This is a post by our guest blogger, Silkreeling who is also a keen player of Chen Style Taijiquan

Chen Family Small Frame Taiji seems to most to be the lesser cousin of the Large Frame. This is not surprising as there have been much more written and discussed about the latter in the last 70 years or so due to its popularity. Some of the factors that could have contributed to this scenario are of course Chen Fake’s efforts and distinction that shook Beijing from the 1930s; and also Chen Zhaopi’s relentless labours from 1950s Chen Village for grooming some of today’s grandmasters.

However, it is interesting to look beyond the last 70 years and realise that the vast majority of the written works then about Chen Family Taiji was based on the Small Frame. The published works of Chen Xin and Chen Zhiming, which contain substantial discussions on theories, are both based on the Small Frame postures.

Regarded as the Chen Family Taiji Classics, we are fortunate to have Chen Xin’s “The illustrated Canon of Chen Family Taijiquan“, as well as Chen Zhiming’s “The Art of Chen Family Taijiquan Transmitted through the Generations“/ “The essence of Taijiquan” reprinted and republished in recent years. This, by no doubt, has helped to keep interests level high, and fan the growth of Chen Family Taiji players globally, whether Small Frame or Large.

So, what are the relations between the two frames and why the distinction, since a lot of the theories seen in the Chen Taiji classics can be applied to the Large Frame as well?

The preface of the recently republished book from Chen Zhiming offers us a view “The development that occurred during Chen Changxin’s and Chen Youben’s time was by leaps and bounds. There was further development through Chen Youben who innovated on what was traditionally transmitted to him. With many years of his own achievements in learning, enlightenment and combat efficiency, he modified some of the Large Frame movements. In his later years, he created what was to become Chen Family Small Frame, which has more continuous flow, and contains many lively and compact transition movements, and therefore more combat practical. The postures are similar to the Large Frame in terms of expansiveness but the fajing comes with a muted or delayed effect. Chen Youben is the innovator of the Small Frame while Chen Changxin is the successor of the traditional Large Frame.”

However, it is also interesting to hear Chen Xizhao, one of Chen Fake’s student based in Xi An, quoted as saying in Ma Guo Xiang’s book <My Taiji Journey>” Among the older generation, it is acknowledged that the small frame is foremost.”  If you are thinking “foremost” in terms of development, then the quote is in line with what is stated in the preface. But is it possible that it is not; and what are the implications?

Whatever it is, Chen Family Small Frame Taiji has its unique flavour. Let us take a moment to enjoy the clip below to mark the uniqueness of the Small Frame and also as a tribute to the recently demised Grand Master Chen Liqing. I do not practice the Small Frame or for that matter, I have no clue what Grand Master Chen Liqing is like. So to me, when I think of the Chen Family Small Frame Taiji, this clip of Grand Master Chen Liqing comes to mind with her exquisite performance of the hallmark muted fajing.

For more details on the Chen Family Small Frame, refer to this site: http://www.chinafrominside.com/ma/taiji/xiaojia.html