Chen-style Tai Chi Competition Form

Author: Approved by the China Wushu Research Institute and the China Wushu Association
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-04-01
Features: Practical experience from Tai Chi competitions both domestically and internationally has shown that Tai Chi routines indeed have excellent effects on fitness and healthcare. However, as competition routines, they fall short in terms of time, content, structure, and layout, failing to meet competition requirements. There is an urgent need to develop standardized competition routines for various styles of Tai Chi. The China Wushu Research Institute places great importance on this task and has proposed key considerations in the process of creating competition routines for different styles of Tai Chi: first, it is essential to retain the traditional essence, characteristics, and technical principles of the routines, ensuring their traditional nature is preserved; second, they should be based on human physiological characteristics, promoting physical and mental health and comprehensive development while aligning with modern sports science requirements; third, they should have a certain level of difficulty, comply with competition rules, and enhance technical proficiency through competitive practice. To implement this work, the China Wushu Research Institute organized a writing team for the four-style Tai Chi competition routines. After the routines were compiled, a technical review team was formed, inviting renowned Tai Chi masters for thorough evaluation. Finally, the China Wushu Research Institute and the China Wushu Association approved and published them. These routines are now compiled into four books. Based on the traditional routines, these four styles have incorporated the essence of past techniques, drawing on extensive literature, and possess numerous advantages and features. They are rich in content, distinctive in style, standardized in movements, rigorous in structure, well-organized in layout, and have increased in difficulty. These routines provide a comprehensive physical workout and, due to their movement count, groupings, and time limits aligning with competition rules, are suitable for matches under the same conditions. The birth of the four-style Tai Chi competition routines is a significant event in the history of Tai Chi development. It will play a crucial role in the future flourishing of Tai Chi sports both domestically and internationally.