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by Baiping Liang (Author)
This long-awaited research work is on the detailed authentic training methods and applications of the Chen Style Taijiquan, the first attempt of its kind ever in unveiling the well-hidden secrets of the ancient martial art system of China. Nowadays the Chen Style Taijiquan is already a well-known martial art system, with many students practicing the style all over the world. There's a good reason for this rapid and wide spread because after all, it is the root system from which all other Taiji systems have evolved. It makes perfect sense because studying the original system saves a student lots of time and effort in acquiring the core knowledge they seek, avoiding some ramifications not intended in the first place. The Chen Style Taijiquan was originally invented for war since it was based on 29 of the 32 grapple techniques selected by the famous Ming Dynasty general Qi Jiguang （戚继光）to train his army. Today the Chen Style is practiced mostly for self-improvement and health benefits. However, the key to improving the mind and body is through nurturing and programming the "Taiji Ghost" （太极意识）, meaning the subconsciousness of the brain. Without the original applications in heart, the mind inevitably gets lost in sending meaningful signals along the proper physical paths to the target muscle groups to generate power for a purpose. This drawback needs to be fixed for health improvement as well as professional research and clear understanding of this system.
The late Grand Master Chen Zhaokui (陈照奎) was the 10th generation inheritor of the style and further developed the system he learned from his father, the legendary Grand Master Chen Fake （陈发科）. Grand Master Chen Zhaokui realized very early on that without detailed written records of the style, deviations from the system would surely happen, causing loss of its values. To prevent this, he left behind two manuscripts of the First Set and Second Set respectively. They contain all the detailed information on the moves and applications in sections and subsections. Baiping Liang （梁百平）, a member of the Beijing Chen Style Research Society, systematically studied with Master Yang Wenjing （杨文景）, a top student of the Grand Master Chen Zhaokui. Eventually Baiping Liang was entrusted by Master Yang Wenjing with this trove of treasures including hundreds of Grand Master Chen Zhaokui's hand-push photos and sketches to help preserve and spread word of the system. Over the years, Baiping Liang conscientiously studied the manuscripts and managed to decipher the hidden and sometimes occult instructions, passing along the acquired knowledge and enlightenment to his students and friends in Colorado, United States. Now to honor his initial promise, Baiping Liang has finally put this research of hard work in print in English for the benefit of anyone and everyone in the world, which has seldom happened in the Taiji history.
