and training progression of the authentic art.

The goal is not to replace traditional instruction.

The goal is to help students build a stronger foundation so that when direct instruction becomes available, they are prepared to get the maximum benefit from it.

Does This Course Include Internal Or Esoteric Training?

Yes. Taijiquan has always included internal training concepts that are part of the larger lineage system, including Neigong, Qi cultivation, Shen Fa (Body Method), whole-body power development, and traditional methods of self-cultivation.

These ideas are not presented as abstract philosophy. They are explored through posture, movement, breath, attention, body mechanics, and consistent practice.

Just as importantly, you are not required to hold any particular belief about every traditional explanation in order to benefit from the training.

Many students approach concepts such as Qi from different perspectives. Some view them through the lens of traditional Chinese culture. Others prefer to think in terms of body mechanics, physiology, breathing, coordination, and nervous-system development.

Both approaches are welcome.

What is not helpful is becoming distracted by the need to constantly debate, dismiss, or challenge ideas that are part of the traditional training culture.

You do not need to believe everything.

You do need to approach the material with respect.

If a concept makes sense to you, explore it.

If it doesn't, simply train the method and observe the results for yourself.

The goal is not to convince anyone of a particular worldview.

The goal is to provide an honest introduction to the traditional principles, methods, and language preserved within the lineage while allowing students to develop their own understanding through direct practice and experience.

Skepticism is welcome.

Disrespect is not.

This course is designed for students who are willing to keep an open mind, train sincerely, and allow the art to speak for itself.

Is This Course The Full Lineage System?

Yes.

The Lineage Training Program is the complete lineage training system as it was transmitted through our Chen Taijiquan lineage.

However, "complete system" does not mean you will learn everything in a single weekend, memorize a few forms, and be finished.

A traditional martial art is not learned all at once.

It is learned in layers.

The program begins with foundational practices that develop posture, structure, body mechanics, attention, movement quality, and the fundamental principles that support everything else.

As your training deepens, additional layers of the system are revealed, including:

• Silk Reeling
• Shen Fa (Body Method)
• Fajin
• Push Hands
• Martial Applications
• Weapons Training
• Neigong
• Qi Cultivation
• Strategic Principles
• Other traditional lineage methods

The important thing to understand is that these are not separate subjects added onto the art.

They are parts of the same integrated system.

The same principles that appear in the forms also appear in Push Hands.

The same body mechanics developed through Silk Reeling appear in Fajin.

The same methods used in empty-hand practice carry over into weapons training and martial application.

In other words, the goal is not simply to collect techniques.

The goal is to understand how the entire system works together.

This program was designed to provide a structured path through that process so students can study the art progressively over many years while remaining connected to the original lineage method.

For serious students, the journey can last a lifetime.

And that depth is precisely what makes the art worth studying.

Who are you?

​I’m Shifu Shawn Cartwright.

I began my formal martial arts training in 1985, after first being exposed to military combative methods through a former Marine. Since then, I have spent decades studying traditional internal Kung Fu and Chinese martial arts with a specific purpose: to find, preserve, and pass on authentic lineage-based training.

Over the years, that search has taken me through Taiwan, China, and the United States to study with highly respected teachers and Grandmasters, including Grandmaster Chen, Grandmaster Bai, Grandmaster Li, Grandmaster He, Shifu Lo, Shifu Alsup, and others.

But I was not simply looking for impressive demonstrations or famous names.

I was looking for complete traditional systems with real depth, clear method, and the ability to transmit skill from teacher to student.

In the old training model, a complete art was evaluated through the Liu He Ta, or Six-Sided Tower. This refers to the six essential components that make a traditional system whole. Without those pieces, a method may still be useful, but it is not the complete art.

I also learned that three things matter when choosing a teacher:

1. They must have the real lineage method.
Not just movements, but the principles, body method, applications, and internal training behind them.

2. They must be able to teach.
High-level skill is not enough. A teacher must be able to pass the art into the student’s body and understanding.

3. The transmission must be accurately understood.
When training crosses language and culture, interpretation matters. Important details can easily be lost if the interpreter does not understand the art, the language, and the training context.

That is why I have been careful about who I study with, how the material is preserved, and how it is taught.

Shifu Shawn Cartwright co-founded TCCII with Dr. Yinong Chong to help preserve rare Chinese martial and internal arts, and to make them understandable for serious Western students.

Dr. Chong uses her proprietary P5LIM, the PhD 5 Level Interpretation Method, to interpret classical Chinese martial and internal arts teachings into modern English while preserving their meaning, training context, and teacher-to-student details.

Her interpretation work has been sought out even by professional interpreters working at the highest levels, because this material requires more than language fluency. It requires deep cultural, historical, and training context.

We are dedicated to transmitting the complete, authentic systems to the next generation of practitioners.

The mission is simple: to build a clear bridge between the Ancient Arts of the East and the Modern Practitioners of the West.

What is your Chen Taijiquan Lineage?

Our Chen Taijiquan comes through International Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong (1925–2025), a direct descendant of General Chen Wangting, the founder of Taijiquan.

Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong was one of the most senior 19th Generation Chen Family Taiji masters. He taught Lao Jia, or Old Frame Chen Taijiquan, a method believed to be among the oldest surviving streams of Chen Tai Chi Chuan.

With more than 95 years of training and teaching Chen Shi Taijiquan, Grandmaster Chen became known for a methodical, thorough teaching style. He taught according to each student’s level of ability and influenced more than 10,000 students across China, the United States, and Europe. He also served as President of the Xi’an Chen Style Taiji Association.

Grandmaster Chen created the 36 Forms of Chen Taiji, reducing repetition in the form without simplifying the art. This made the form more accessible to students entering the Chen method while preserving the structure, principles, and training depth of the original system.

Grandmaster Chen was born in 1925 in Chenjiagou Village, Henan Province. He began training at age five with his father, Chen Shigong. He was one of the rare Chen masters of his generation to train with 16th and 17th Generation family members, including Chen Liangzhi (16th Generation), Chen Guoying (17th Generation), and Chen Shengsan (17th Generation).

During World War II, his family moved to Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. There he continued training with Chen Jingping and Chen Jinao, both 18th Generation Chen family teachers. He also trained with Chen Shouli, a 17th Generation teacher and student of Chen Fake.

Shifu Shawn Cartwright, TCCII Executive Director and Co-Founder, is a 20th Generation Indoor Student of Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong. He is also Grandmaster Chen’s only Indoor Disciple in North America and was accepted as his adopted son.

This relationship matters because in traditional Chen Taijiquan, lineage is not simply a name or certificate. It carries the method, the corrections, the training standards, and the responsibility to preserve what was received.

Shifu Shawn Cartwright taught his son, Drake Cartwright, Chen Taijiquan and filmed those lessons. Those filmed lessons became the basis for this lineage training program. Drake also had the opportunity to travel to China and train with Grandmaster Chen and his Taiji uncles before Grandmaster Chen’s passing.

This gives students a rare opportunity to study material rooted in the original lineage system of Chen Taijiquan, presented through a direct family and teacher-to-student transmission.

What makes this program different?

Many Tai Chi and Kung Fu programs teach movements. Fewer preserve the full method behind the movements.

What makes TCCII different is the way we protect three things at the same time:

1. The completeness of the art
2. The accuracy of the interpretation
3. The ability to teach the material clearly to Western students

1. The art must be complete

In traditional Chinese martial arts, a complete system is not just a form. It includes structure, body method, applications, internal training, weapons, partner work, teaching progression, and the principles that connect them.

We evaluate the completeness of a system through the Liu He Ta, or Six-Sided Tower. This framework helps preserve the essential parts of a traditional art so students are not left with only choreography or isolated techniques.

This matters because many students only receive part of a system. Sometimes the teacher did not have the full curriculum. Sometimes the teacher had it but did not pass it on. Sometimes the material was hidden behind the old Veil of Secrecy, where important details were reserved, withheld, or never clearly explained.

We respect the old ways, but we do not believe serious students should be left guessing.

2. The teaching must cross the East-West communication gap

Even when a teacher has the complete art, the material can still be difficult to transmit across language and culture.

Traditional Chinese martial arts contain ideas that do not translate cleanly into modern English. Terms related to Qi, Jin, Fajin, Neigong, body method, intention, and internal training often carry layers of meaning. If those layers are not interpreted properly, students may receive the words but miss the method.

This is why Dr. Yinong Chong uses P5LIM, the PhD 5 Level Interpretation Method, to help carry the meaning from classical Chinese martial culture into clear modern English.

The purpose is not just translation. It is preservation of meaning, training context, and teacher-to-student detail.

3. The material must be teachable

High-level skill does not automatically make someone a clear teacher.

A teacher must know how to organize the material, explain the progression, correct common errors, and help students understand what to practice next. That is why TCCII places so much attention on teaching method, lesson structure, and progressive training.

The result is a program that gives students more than movements to copy. It gives them a structured way to approach the art with lineage, interpretation, and method working together.

That is what we mean when we say this program is different.

What is the Liu He Ta and why is it important?

Liu He Ta, often translated as the Six-Sided Tower, refers to six key components of a complete traditional art.

It gives us a way to understand whether a system contains more than movements and techniques. A complete art should also include the philosophy, principles, methods, tools, and teacher-to-student details that make the training work.

The six parts are:

1. Dao, the Way
   The larger philosophy and direction of the art. Dao helps you understand why the system exists, what it is trying to develop, and how the parts fit together.

2. Li, the Principles
   The rules and truths that guide the art. Li helps you understand what to do when things are uncertain, especially under pressure.

3. Fa, the Methods
   The training methods that develop the art over time. Fa shows you how to practice, how to progress, and how the skill is built.

4. Shu, the Techniques
   The specific movements and applications of the art. Shu helps you understand what to use, when to use it, and how the method becomes practical.

5. Bing, the Tools
   The training devices and support methods used to develop skill. Bing may include special exercises, equipment, drills, or training aids that help the body understand the method.

6. Mi Jue, the Oral Secrets
   The teacher-to-student details that are rarely written down and often reserved for serious students or lineage inheritors. Mi Jue helps preserve the subtle instructions, corrections, and training cues that make the art come alive.

This matters because a traditional system can become incomplete when one or more of these parts is missing. Students may receive movements without principles, techniques without method, or exercises without the deeper teaching that connects them.

That is why TCCII places so much emphasis on preserving the complete lineage method and documenting the teaching carefully for future generations.

What does P5LIM mean?

P5LIM stands for PhD 5 Level Interpretation Method.

It is Dr. Yinong Chong’s proprietary method for interpreting classical Chinese martial and internal arts teachings into modern English while preserving the original meaning, training context, and teacher-to-student details behind the words.

This matters because traditional arts like Taijiquan, Kung Fu, Qigong, and Neidan are not easy to translate word-for-word. Many important terms carry rich layers of cultural, historical, philosophical, esoteric, and practical meaning.

Dr. Chong speaks English like a native and has rare fluency in Classical Chinese, which allows her to work directly with older source material and verify meaning at a level most ordinary translation cannot reach.

Her interpretation work has been sought out even by professional interpreters working at the highest levels, because this material requires more than language fluency. It requires deep cultural, historical, and lineage training context.

The purpose of P5LIM is to keep the teaching from being flattened into a generic translation. It helps preserve the internal principles, training methods, and traditional lineage secrets so Western students can understand what is actually being taught.

How does the program work?

Once you complete your registration, you receive immediate access to the online TCCII training portal.

Inside the portal, you’ll find your course organized into clear lessons, structured in a logical progression to optimize your training. Select a lesson, press play, and follow the course at your own pace.

Some lessons and bonuses are intentionally locked until the right point in the course. As you progress, more material unlocks so you can follow the training in the intended order.

You can return to earlier lessons for review according to the access included with your purchase. This is especially useful for revisiting posture, movements, forms, and the deeper principles introduced in the course.

Because the program is online, you can study wherever you have internet access and train at the times that work for your life. You do not have to travel across town, rearrange your schedule around a local class, or depend on whether a qualified instructor in this method happens to live nearby.

The course gives you a structured way to begin this method with clear guidance, lineage context, and practice support inside one training portal.

Can I really learn from an online program?

That’s a fair question. Let me ask you this... have you ever learned anything meaningful online?

Most people have. Martial arts are different, of course, but the real question is not whether online learning can work. The real question is what can be taught well online, what needs hands-on correction, and how is the training structured?

Every training format has strengths and limitations: books, live classes, private lessons, demonstrations, and online study all teach in different ways.

I used to doubt whether serious internal martial arts could be taught online. Then the pandemic forced us to teach remotely, and I saw something surprising... some students actually improved faster.

There were two main reasons.

First, video made it possible to present private teaching material with clear structure, multiple angles, and careful explanation. In a live group class, students often miss details because of where they are standing, who is in front of them, or how quickly the class moves.

Second, students could rewatch the lessons. That matters. In a private lesson, you may receive a correction once and then have to remember it. In an online course, you can return to the same teaching again and again, compare angles, slow down your study, and review the details between practice sessions.

That changed the way I thought about online training.

This program is designed to give you many of the benefits of private instruction while using the strengths of modern video learning:

1. Structured progression
   Lessons are organized so you know what to study next and what to review.

2. Multiple viewing angles
   Forms, applications, and demonstrations can be studied from more than one perspective.

3. Repeatable instruction
   You can rewatch lessons as often as your access allows, which helps you catch details you missed the first time.

4. Lineage training without travel
   Study from home without airfare, hotels, meals, lost work time, commuting, or navigating the uncertainty and expense of international travel.

5. A clearer foundation before private correction
   If you later choose private lessons or partner training, you arrive with a stronger base. That makes hands-on correction more focused and useful.

For advanced martial application, push hands, and partner work, nothing replaces direct contact with another person. But online training can prepare you extremely well by teaching the forms, principles, body method, applications, and training sequence before you enter that hands-on stage.

Can I go back and rewatch my lessons?

Yes. In fact, you are encouraged to return to the lessons and review them according to the access included with your purchase.

That is one of the real benefits of our online training model. You can revisit the teaching, compare details, and notice things you may have missed the first time.

I often think about how valuable it would have been to have films of my private lessons from the early days of my training. That is one reason I filmed these lessons for my son, Drake Cartwright.

These class films are an important part of the legacy I am passing on to him. I am grateful that today’s technology allows us to make this training available to sincere students, even if you live in another city or country.