The Chen family style (陳家、陳氏 or 陳式 太極拳) is the oldest and parent form of the five main tai chi chuan styles. It is third in terms of world-wide popularity compared to the other main tai ji quan styles. Chen style is characterized by its lower stances, more explicit Silk reeling (chan si jin) and bursts of power (fa jin).

Ancient History

Many practitioners both inside and outside of China recognize Zhang Shanfeng as the founding father of the art. Legend has it that Zhang was a wandering Taoist priest from Wudang Mountain who, during the Yuan Dynasty (15th Century), developed a gentle, sophisticated art, while watching hard style monks practicing their more "external" martial arts and chi kung on Wudang mountain. Another account claims there was an alchemist (also from Wudang mountain) named Zhang Shanfeng who developed Taijiquan during the Song Dynasty (12th Century). Xu Xuanping, a wizard during the Tang Dynasty (8th Century) is also recognized in some circles as a forbearer of the art in other related stories. Often these Taijiquan origin tales involve Zhang Shanfeng, and yet another obscure tale depicts him receiving inspiration from watching a bird unsuccessfully trying to carry off a snake with brute force, while yet another bird stole the prey by using more sophisticated, softer dynamics. Although, more often than not, these stories do not help very much in determining the historical origins of Taijiquan.

Chen Wang ting

Research by the martial arts master, Tang Hao (1897-1959), during the 1930's and historical records from Wen and Anping Counties both indicate that the first known practitioner of Taijiquan was Chen Wangting. In the 1660's Chen Wangting led troops to beat back assaulting bandits about twenty years after the overthrow of the Ming Dynasty. The historical records include accounts of his martial arts and military skill. It is said, after order was restored, Chen Wangting retreated from the world , and became a recluse of sorts. Chen was influenced by Taoist philosophy and began to explore the essence of energy and strength. The story is repeated that before he died Chen Wangting said that personally to avoid depression he practiced internal boxing, involved himself in field work in the appropriate season, and spent his leisure time teaching disciples and his offspring so that they could be contributing members of society.

Additionally, a viewpoint that has surfaced, in recent years, is that Chen Style Taijiquan was developed from Shaolin Temple Martial Arts. This could have some credibility since Shaolin Temple and Chen Village are both located in Henan province and they are not far from each other.

Recent History

In the late 1920s Chen Fake (陳發科, 陈发科, Chén Fākē, Ch'en Fa-k'e 1887-1957) and his nephew broke with Chen family tradition and began openly teaching Chen style - providing public classes in Beijing for many years. Chen Fake's influence was so great that a powerful Beijing Chen style tradition survived his death; it was centred around his "New Frame" variant of Chen Village "Old Frame." His legacy spread throughout China by the efforts

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of his senior students (e.g. Hong Junsheng, Feng Zhiqiang, Li Jingwu, Chen Zhaokui, Gu Liuxin, Lei Muni, Tian Xiuchen, Xu Rusheng, and Li Jianhua).

At this time mention must also be made of the first in-depth book ever written on Chen style. It was written by a 16th generation family member Chen Xin 陳鑫 (Ch’en Hsin, 1849-1929) called Taijiquan Illustrated 太極拳圖說 (see classic book) and proved very popular but was not actually published until 1932, well after Chen Xin's death.

A second significant "promotional wave" in Western countries began in the 1980s. It can be traced to changes in Chinese foreign policy and the migration of Chinese Chen stylists around the world. On a more organised level mention must be made of Chen Village's international "roaming ambassadors" known as the "Four Buddha Warrior Attendants." These specially trained sons of Chen Village are Chen Xiao Wang (Chen Fake's direct grandson), Chen Zhenglei, Wang Xian and Zhu Tiancai. They are extremely well known internationally on account of their many years of relentless global workshops and talks.

Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang (Xiaowang)

Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang, male, born in the original place of Tai Chi - Chen village in China, he is the 19 th generation Chen style Grandmaster of the Chen family’s Tai Chi Chuan heritage.  He is a direct descendant of the legendary creator of Tai Chi, General Chen Wangting and one of "the World Best Chen Tai Chi Grandmaster"

He is very skillful in Tai Chi Kungfu and has original view on training and actual combat technique.

He began his training at the age of six years old studying Tai Chi from his Father, and then later from his Uncles, who were all famous Tai Chi Grandmasters.

He has practiced Tai Chi for more than fifty years, and is considered a ‘Living Treasure’ by the Chinese government.  He has numerous Gold Medals that he won as a young man competing in martial art tournaments throughout China.  His character and gentle approach to teaching Tai Chi has won him literally tens of thousands of faithful Tai Chi students all over the world. 

Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang has been produced a series of dvd on Chen Style Tai Chi recently and it is available to buy in China.

Grandmaster Chen Zheng Lei (Zhenglei)

Grandmaster Chen Zheng Lei (Zhenglei) was born in May 1949 at the birth place of Taiji - Chenjiagou Village, Wenxian County, Henan Province, China. He is the 19th generation inheritor of the Chen family and 11th generation direct-line successor of Chen Style Taijiquan. He has held the position of Head Instructor and Principal of Chen Village Taijiquan School, Head Instructor of Wen County Taijiquan Promotion and Development Centre and Vice Director of Henan Province Martial Arts Administration.

He has been officially recognized as one of the Top Ten Foremost Martial Artists by the Chinese State Government and has been awarded the honor of National Martial Arts Senior Instructor holding of 8th Duan Wei of Chinese Wushu (Martial Arts) Grading System. He is also a Committee Member of China Physical Culture & Science Institute.

He has recently established the Chen Zhenglei Taijiquan Culture Co. Ltd. in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China to promote Chen Style Tai Chi and help the Tai Chi practitioner worldwide to access his unique training skills. Anyone taking part in his training courses will have the opportunity to learn directly from one of the most skillful Tai Chi Grandmasters in the world.

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As part of his Tai Chi life Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei has been invited to visit and teach Tai Chi in nearly 30 countries and has published many books and a series of Videos, VCD and DVDs on Tai Chi by the Chinese State Sports and Education Publishing House. It includes Tai Chi Qigong, Silk Reeling Energy, Warm up Exercises, Forms, Weapons, Push Hands and Applications. Many of those publications have also been translated into other languages such as English, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish.

Grandmaster Chen has been studying Chen Style Tai Chi Old Frame since he was eight years old with his older uncle, Grandmaster Chen Zhaopi, until 1972 when Grandmaster Chen Zhaopi passed away. Grandmaster Chen Zhaopi was a Martial Arts Professor in Nanjing Martial Arts Academy until he retired in 1957. Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei then has carried on to study Chen Style Tai Chi New Frame with his young uncle, Grandmaster Chen Zhaokui, who was the son of Grandmaster Chen Fake. He was so dedicated to work on the goal of achieving the highest level of Tai Chi that he studied extremely hard and put a lot of effort into his training.

He started to take part in competitions from 1974 and by the end of 1987 he had won over ten gold medals in Henan Province and China National Martial Arts Competitions.

Because of his great success and excellent skill, he has held the position of Senior Instructor at the Henan Provincial Martial Arts Academy since 1983. Under his successful unique training method his students have taken part in the China National Martial Arts Competitions and won 15 gold medals and 12 silver medals over two years in 1988 and 1989, which is a really good outcome. Not only that, he himself has taught thousands of students worldwide to let more and more people enjoy the authentic Chen Style Tai Chi exercises.

Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei has accepted the Honorary Presidency of the Chen Style Tai Chi Centre UK in 2003 and currently teaches in China, you can visit his homepage here.

Grandmaster Kongjie Gou

Grandmaster Kongjie Gou started practicing Chinese Martial Arts in 1960. Five years later, in 1965, he began learning Chen Style Tai Chi as an indoor senior student of Grandmaster Chen Zhaokui (the Head and Heir of the 18th generation of the Chen Family). Master Gou has taught Chen Style Tai Chi extensively to both university and private students in many provinces around China since 1982. At the International Festival of Tai Chi in China in 2002 Grandmaster Kongjie Gou was awarded the Certificate of Excellence; this award is very rarely given and is reserved for Tai Chi masters of exceptional skill and ability.

He is also certified as a senior Chen Style Tai Chi coach by the Chen Style Tai Chi Association in Wen county, the birthplace and home of Tai Chi and holds a first class degree of Tai Chi master from the Henan Provincial Martial Arts Association. He is co-author of the Tai Chi Push Hands standard and competition rules published by the Chinese State Sports Council and more recently has created the Chen Style Tai Chi Fan Form and the Chen Style Short Stick Form. Within the Chinese Tai Chi community Grandmaster Kongjie Gou’s instruction is prized above all others and students travel the length a breadth of China to stay near his home so that they can attend his classes.

At the age of 25 Grandmaster Kongjie Gou was diagnosed with terminal cancer. During his treatment he lost his teeth, hair and muscles. More than 30 years later, having confounded the doctors, he attributes his recovery and his current excellent health, to practising Tai Chi.

	The History and Origin of Wing Chun   How Wing Chun Originated from China Translation of the late Ip Man's account
The History of Wing Chun is outlined below. This account of the origin of Wing Chun Kung Fu was written by the late Grandmaster Ip Man (often called Yip Man).   The founder of the Wing Chun Kung Fu System, Miss Yim Wing Chun was a native of Canton [Kwangtung Province] in China. She was an intelligent and athletic young girl, upstanding and forthright. Her mother died soon after her betrothal to Leung Bok Chau, a salt merchant of Fukien. Her father, Yim Yee, was wrongfully accused of a crime and, rather than risk jail, they slipped away and finally settled down at the foot of Tai Leung Mountain near the border between Yunan and Szechuan provinces. There they earned a living by running a shop that sold bean curd. During the reign of Emperor K'anghsi of the Ching Dynasty (1662-1722) Kung Fu became very strong in the Siu Lam [Shaolin] Monastery of Mt. Sung, in Honan Province. This aroused the fear of the Manchu government [a non-Chinese people from Manchuria in the North, who ruled China at that time], which sent troops to attack the Monastery. Although they were unsuccessful, a man named Chan Man Wai, a recently appointed civil servant seeking favor with the government, suggested a plan. He plotted with Siu Lam monk Ma Ning Yee and others who were persuaded to betray their companions by setting fire to the monastery while soldiers attacked it from the outside. Siu Lam was burned down, and the monks and disciples scattered. Buddhist Abbess Ng Mui, Abbot Chi Shin, Abbot Pak Mei, Master Fung To Tak and Master Miu Hin escaped and went their separate ways. Ng Mui took refuge in the White Crane Temple on Mt. Tai Leung [also known as Mt. Chai Har]. It was there she met Yim Yee and his daughter Wing Chun from whom she often bought bean curd on her way home from the market. At fifteen, with her hair bound up in the custom of those days to show she was of an age to marry, Wing Chun's beauty attracted the attention of a local bully. He tried to force Wing Chun to marry him, and his continuous threats became a source of worry to her and her father. Ng Mui learned of this and took pity on Wing Chun. She agreed to teach Wing Chun fighting techniques so she could protect herself. Wing Chun followed Ng Mui into the mountains, and began to learn Kung Fu. She trained night and day, until she mastered the techniques. Then she challenged the bully to a fight and beat him. Ng Mui later traveled around the country, but before she left she told Wing Chun to strictly honor the Kung Fu traditions, to develop her Kung Fu after her marriage, and to help the people working to overthrow the Manchu government and restore the Ming Dynasty. After her marriage Wing Chun taught Kung Fu to her husband Leung Bok Chau. He in turn passed these techniques on to Leung Lan Kwai. Leung Lan Kwai then passed them on to Wong Wah Bo. Wong Wah Bo was a member of an opera troupe on board a junk, known to Chinese as the Red Junk. Wong worked on the Red Junk with Leung Yee Tei. It so happened that Abbot Chi Shin, who fled from Siu Lam, had disguised himself as a cook and was then working on the Red Junk. Chi Shin taught the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole techniques to Leung Yee Tei. Wong Wah Bo was close to Leung Yee Tei, and they shared what they knew about Kung Fu. Together they shared and improved their techniques, and thus the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole was incorporated into Wing Chun Kung Fu. Leung Yee Tei passed his Kung Fu on to Leung Jan, a well known herbal Doctor in Fat Shan. Leung Jan grasped the innermost secrets of Wing Chun, attaining the highest level of proficiency. Many Kung Fu masters came to challenge him, but all were defeated. Leung Jan became very famous. Later he passed his Kung Fu on to Chan Wah Shan, who took me and my elder Kung Fu brothers, such as Ng Siu Lo, Ng Chung So, Chan Yu Min and Lui Yu Jai, as his students many decades ago. It can thus be said that the Wing Chun System was passed on to us in a direct line of succession from its origin. I write this history of the Wing Chun System in respectful memory of my forerunners. I am eternally grateful to them for passing to me the skills I now possess. A man should always think of the source of the water as he drinks it; it is this shared feeling that keeps our Kung Fu brothers together. Is this not the way to promote Kung Fu, and to project the image of our country? - Ip Man   Wing Chun Family Tree (some pictures are for illustration purposes only and are actors taken from film stills where authentic images where unavailable)

 Click here for a compilation of videos including Ip Man, Ip Ching, Ip Chung, Bruce Lee, and Samuel Kwok. all descendants of Ip Man Wing Chun.

The main style of Kung Fu being taught at the Black Dragon School of Martial Arts is Chinese Southern Style 5 Animals Kung Fu. 

Shifu Clive Spring's Kung Fu knowledge spans many styles and disciplines.  Here we are going to look at a small biography of some of the Kung Fu Masters and Shifu's who have passed knowledge directly to the Black Dragon Shifu Clive Spring:

Lee Cheng - Southern Style Dragon Kung Fu and Wing Chun.

Brian Desir - Ip Man Wing Chun Athletic Association Hong Kong - UK.

David McKenzie - The Wing Chun School London.

Shi Heng Xuan - 35^th generation Shaolin Monk Shaolin kung Fu.

Sifu Julian Dale - Lau Fat Mang World Eagle Claw Kung Fu Institute – senior student to Master Gini Lau.

Wayne Husband - Lau Family Hong Gar Family Tiger Style Kung Fu.

Shifu Zhe – Eight Dragon Society, Amitoufu Oxford .

Miss Al - BUTF Tae-kwon-do Federation.

The Authentic roots of:

       'The Black Dragon School of Martial Arts'

The Black Dragon has a rich past of traceable documented history containing various Grand Masters of a variety of disciplines. It is this unique history that is directly responsible for the success of our students.

 Black Dragon - Sifu Clive Spring

Sifu’s own words:

I was born in St Vincent in 1954 and came to England in 1966 aged 12.  I started western boxing at the age of 14 years at Didcot Boxing Academy.  A couple of years later I moved to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, where I started Shotokan Karate.  After a short while I felt this was not the art for me, even though I enjoyed it very much and what really swayed me towards the Chinese martial arts was the late, great Bruce Lee. 

I enjoyed watching the TV programme Kung Fu, starring David Carradine in the role meant for Bruce Lee.  However, upon seeing Bruce Lee in an episode of Long Street on TV in the early 1970’s, I was hooked and then when I saw Big Boss, there was no turning back.  Kung Fu was to become a way of life for me; the training, discipline, philosophy and meditation. All have contributed to giving me a more balanced life and a feeling of well being.

My first real encounter with the Chinese Martial Arts was when I moved to Watford in 1972 aged 18.  My next door neighbours were a Chinese family named Lee, ironically.  I became friendly with the eldest son, Sifu Lee Chen; he was about 23 years old at the time.  I studied with Lee for about 18 months until the family moved away.  With Lee I studied Southern style Kung Fu and Wing Chun. At the time I did not realise what great tuition I was getting until much later on. 

I have been training and studying the Chinese martial arts for over 30 years now and I have been teaching for the past 17 years to students from all walks of life. 

Present Grand Master:

Grand Master Kongjie Gou of the Oxford Taiji Gongfu Institute.  I give special thanks to Grandmaster Gou for his acceptance, also for his teaching and inspiration that he has given to me personally and to all the students of the Black Dragon School.

In my martial arts career I have studied under some great Grandmasters, Masters and Sifu’s, all with outstanding skills, etiquette and substance:

Grandmaster Kongjie Gou – Oxford Taiji Gongfu Institute.

Grandmaster Simon Lau – Wing Chun. Simon Lau academy of excellence, London SW1.

Grandmaster Li Nga Fong - Taipo, Hong Kong, Chen style Taijiquan.

Master Eric Hardy – Indoor senior student to Master Joseph Cheng, Wing Chun.

Master Rudie Bynoe - Chen style Taijiquan and Qigong.

Sifu Brian Desir - Wing Chun Athletic Association.

Sifu David McKenzie - The Wing Chun School, London.

Wayne Husband - Lau Family Hung Gar.

Master William Wan - Northern style Kung Fu – Hong Kong.

Master James Wong - Chen style Taijiquan – Hong Kong.

Shi Heng Xuan - 35^th generation Shaolin Monk.

Sifu Julian Dale - Lau Fat Mang World Eagle Claw Kung Fu Institute – senior student to Master Gini Lau.

Shifu Zhe – Eight Dragon Society, Oxford Taiji Gongfu Institute.

Miss Al - BUTF Taekwondo Federation.