Tchoung Style Tai Chi Stick Form History and Methods

The little-known self-defense weapon also offers exercise benefits. The tai chi stick was developed by Grand Master Tchoung Ta-tchen. This is a novel form and practice that he developed over many years. He certified his American teachers to pass on this method, including David Harris, Andrew Dale, Don Scott, and Harvey Kurland.

Traditional Kung Fu teaches 18 traditional weapons and a variety of secondary weapons. The internal art of tai chi ch’uan, however, teaches only four traditional weapons: straight double-edged sword, curved single-edged broadsword, spear, and halberd. There are also several non-traditional weapons, such as the double sword, the flute, the fan, and the short staff. One of the lesser known is the walking stick, which the Chinese call tuan kune.

Some students practice weapon forms for exercise or for exciting displays, while others practice for self-defense. Tai chi ch’uan stick shapes are among the few that provide exercise, self-defense, and a method of harmonizing mind and body.

History:
Staff shapes are part of the Tchoung style of tai chi ch’uan, developed by Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen. Originally from the Chinese province of Hunan, Tchoung was an officer in the Kuomintang army and fought against the Japanese. He trained under many masters and learned various dark styles, such as the green duckweed sword, the gate of pain sword, the beggar’s green bamboo stick style, the three-power sword, and the mountain sword. Tchoung became well known in Taiwan and later served as director of the Taipei Tai Chi Ch’uan Health and Advocacy Institute and as a representative of the Taiwan Chinese Tai Chi Ch’uan Association.

From his teaching experience in Taiwan and abroad, Tchoung believed that traditional weapons were not appropriate for use in the modern world. If a man walks into a post office with a spear or a sword, Tchoung would say, people will look at him as if he is crazy. Although weapons such as the spear and sword have been used effectively in combat for thousands of years, they are not practical in the 20th century. But Tchoung believed that the cane was an easy-to-use and practical self-defense weapon, especially for older people. It was for this reason that he developed and taught the shapes of the cane.

Essential:
Students do not begin their study of Tchoung-style tai chi ch’uan by learning the forms of the staff; they must learn the system in a specific order: Chi kung, ding gong/zhan zhuang (standing meditation), and the basic exercises come first. Then come the old yang-style form and the short form. The essence of tai chi ch’uan is emphasized: relaxation, breathing, twisting the waist and shifting weight. The basic concept follows the theory of differentiation of yin and yang.

After mastering solo forms, students begin learning push hands and san shou, a two-person form that teaches the applications of movements. They then learn the fast form of tai chi ch’uan and the sword of tai chi. Finally they arrive at the solo and paired cane forms. At this point, the cane can be substituted for a cane.

Many benefits come from practicing the baton forms. The most important thing is to learn to relax and work on the basic principles of tai chi ch’uan with an implement in hand. This teaches students a higher level of relaxation and focus as they learn to extend their mind to the end of the stick.

The health benefits of cane handling are more tangible. It overloads the muscles of the arms and shoulders, thus strengthening them. Older people enjoy using the cane because it gives them additional exercise benefits over normal tai chi ch’uan training and can help prevent osteoporosis.

Technical:
Tchoung taught the staff forms to students after they had learned the sword form because using the staff involves a similar type of “snake-like” energy with an emphasis on turning the waist and relaxing the arms. All movements are actually generated by the feet and the waist. Rigid or muscle-oriented movements involving only the arms are not correct and only result in one waving the stick.

The dimensions of the cane or cane should be as follows. Standing, it should reach waist height. One end should be rounded, but a hooked cane can easily be used and is preferred by some masters. (The hooked end can be used to catch, throw, and hit pressure points, but is slower in transitions and can hook your own arm if used incorrectly.) The added mass will give you more hitting power. Beginners, however, should start with a lighter club to avoid injuring the forearm muscles.

Because the cane cannot cut like a sword, its use is aimed at breaking, hitting, pushing, and locking joints. Many of the movements are similar to other forms of tai chi ch’uan weapons, but the throw has a different energy and focus.

The staff forms differ from the spear and halberd forms of tai chi in that the staff is primarily a one-handed weapon and lacks a sharp point for thrusting. It requires coordination between the body and the energy that reels the silk; this coiling, coiling energy is an essential part of basic training.

Training:
As stated above, the learning of the tai chi ch’uan stick is progressive. Advanced students typically start with 24 basic exercises that include specific stretches, warm-ups, individual patterns, and partner exercises. Practicing these basics lays a good foundation for solo form.

After learning the basics, students begin the Tchoung-style solo cane form. This teaches how to flow and coordinate footwork with weapon movements. It also includes a variety of angles, parries and strikes.

While practicing the solo form, a tall stance is used for increased mobility. There are some balance and leg strengthening movements, and quick changes in direction and height of the stance are emphasized.

After learning the solo form, students learn the “three power” baton form. There are two variations of this two-person form: one is done with the traditional cane at waist height, the other with a cane at armpit height. At this stage, students concentrate primarily on the practical self-defense applications of the moves.

By practicing stick forms, applications, and drills, students learn how to use the weapon for self-defense. However, it takes a certain amount of technical skill and strength to use it effectively. Only through the proper use of mechanics does the energy of the whole body flow according to the basic principles of tai chi ch’uan.

Practice:
The baton is a practical defensive weapon that is not designed for sport. When the drills and forms are done diligently, students will be able to use the stick effectively even under stressful conditions, when accuracy and coordination would otherwise suffer.

Most tai chi ch’uan students and teachers, however, practice the forms themselves for their physical benefits and mind-body training. To accomplish these goals, the staff must become an extension of the body that can be used to harmonize with the mind. In this way, training becomes an effective way to develop mental discipline.

Actually, most tai chi ch’uan students are interested in improving themselves, not defeating an opponent. The cane shapes are an extension of that philosophy. Being able to duel with batons is not the main goal of most people’s training. Good health is. After all, you can train until you can defeat 1,000 opponents, but will that add years to your life?

In tai chi ch’uan, preserving the practitioner’s health is the highest goal. Practicing baton forms can bring you one step closer.

Reference
Kurland, H., “Tai Chi Walking Stick,” Kung Fu Illustrated, Aug 1996