English   Turkish

home

qigong

tai chi chuan

da cheng chuan

the work of byron katie

tarik tekman

programme

resources & links

Da Cheng Chuan and
Zhan Zhuang Chi Kung Lineage

"Inwardly alert, open, calm;
outwardly upright, extended, filled with spirit.
This is the foundation of stillness.
Add the hard and the soft, the powerful and the relaxed
motion and stillnes, contraction and extension:
in the instant these converge, there is power"
 Wang Xiang Zhai (1885-1963)

Wang Xiang Zhai
Founding Master, Wang Xiang Zhai

From the ancient times until the 20th century, qigong was practiced in secrecy within certain families or groups and transmitted in a strict master-disciple system. A young martial artist, Wang Xiang Zhai, after travelling throughout China and studying with masters of martial arts and qigong for 10 years, starts to teach his new system of martial arts called I Chuan (and later Da Cheng Chuan).

Foundation of this system was Zhan Zhuang Qigong exercises. In order to show the power of Zhan Zhuang and his system of martial arts, Wang Xiang Zhai challenged Chinese, Japanese and European martial artists and boxers. His success in all of the competitions caused Zhan Zhuang spread all around China amongst martial artists.
Professor Yu Yong Nian
Professor Yu Yong Nian

 In 1940's a young doctor who studied western medicine, Yu Yong Nian, joins the students of Wang Xiang Zhai and starts using Zhan Zhuang in the treatment of internal organ diseases in the hospital that he works in Beijing. His initial successes leads to a major medical conference in 1956 to introduce this system to other hospitals in China. Professor Yu still continues his research and experiments about the effect of Zhan Zhuang on health and treatment of different conditions.

Master Lam Kam Chuen
Master Lam Kam Chuen

Professor Yu's student, Master Lam Kam Chuen makes the first European demonstration of Zhan Zhuang in 1987. Master Lam started his martial arts training at the age of 11 in Hong Kong and practised Xing Yi, Tai Chi, Choy Lee Fut, Iron Palm and Da Cheng Chuan. He studied Traditional Chinese Medicine and opened a health clinic and martial arts school in Hong Kong. Master Lam also studied Taoist and Buddhist traditions, Fengshui and I Ching.

In 1975 he moved to London and started to teach tai chi as the first tai chi instructor appointed by the Inner London Education Authority . With his efforts, tai chi was accepted for the adult education curriculum of the ILEA.

His ground-breaking book on zhan zhuang qigong, "The Way of Energy" published in 1991 and translated into many languages. . In 1995 he apperaed in the TV series, "Stand Still -- Be Fit", a 10-part TV series by Channel Four. The series was re-aired again several times afterward. Master Lam has 11 published books mainly in qigong, tai chi and fengshui.

As the only master teaching the Zhan Zhuang Qigong system outside of China, he visits Cyprus regularly to support the development of Tarik Tekman's students.

Lam Kam Chuen ve Tarık Tekman
Mater Lam Kam Chuen and Tarik Tekman practising Tui Shou

Tarik Tekman started to learn Tai Chi and Chi Kung in 2001. After practicing with various masters and instructors, he became a private student of Master Lam Kam Chuen.

He is one of the few Western Qigong instructors certified directly by Master Lam Kam Chuen and authorized to teach Zhan Zhuang Qigong and Da Cheng Chuan.

Da Cheng Chuan (Yi Chuan)

In 1920s Wang Xiang Zhai developed an internal martial art called I Chuan (also Yiquan). As he further developed this art in the following years, people started to call it "Da Cheng Chuan" (The art of Great Accomplishment).
This is the system that I teach in my classes and workshops which I have learned directly from Master Lam Kam Chuen.
Da Cheng Chuan can be practiced for health, healing, spiritual development or martial arts. It has 7 practices:

1) Zhan Zhuang:
Also known as "Standing Like a Tree" or "Post Standing". It is the foundation and backbone of the whole system. Both health seekers and active followers start with this. Its importance in this whole system is so great that sometimes people refer to Da Cheng Chuan as "Zhan Zhuang Qigong". In the traditional teaching, students spend a year practising Zhan Zhuang before they start learning the other practices.

2) Shih Li:
Means power testing. It helps us to utilize the energy that we develop with Zhan Zhuang practise.

3) Tsou Pu:
Exercises and training which involve the legs. Stability, balance and flexibility should always be maintained in motion.

4) Fa Li:
Means power exploding. Refers to an instant release of power.

5) Tui Shou:
A training between two persons. Also known as Pushing Hands. We learn how to feel and act in relation to the energy, movement and the intention of the people we face.

6) Shi Zan:
Defensive application of the above techniques. Practiced for martial arts purposes.

7) Jian Wu:
Advance adaptation of this art to become your second nature. This is the highest skill.

Da Cheng Chuan Fa Li Application of Master Lam Kam Chuen
(Master Lam Kam Chuen making a Fa Li demonstration in a Cyprus workshop)

After completing their first year of Qigong training, the students may choose to start learning Da Cheng Chuan. The above 7 practices are only the rough guidelines for Da Cheng Chuan practise. In addition to them, we also practise some other exercises developed by Wang Xiang Zhai, Professor Yu Yong Nian and Master Lam Kam Chuen.
Professor Yu Yong Nian
(March 2009, Beijing. Professor Yu Yong Nian is watching our Tui Shou practise, together with Master Lam Kam Chuen, on his 90th birthday.)

At the moment Tarik Tekman teaches Da Cheng Chuan in private lessons. Please see the Programme page to get an appointment for a private Da Cheng Chuan lesson.