Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei is the 19th generation successor of the Chen family and the 11th generation direct line inheritor of Chen Style Tai Chi. He is officially recognized as one of China's Top Ten Martial Artists and is considered one of the most skillful Tai Chi masters in the world.
Workshops with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei
June 19th - 21st 2015
During the third weekend of June 2015, Asian Arts hosted a series of workshops with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei. These workshops provided a unique opportunity to study with one of the world's most renowned tai chi masters.
In addition, Masters Chen Juan and Chen Bin accompanied their father on his visit. Both are top masters in their own right. This allowed us to learn from two generations of the family that originated tai chi centuries ago and continue it in a unbroken line to the present day.
Friday evening’s workshop on the fundamental practices of Chen’s style tai chi (taiji) was open to the public, a rare opportunity for people with little tai chi experience to learn directly from the highest caliber of teacher and practitioner. Grandmaster Chen and Masters Chen Juan and Chen Bin helped people understand and feel what tai chi is. Attendance was high and participants came away with a clear sense of what goes into beginning, developing and maintaining a complete and effective tai chi practice.
Saturday morning Grandmaster Chen reviewed Lao Jia Yi Lu with particular attention to the standards of the style. In addition to a focus on the details of the early sections of the routine, newer practitioners found it helpful to see later sections that they will soon be studying performed by the masters, and then go through the form with their help and corrections.
Push-hands was the topic of the afternoon. This workshop covered a number of the one and two person practices that make up the Chen family push hands system. Grandmaster Chen, Master Chen Juan and Master Chen Bin corrected postures and the push hand movements. The eight basic techniques ( Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou and Kao) were also covered. Grandmaster Chen’s clear information helped demystify the practice and dispel some commonly-held misconceptions about what push-hands is and how it should be done.
Both sessions on Sunday were devoted to learning Laojia Erlu (Old Frame Second Routine), also known as Cannon Fist. This is the second of the two Old Frame routines. It, along with Laojia Yilu, was developed by Chen Changxing of the Chen family's 14th generation. Old Frame Second Routine is a concise form that incorporates gentle, smooth and elegant slower motions with displays of fajin (explosive power).
This was the first time Grandmaster Chen has taught the Laojia Erlu in the Albany workshops, so it was a perfect opportunity for first-timers to gain the foundation to start practicing it.Those who had already learned the routine were able pick up more details to help them deepen their practice.
We would like to thank Grandmaster Zhenglei, and Masters Chen Juan and Chen Bin for their kind and caring attention to everyone who attended the workshops this weekend. “One word from a master is worth years of practice.”
Thank you to San Zhang, our longtime friend , who translated for Grandmaster Chen during the workshops.
We would also like to thank the people who helped out in various ways during the weekend so that everything could run smoothly
Last, but not least, thank you to all who had participated in these workshops. As Grandmaster Chen himself noted, your enthusiasm and hard work helped make these workshops a success.
Workshops with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei
September 27 - 29th 2013
During the last weekend of September 2013, Asian Arts hosted Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei for a series of workshops on Chen style tai chi. Friday night was devoted to introducing the fundamentals and explaining the health benefits of tai chi. It was well attended by a mix of students, for some of whom it was their first experience with tai chi.
Saturday's workshop set the standards for LaoJia YiLu (Old Frame First Routine). Grandmaster Chen explained and demonstrated how the fundamentals learned on Friday's workshop apply to the routine. One student commented that she found the combination of fluidity and power breath-taking.
Sunday's workshop focused on Push hands (Tui Shou). Students were introduced to the one and two person practices that make up the Chen family push hands system, including the eight basic techniques ( Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou and Kao ). Grandmaster Chen showed how the material covered in the previous workshops is the foundation of push hands.
Students from around New York State, New England and Canada attended this weekend's workshops. We would like to thank them for their interest and hard work.
Our long-time translator and friend Sam Zhang also showed his good nature by letting Grandmaster Chen demonstrate technique on him. Thank you, Sam.
Master Jack Yan traveled from Toronto to show us his support. We greatly appreciate his visit and thank him for traveling so far for such a short time.
Finally, a big thank you to Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei for bringing us his family's tai chi. We feel fortunate that we have the opportunity to learn from him.
Workshops with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei
April 28 - 29th 2012
Asian Arts hosted three day workshops with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei during the weekend of April 28th, 2012. The first was a half day review ofLao Jia Yi Lu (old frame first routine). This workshop focused on the details of the form, allowing the participants the chance to deepen their understanding of it and the style itself.
The rest of the weekend was devoted to the Chen style Taiji Single Sword routine. This was the first time Grandmaster Chen has taught the sword routine in Albany. The Taiji Single Sword routine is the oldest of the Chen Taiji weapons routines. This form involves fluid movements, some quick and some slow, some focusing on hardness and some on softness. This workshop covered the complete routine of 49 forms.
During the weekend, Grandmaster Chen offered to do an additional 3 hour workshop on the basics of Chen Taiji. This workshop was held on Monday evening and was well attended despite the short notice. It included an introduction to the fundamental practices of standing and silk reeling, as well as the Qigong practices used by the Chen family. The participants were also introduced to the first few forms of the 18 Essential Postures routine.
Asian Arts would like to thank Master Chen and all those who attended these workshops. Your support is what makes them possible.
Workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei
October 9 - 11th, 2010
Asian Arts hosted a three day workshop with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei during the weekend of October 9th, 2010. During this weekend Grandmaster Chen taught Lao Jia Yi Lu (old frame first routine), including the silk reeling practices which is fundamental to understanding and practicing Chen style.This workshop was well received by both Master Chen and the attendees. Master Chen thought that the three day format gave him the opportunity to go into more detail about the form. Feed back from the attendees was that the class didn't feel rushed and that it provided an opportunity to practice more during the session.
Asian Arts would like to thank Grandmaster Chen and all those who attended the workshop. Your support is what makes these workshops possible.
The Asian Arts Group would like to thank Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei and all of the class participants of the October 17th, 2009 weekend workshop. We look forward to seeing you and Grandmaster Chen in 2010.
Workshops with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei
Weekend of October 20th, 2007
Asian Arts hosted workshops with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei the weekend of October 20th. We would like to thank Grandmaster Chen and all those who attended. Photos from the workshop and the Chen family visit to Niagara Falls are now online.
Workshops With Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei June 6-10, 2006
On July 7th through 10th, Asian Arts hosted a series of workshops and a talk by Grandmaster Chen. On Thurday July 7 at the Chinese Community Center, Grandmaster Chen gave a talk on the origins of taiji, its relation to Qigong, and the movement of qi through the body. He then led the audience through a series of simple, effective movements for activating qi, and finished by demonstrating Chen style taiji in both its "hard" and "soft" varieties. A very enthusiastic audience! We thank translator Lee Hua for her exemplary efforts, which made this talk possible.
The next three days were full-day workshops. Friday Grandmaster Chen taught a small but dedicated group the last sections of the Lao Jia Yi Lu (old frame first routine). Next was a 2-day workshop of the entire Chen 18 Essentials short form. With Grandmaster Chen and his "indoor" student C.P. Ong interpreting, this was an incredible learning experience.
Monday night was the final workshop, on push-hands. Grandmaster Chen taught the 8 energies, underlining that the principles behind both taiji and the push-hands 2-person form are the same. There was plenty of laughter among the participants when we attempted the 8 energies on our own as we got it sometimes right, sometimes not quite so right.
Asian Arts would like to thank Grandmaster Chen and C.P. Ong for providing an excellent learning opportunity. We would also like to thank everyone who participated in the workshops for making them a particularly enjoyable experience.
For information on upcoming workshops or classes, or to join our mailing list, please contact us at info@AsianArtsGrp.com.
TV Interview and Demonstration
Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei and C.P. Ong were interviewed by WMHT's Marianne Potter for a segment on the program InSight. It aired Thursday July 20th 2006 at 7:30pm. For information on further air dates, check the InSight area of WMHT's web site.
