Chen Zhenglei

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Chen Zhenglei's website in Chinese, click for English once you get there.

There is another site as well, for Chen style taijiquan.

Chen Style has a lot of information on Chen Zhenglei scattered throughout the site. Cruise around or go straight to this interview with Chen Zhenglei.

Article about Chen Zhenglei.

Article about Chen Zhenglei.

Interview with Chen Zhenglei on mistakes to avoid.

Interview with Chen Zhenglei in the Tai Chi Union magazine (Glasgow, Great Britain).

Interview with Chen Zhenglei in the Chen style Journal.

Chen Zhenglei in Washington DC

My photos of Chen Zhenglei at Flickr 

Here are links that I have found to supply information on Chen Zhenglei. He is absolutely solid yet agile with an ease of movement that is wonderful to watch. He teaches attentively with little ego, and enjoys playing and teaching taiji. He is a gentle man with a charm that sneaks up on you. He is passionate about Chen style taijiquan with an infectious enthusiasm.

Here is an article with an interview of Chen Zhengleil: "Handing Down the Family Treasure of Chen Taijiquan" by Martha Burr.

I don't do Chen Zhenglei's style. I have a responsibility to my sifu and I love my style. Chen Zhenglei has an established tour in Canada, the US, and Europe (see below). Gilbert Ethier teaches at the wushu centre in Quebec city. Gilbert is a disciple of Chen Zhenglei, and is dedicated to teaching the style.

Chen Zhenglei's DVDs are top quality performance and teaching materials. There is a new series of DVDs available, made by the wushu association in Beijing. It is 40 DVDs with English subtitles. Some of the content is the same as the previous series, but re-filmed, and there is some additional content. There is also a 20 DVD series of theory that is not out yet.

Clubs where Chen Zhenglei teaches:

Us, at the wushu centre in Québec. Gilbert Ethier is a disciple of Chen Zhenglei.

Chinese Wushu and Tai-chi Academy, run by Hong Yijiao (Seattle WA).

A club in Australia.

British Chen Style Tai Chi College in Manchester, England.

Tai Chi Centre, run by Yue Liming (Manchester, England)

Tai Chi and Tea  in Richmond Hill, Ontario, taught by Jack Yan. Jack Yan is translating all of Chen Zhenglei's books. They are available through White Bench publications.

Chen style Tai Chi Centre, Yue Liming is also bringing out books in English, and new videos by Chen Zhenglei in English. He sells a DVD called "The Definitive Chen Style Tai Chi Demonstrations", a book with the old frame first form, sword and broadsword, and a book redoing the Taijiquan for Health book. You can download the introductory pages as pdf from his site, and there is also a cool set of complete photo gallery of the old frame #1 routine, photo gallery of the old frame #2 Cannon fist routine, and a gallery of all the pages of the book.

Books available in English

"Chen style Taijiquan (old frame first form) Sword and Broadsword", 368 pages, 2003. ISBN 7-5348-2321-8. Excellent translation of theory, history, basics, the first form (including movements, requirements, internal energy, self-defense applications) by Zhang Xinhu and Greg Bissell. This is one of the best translations I have ever seen in Chinese martial arts, quite outstanding. Chinese terms in pinyin often given along with the translation. Idiosyncratic translation of sabre and sword forms by Xu Hailiang, very disappointing considering the excellence of the rest of the book. Excellent photographs throughout. If you see a copy of the first form done with cerlox binding, it is a bootleg. Please get the proper book published in China and authorised by Chen Zhenglei.

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In Seattle with Hong Yijiao.

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In Washington with C.P. Ong.

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Gilbert Ethier became a disciple in May 2012. Gilbert teaches at the wushu centre in Quebec city.

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Gilbert with the other disciples, sponsors, and guests to the ceremony.

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Judging from their reactions, this is possibly the biggest fruit basket and bouquet of flowers they've been given at a disciple ceremony.

"Chen's Taichi Old For Health & Wellness" White Bench Publications, Toronto. Translator and Editor in chief, Jack Yan. 94 pages, 2011. ISBN 978-0-9866756-1-4. Excellent translation.

"Chen's Taichi Old Frame One & Two" White Bench Publications, Toronto. Translator and Editor in chief, Jack Yan. 396 pages, 2011. ISBN 978-0-9866756-2-1. Excellent translation.

"Chen's Taichi New Frame One & Two" White Bench Publications, Toronto. Translator and Editor in chief, Jack Yan. 310 pages, 2011. ISBN 978-0-9866756-3-8. Excellent translation.

"Chen's Taichi Sword, Saber & Baton" White Bench Publications, Toronto. Translator and Editor in chief, Jack Yan. publication tba.

"Chen's Taichi Spear, Long Pole, Halberd & Push Hands" White Bench Publications, Toronto. Translator and Editor in chief, Jack Yan. publication tba.

Chen Zhenglei's 2013 International Workshop Schedule has been posted:

1. Apr 13 – 14: Grenoble FRANCE. Contact: David Florentin 大卫. Tel: 33 954 918 427, 33 607 334 655. Email: dm.florentin@free.fr. Website: www.taiji-grenoble.com

2. Apr 20 – 21: Toulouse FRANCE. Contact: OU YANG 欧阳. Tel: 0033 565 355325, 0033 565 300355. Email: jaspee@wanadoo.fr

3. Apr 27 – 28:GERMANY. Contact: Chen Shande 陈善德. Tel: 491 787 140406. Email: info@cstjq.de

4. May 4 – 5:FRANCE Contact: Jean Noël Poucet Ràng Nuo ài. Tel: 33(0)980550417. Email: idct08@free.fr. Website: http://idct.blog4ever.com/

5. May 11 – 12:ENGLAND. Contact: Haijun Wang 王海军. Tel: 016 14488270. Email: Hai-jun-Wang@yahoo.com

6. May 18 – 19: ENGLAND. Contact: Liming Yue 岳黎明. Tel: 4401612737138. Email: Liming.Yue@taichicentre.com

7. May 25 – 26: ENGLAND. Contact: Liming Yue 岳黎明. Tel: 4401612737138. Email: Liming.Yue@taichicentre.com

8. Jun 8 – 9: Toronto CANADA. Contact: Jack Yan 严志钢. Tel: 647-293-1648. Email: jack.yan@TNTKungfu.com

9. Jun 15 – 16: Montreal CANADA. Contact: Leon Xu 徐利. Tel: 514-966-9878. Email: sino_wushu@yahoo.ca

10. Jun 22 – 23: Boston MA USA. Contact: Brian Muccio. Tel: 617-290-4512. Email: bmuccio@gmail.com

11. Jun 29 – 30: Thunder Bay ON CANADA. Contact: Peng Youlian 彭友连. Tel: 807-628-4305. Email: taichi@tbaytel.net

12. Jul 6 – 7: Vancouver BC CANADA. Contact: Paul Tam谭振江. Tel: 778-889-8711. Email: paul@clfcanada.com

13. Mid Jul – End Aug: Zheng Zhou and Chenjiagou Events in HENAN CHINA. 10 Years Anniversary, 15th Adv Workshop.

14. Sep 6 – 8: Eugene OR USA. Contact: David Leung. Tel: 541-579-3612. Email: pkloi@yahoo.com

15. Sep 13 – 15: Seattle WA USA. Contact: Hong Yijiao 洪一姣. Tel: 206-749-9513. Email: yijiao@yijiaowushu.com

16. Sep 21 – 22:Maryland, USA. Contact: C.P. Ong. Tel: 240-447-8134. Email: cpong@gotaiji.com. Contact: Billy Greer. Tel: 410-431-5200. Email: info@JingYing.org

17. Sep 27 – 29: Albany NY USA. Contact: John Carrier. Tel: 518-489-1458. Email: john@asianartsgrp.com

18. Oct 4 – 6: Mexico City MEXICO Contact: Juan 胡安 巴斯. Tel: 511-440-0021, 51-99723-7332. Email: 142857jv@terra.com.pe

19. Oct 11 – 13: PERU. Contact: Juan 胡安 巴斯. Tel: 511-440-0021, 51-99723-7332. Email: 142857jv@terra.com.pe

20. Nov 1 – 4: Kansas City USA. Contact: Chen Huixian 陈会贤. Tel: 913-579-7444. Email: kctaiji@gmail.com. Website: www.chenhuixian.org

21. Nov 8 – 10: Atlanta GA USA. Contact: Jimmy Dong 董其民. Tel: 864-640-2145. Email: qjdong@charter.net. Contact: David Dunn. Tel: 404-843-3276. Email: redlotustaichi@yahoo.com

22. Nov 15 – 17: San Antonio USA. Contact: Xie Ming解鸣. Tel: 210-526-1688. Email: xie.ming007@yahoo.com




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Chen Zhenglei came back to the Tai Shan club in Richmond Hill (the taijiquan group is now called Tai Chi and Tea), Ontario in September and October 2009. He was in good form and good humour. The two weekends were well attended, and once again Jack Yan did an great organizational and interpretation job. Some of the wushu centre guys were there. That is Gilbert in the blue shirt.

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Chen Zhenglei came to the Tai Shan club in Richmond Hill, Ontario in November, 2008. There was a huge IMG_9027crowd there, almost too many for the club. Fortunately, it is in a small empty mall, so there was lots of space to work with. A small gang from the wushu centre took part in the seminar. That is Gilbert in the yellow shirt, who teaches at the wushu centre in Quebec city. James Saper, in between Chen Zhenglei and Gibert, teaches in Guelph, Ontario. Gisèle Cormier, at the end, teaches in Val David, Quebec.

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Comments from buyers of the DVDs

"This has to be the most complete video package that I have seen on Chen Tai Chi... Old Routine, New Routine, weapons... it is all there... and Chen Zhenglei is a very accomplished martial artist who performs these routines flawlessly. This is a must for any Taiji enthusiast. You sure have a knack for picking outstanding video packages." William Johnson

"I just started watching the Push-Hand DVD and am amazed at the amount and depth of knowledge contained within... There's "YEARS" of training in each DVD. Just blown away." "This series of DVD'S allows us an unique glimpse at a very high level of Chen training. Any serious Chen style practitioner should have the entire set in their collection." "Watched the rest of the Health Preserving Qi Gong, and am still blown away. It's a Record for all time of authentic Chen style tai chi chuan training. I've spent years trying to find material of this calibre. I think the availability of the material HAS to raise the level of tai chi chuan everywhere." Don


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