Systems: Taiji Quan

Taiji Quan or otherwise known as "Supreme Ultimate Fist" is a martial art. Unlike Shaolin kungfu which is an external martial art system, Taiji Quan is an internal martial art system. An internal martial art focuses on cultivating the internal energy of the body and expressing it outwards.

Taiji Quan has three primariy focusses: Healh, Meditation and Martial Art.

At ITSWASA we teach Yang Taiji Quan, which is the most popular Taiji family style but generally regarded as second in terms of seniority among the five primary Taiji styles.

Five Primary Styles:

• The Chen style
• Yang Style
• Wu or Wu/Hao style
• Wu style of Wu Ch'uan-yü and Wu Chien-ch'uan
• Sun style

Taiji Quan training includes Pushing Hands, various Qigong exercises, the Yang ('Simplified', 'Beijing') Standardized 24 Step Form, the Combined Competition 42 Step Form, and the Yang Long Form. Two sword forms, the Tai Ji Dao (Broad Sword form) and the Tai Ji Jien (Needle Sword form), are also taught.

Our Lineage: Yang Lu-ch'an (Yang Style founder) -> Yang Chien-hou -> Yang Ch'eng-fu -> Yang Shou-chung -> Master Ou Rong Ju -> Derek Frearson (Head of ITSWA) -> Leslie Reed -> Brett Vallis (Head of ITSWA - South African branch)