Tai chi chuan was created as a form of traditional Chinese martial arts of the Neijia (soft or internal) branch of Chinese Kung Fu. It has developed a worldwide following, even amongst people with little or no interest in martial arts training, because it imparts so many therapeutic health benefits.

The Sun Style was developed by the famous Grandmaster Sun Lu Tang (1861-1933) and is the most modern of all recognized styles of Tai Chi. Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan is immediately recognized as being different from other styles of Tai Chi Chuan.  Sun Style is best known for incorporating elements derived from Xing-Yi and BaGua (two other internal arts) with the softness of Chen, Yang, and Wu Style Tai Chi.  It is characterized by small circular and spiral movements.  The movements in Sun Style are short and compact and each hand technique is accompanied by a corresponding stepping action.  All of the stances are high and upright and the quick agile stepping actions are very natural.  The gentle postures and high stances make Sun Style Tai Chi especially suitable for geriatric exercise and martial arts therapy although people of all ages enjoy learning and practicing it.  Unlike other styles of Tai Chi, the Sun Style leg work does not place any stress or strain on your knee joints because the stances and footwork are not low.  On the contrary: Sun Style Tai Chi relieves stress and tension while building strength to your legs and increasing flexibility and mobility of your joints.  Many people who suffer from arthritic conditions in their knees are reporting that Sun Style Tai Chi practice has relieved their pain.  In fact, many physicians are suggesting or prescribing Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan to their patients with arthritis as an adjunct therapy to help them gain these therapeutic benefits.

Tai Chi Chuan has been referred to as a "meditation in motion" because of its slow, smooth, and graceful movements.  All of the Sun Style movements have the same slow continuous tempo mixed with agile stepping actions. Sun Lu Tang said, “You should move as though you were inside water with your feet on the ground and against the resistance of water.”  Sun Style Tai Chi is done at a little faster pace than other styles of Tai Chi because we use BaGua stepping methods which are well known for faster steps.  This slightly faster pace makes it more exciting, challenging and interesting to learn Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan.  Many of our students who have studied various other styles of Tai Chi in the past reported that they were bored while learning those styles and just gave up their practice long ago.  But now they have a renewed interest and sense of enthusiasm about Tai Chi Chuan because the Sun Style is so exhilarating to learn and Sifu Dr. Jan L. Miller makes it enjoyable to study.

Although Tai Chi Chuan was developed as a martial art, nowadays most people practice Tai Chi for its therapeutic benefits.  Unfortunately, few people are taught the combative aspects of this great martial art.  We at the Dragon Tiger Kung Fu Center believe that the combative aspect of the art is an integral and important component for all Tai Chi practitioners to learn.  Tai Chi without the Chuan (fist) is like a table without a chair. Cultivation of chi (breath/life-force energy) is not enough.  You need to be able to control, direct, transport, and extend your chi outside yourself and by learning the combative aspects of Tai Chi Chuan you will accomplish this.  The ability to use Tai Chi as a form of self-defense in combat is said to be the most effective proof of a student's understanding of the principles of good Tai Chi.  The study of Tai Chi Chuan martially is the study of appropriate change in response to outside forces; the study of yielding and blending with outside force rather than attempting to meet it with opposing force.  While the Tai Chi form will teach you how to cultivate your chi, the self-defense applications coupled with the training in the 8 skills and techniques of push hand practice will teach you about other people’s chi and how to read their intent in a combative situation so that you will be able to master or control them by absorbing their chi and redirecting it to defend yourself.  Amazingly, the application of Tai Chi Chuan skills in a self-defense situation requires very little strength or effort to be effective.  Tai Chi Chuan is an excellent exercise program for all those who desire a low impact exercise regime.  The elderly as well as the younger, more energetic individuals will benefit greatly by learning the combative applications of the movements which provide a remarkably effective, yet simple approach to self-defense.

The ancient art of Tai Chi Chuan is also one of the most effective ways to combat everyday stress.  In China it is used extensively for the prevention and treatment of illness and its beneficial effects for health and fitness are becoming more and more recognized in the West.  Learning Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan will help you to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and migraine headaches.  It will increase your muscle tone and flexibility while strengthening your immunity to disease.  It will increase energy levels and assist in weight control, improve cardiovascular health and circulatory function, relieve arthritis, improve breathing, digestive disorders, asthma, balance emotions, calm the mind, and integrate your mind, body and spirit.

Sun Style Tai Chi is easy to learn. The movements and methods are simple, enjoyable and beneficial for immediate and long-term results. Sun Style is practiced for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual development. If you study the Sun Style you will achieve radiant health, graceful agility, mental clarity and excellence in self-defense.

The Coursework Includes Learning:

Chinese Internal Kung Fu

Sun Style Wu Shu Competition Tai Chi Empty Hand Form

Sun Lu Tang’s Original Sun Style Tai Chi Empty Hand Form

Self-Defense Applications to the Above Forms

Sun Style Sword Forms (Broad Sword and Double Edged Straight Sword)

Practical Self-Defense Applications to the Sword Forms

Meditative Chi Kung Exercises

Chi Cultivation

Condensing Breath Exercises

Generating Jing (Power) from Chi

Relaxation Practice (Shoong)

The Eight Skills and Techniques of Push Hands

Did you know that recent scientific research has found:  The practice of Tai Chi Chuan prevents and treats illness countering stress and boosting immunity that can help protect older adults from the virus that causes both chickenpox and shingles.

Tai Chi Chuan has been found to reduce high blood pressure.  It improves balance, prevents falls in elderly people and reduces their fear of falling.  The practice of Tai Chi Chuan reduces the rate of bone loss in postmenopausal women.  Tai Chi-based exercise may help adults with Parkinson's disease.  Tai Chi has been identified as an exercise to effectively lower LDL cholesterol, improving shoulder flexibility and muscle strength among sedentary individuals with lower-limb disabilities and improving cardiovascular and respiratory functions in individuals with lower-limb disabilities.  Participation in Tai Chi Chuan may help boost immune function and improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.

Tai Chi Chuan is also effective for relieving tension headaches (TTH).  Tai Chi Chuan does more than alleviate pain or provide symptomatic relief; it benefits health-related quality of life!  This may be because Tai Chi Chuan addresses an underlying cause of the pain associated with TTH, namely, stress.  Analgesics will only target the symptoms of stress.  When medication wears off, the pain may return because the underlying problem has not been adequately managed.  With its emphasis on relaxation, breathing, focus and coordination, Tai Chi Chuan seems to directly affect stress and tension that contribute to the pain associated with TTH.  In addition to affecting this pain, Tai Chi Chuan may affect other symptoms that arise from stress such as fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia.  Tai Chi Chuan has been included in the Mayo Clinic's "Top 10 Complementary Medical Treatments.”

Click Here to Read Articles About the Health Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan    

Sifu Dr. Jan L. Miller is a recognized CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medical) practitioner in the fields of Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung.  He is also a Teaching Coach and Professional Member of the American Tai Chi and Qigong Association (ATCQA).  He teaches students in private sessions or individually within small group classes at the Dragon Tiger Kung Fu Center.  Each student is taught at his or her own pace and no one is pushed ahead or held back due to anyone else’s progress.  Every class is comprised of students with varying skill levels which makes for an interesting and exciting group dynamic.  The Dragon Tiger Kung Fu Center is conveniently located in Saint James, Long Island, NY and provides a friendly environment where learning is safe and enjoyable.

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