Deciphering Applications in Chen Taijiquan

 Deciphering Applications in Chen Taijiquan

Revised February10, 2026

First a disclaimer: These guidelines are designed for those students who do not have the benefit of being able to regularly study with a qualified teacher. I myself fall under that category. After many years of studying and practicing on my own, I have discovered a series of guidelines that I hope may be of use to advanced practitioners forced to practice alone. I have revised this article based on the discoveries I have made in the last few years. I may very well have to revise it again in the future. 

 It should be mentioned that his article will be focusing on the First Form of the Old Frame (laojia yilu). Most of the guidelines should hold true for the other forms but I haven’t done an in- depth investigation of them yet. 

It should also be mentioned that applications will vary based on the lineage followed by the practitioner. All the four current Grandmasters (Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zhenglei, Zhu Tiancai, and Wang Xian) perform the routines (taolu) quite differently. This is a reflection of their individual growth and personalities as well as the qualities or techniques that they have chosen to emphasize. I personally am part of the lineage of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang (21st Generation) so I am basing the individual applications in this article on the way I (he) performs the movements. Someone following a different lineage may find that their applications may be different. Nonetheless, the basic  guidelines should still apply.

With the advent of YouTube more information is available now than ever before. However, one should be cautious when studying online videos. Some of the applications in these videos will ring true. However many application videos are merely guesses by uninformed students or teachers. Hopefully, with the help of these guidelines you will be better able distinguish the true from the false.

Chen Taijiquan is first and foremost a martial art.

This principle influences every aspect of the Chen System. It is the reason the postures and  movements are more complicated than other styles of Tai Chi that emphasize health benefits. Being a martial art rather than a health exercise is also the reason that the routines contain movements that require Energy Release (fajin ). Chen Taijiquan was developed at a time when skill with empty hands and traditional weapons were often necessary for survival. Later forms of “T’ai Chi” were developed primarily in the modern era when martial arts were used more as a form of cultivation. By removing the martial elements of Chen Taijiquan, these subsequent styles became more of a Qigong practice than a martial art. Chen Taijiquan, on the other hand, contains all the health giving benefits of the later styles while still retaining its core as a martial art.

Why Decipher Applications?

Chen Taijiquan is a complex martial art system. The ultimate goal is to be able to use it as a form of self-defense or personal combat. The traditional way of training is long and arduous. One can not rush the process. There are no shortcuts. However, it is sometimes helpful to get a glimpse of the final destination. Deciphering applications is like finding clues that help to eventually solve a mystery. Demonstrating applications can also be a great motivator for students. allowing them a glimpse at the depth of the system. For more advanced practitioners, being able to decipher applications can indicate that one has reached a higher level in their practice.

Why Can’t I Learn Applications Right Away? 

Anyone who has studied Chen Taijiquan has wondered, “What is this move for? How could I use it against an opponent?”. Traditionally, teachers in China have been reluctant to reveal applications to any but their most trusted disciples. Students are admonished to practice the form and not think about applications. Many students have practiced for years without being shown a single application. When I asked my teachers in the Chen Village about applications, they all said the same thing. “Don’t worry about that. Concentrate on perfecting your form”. After many years of practice, I came to appreciate the wisdom of this approach. Students in the West are often not as patient. Many masters who give seminars outside of China have acceded to their Western students and begun showing a few applications here and there..

Those who practice for a long time will realize the wisdom of the traditional teaching method.

While it is a good mental exercise to try and discern applications, one should not focus on them to the detriment of form practice. Focusing on what you think may be application of a movement  can actually change the way you practice a movement. In the long run, this will hinder your progress. As you will see below, one should never alter the performance of a movement in order to conform to some preconceived notion of what the application is. By the same token, understanding the correct application of a movement can help refine one’s performance of the movements by making them more efficient. 

Rushing to learn an application can be extremely frustrating. Even after being shown an application in detail, most beginners will be unable to apply it effectively. This is because their practice of  the foundational exercises of Silk Reeling, stances, and stepping, is not at a high enough level. However, being shown a technique and then being unable to apply it is a good way to demonstrate the importance of perfecting the Silk Reeling principles and taolu movements. This was my experience while in Chenjiaguo. After much pleading, our teacher agreed to show us one application. He applied it to everyone in the class causing all of us to yelp in pain. When it was our turn however, none of us could make it work. I realize now that this was because none of us had reached a high enough level of training. 

After over 40 years of practice, I have created some guidelines that can aid you deciphering the applications to be found in Chen Taijiquan.

Guideline #1: Applications Were Purposely Hidden from Prying Eyes 

Make no mistake, the applications in Chen Taijiquan, are purposely hidden in the empty hand routines (taolu). This practice is universal in Chinese martial arts. In China, knowledge has always been power so the secrets of a martial art were jealously guarded. Moreover, there was very little privacy in ancient China, so martial arts masters had to devise ways to practice in public yet still retain their secrets. Therefore, they developed empty hand routines which contained fighting techniques hidden in plain sight. Some movements like Twin Swaying Lotuses or X-Foot appear to be high kicks but they are really foot sweeps. High kicking movements are used for training purposes to teach proper hand and foot coordination and flexibility but they are not actually kicks. Try striking a heavy bag and you will see that these movements are not very effective as kicks. This is a good example of hiding in plain sight. 

The names of the movements are important and they can give us a clue not only about how the movement should be performed but also to what the application might be. Some names are straight forward like Three Steps Forward or Watch the Fist under the Elbow. Others are used to convey the qualities of the movement such as Lazily Tying Coat. None of the names are arbitrarily mystical. They are rooted in Chinese philosophy and culture. The name Six Sealings, Four Closings is confusing to many. Once the arm lock has been applied it is said that one has sealed off the opponent’s six weapons; the fists, the feet, the elbows, knees, hips, and shoulders. One has also closed off the four directions meaning the opponent is unable to move forward, backward or to either side.

Ancient training manuals hid the performance of the movements. If there were illustrations at all, they would be of the final position of the movement with no explanation of how to get there. The text did not provide step by step instructions. They were usual poems (or songs) describing the qualities of the movement and would be indecipherable to the not-practitioner. This has changed during the modern era both in books and of course in videos but that ancient practitioners did not have those resources. 

Guideline #2: Application Must Be Done Exactly like the Form.

For an application to work correctly, it must be performed exactly like the taolu posture. If you have to vary the movement to make the application work, it is probably not correct. When done properly, everything falls into place and it works effortlessly. If an application requires such a major alteration that it no longer resembles the original posture it is not correct. Proper timing of the movement - step, pivot, etc.- is essential. This is clearly taught in the form. In Lazily Tying Coat, the right hand sweeps in a clockwise circle to contact the incoming punch while stepping to the right. It is essential that the right step be completed at the exact moment the punch is handed over to the left hand. If the step is not completed then the opponent’s leg is not blocked leaving the attacker able to deliver a follow up left handed attack. However with the opponent’s leg blocked, the right hand then sweeps over to the right as the weight shifts to the right leg which, when coupled with settling, takes the opponent down. Without the proper timing of the right hand and foot, the application will not work. 

However, Chen Style is characterized by it’s external movements, which are much more intentional for martial arts purposes. By this I mean the movements are exactly as you would use in martial art application.

You do not have to move your hands slightly higher or lower; your hand shapes, your finger shapes and your body can be used just exactly as in many martial arts practices. It also contains many force delivering movements (fajin). Peter Wu, Tai Chi Magazine, August 1995

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Guideline #3: Movements Are Repeated for a Reason and the Application Is Different for Each One.

“Look to the principle behind the movement.”

Movements that are repeated are done so for a reason and often are a response to differed attacks. For example Six Sealing, Four Closings is performed several times in the routine. Each time it is performed a little differently. Why? Because each variation deals with a different form of  attack. The first time it begins with the right foot and hand are extended towards the opponent. Here the application is a counter a grab of your right wrist. The second variation sweeps to the left while stepping forward with the right foot. This time it is used to counter a right hand punch. The third variation intercepts the punch as the right foot steps forward to capture the incoming punch and secure a wrist lock. Each variation still leads to an arm lock and a takedown, The attacks they counter all begin differently but the ultimate counter is the same. Sometimes there is apparent repetition within a given moment. It is a mistake to think that this means they are all the same. One needs only look closely at each “repetition” within the movement to see it’s unique qualities. Variations can also help decipher the application. Slanted Movement (xiexing) is a good  example. The first time it is used it begins in a static position. The second time it is done with a step forward. The technique is the same but the entry is different. Also notice that each time Vajrapani Pounds the Mortar is performed, it is countering a different style of attack. Also, each time there is one less movement in the movement. The first time it consists of 8 movements, the second time 7, the third time 6 and so on. Once again, the final response is the same buy the entry into the attack is different. 

There are some concessions made for the form however. Most traditional Chinese martial arts forms move side to side in a straight line. The form is also designed to end at the exact place it began. In order to accomplish this, some moments are repeated to adjust the distance. In Flip and Whirl the Forearms one backward step counters a right hand punch and the next counters a left hand yet the movement is repeated a few more times. Moving Hands contains counters to two different attacks but then are repeated a couple more times nonetheless. There are also a couple entire sequences that are repeated in the routine. There are no new counters in these sequences so this may serve as an indication that the founders believed that these techniques were particularly important. 

It is also helpful overall to remember that everything is done for a reason and that there are no empty or transitional movements. This is part of the genius to be found in the construction of the Chen Taijiquan routines. 

Guideline #4: Applications Are Counters to Specific Attacks.

Most applications will be against a grappling attack. Punching attacks will primarily be delivered with the opponent’s right hand. In the past both in China and the West, there has always been a bias against left-handedness (in the West, the left side was called “sinister” which still has a negative connotation today ). Most martial arts emphasize right sided attacks (just as Bruce Lee later advocated). Therefore to begin deciphering a movement’s application, it is best to start with responses to attacks with the right hand. If an application works against a right handed attack then it is probably correct. If it doesn’t not work against a right side attack, try it against the left. There are several movements like Slanted Movement (xiexing) that are specifically defenses against left hand punches. Some movements can counter both sides. Brush Knee for example can counter either a right or left kick without any adjustment needed.

Guideline #5: The Beginning of a Movement’s Application Begins Where the Previous Movement Ends.

The basic rule is simple; Movements that end/begin with the hands extended towards the opponent are counters to grabs. Movements that end/begin with the hands close to the body are defenses against strikes. 

Lazily Tying Coat begins from the final position of Vajrapani Pounds the Mortar with the hands together at waist level. Against an incoming right hand punch, the hands circle and intercept the strike with the right hand which then hands it off to the defenders left hand. The right hand and foot then extend to complete the takedown. Thus the movement ends with the right hand and foot extended.

The application for “Six Sealings, Four Closings” then begins from this final position. From such a position it would be extremely difficult to counter a punch. In reality, it is a defense against a grab of the right wrist. From there the technique flows smoothly. Six Sealings ends with both hands extended downward, therefore Single Whip is a defense against an opponent who grabs both wrists. If one attempts to use Single Whip against a punch or kick however, it will not be successful. If one has to begin from a position different from the end point of the previous movement, the application is not correct. This does not mean that in actual combat one technique must slavishly follow the preceding. The often told tale of a routine being designed to fight multiple opponents is a myth. Each movement has it’s own beginning and end and they are not designed to be combined. In reality each technique would be done independently. Beginning an application from where the last movement ends gives you a major clue as to what the movement was designed to counter.   

Guideline #6: Each Movement is Complete in Itself. 

Each movement in the form has only one application. It is a mistake to reduce a movement to its component parts. Varjrapani Pounds the Mortar is a defense against a right hand strike and ends in a wrist lock and takedown. There are no armbars, no throws, no hidden kicks to the knee, no knees to the groin or punches to the chin. All the elements are part of the single counter attack. Repeated movements like Flip and Whirl the Forearms and Moving Hands are repeated but in actually consist of two counters that are the same, but includes defense against both right hand and left hand punch. 

Guideline #7: Applications Depend on the Basic Principles and Should Be Effortless 

Only proper use of Silk Reeling Energy (chansijin) will make an application work properly.

When used correctly, the application will feel effortless. Most beginners cannot make applications work, especially effortlessly, because they have not mastered Chansijin. If you have to pull, jerk or wrestle with the opponent, chansijin is not being properly applied. Done correctly, it feels like you have done nothing yet the opponent flies across the room. After such an event, it is even common to ask your partner if they are faking because you feel like you have done nothing at all. Having been on the receiving end of a properly executed application, I can assure you that the result is genuine. I have been tossed across the gym by my apprentice who weighs about 100 lbs. She didn’t feel like she had done anything yet there was nothing I could have done to stay on my feet. 

A counter-attack can be enhanced by fajin but should not depend on it. Grappling movements should by done slowly and smoothly. The key is proper positioning, not force. If an application is properly applied, there is nothing the opponent can do to escape. Making a counter work slowly and effortlessly is the proof of a properly deciphered application. Chen Taijiquan uses the concepts of softness, relaxation, proper posture and the spiraling motion of Qi. These qualities are necessary for success. Relying only on fajin alone makes Chen no different from an external style like Shaolin. Obviously kicks and punches should be performed with fajin as doing them slowly all the time is counter productive. Solo form practice provides a safe way to develop and apply explosive energy. 

Be very careful during training because the throws and takedowns of Chen Taijiquan are remarkably vicious. Many of the applications are throws, sweeps, or takedowns and can be very dangerous, even when done slowly. It is essential to practice on mats with someone who knows how to fall. Sometimes even that is not enough. For example, Six Sealing, Four Closings can be quite nasty. Once the arm lock is applied and the opponent is completely bound up, the defender finishes with a press. Because of the position of the opponent is in, the final press is aimed downward at the opponent’s hip. When the press is properly done, the opponent will land on their hip. There is no way for them to properly do a break fall or roll out, The opponent is doomed to land directly on their hip causing maximum damage. Single Whip is another example. Grasping the opponent’s right fingers in a hook hand and spiraling upward creates incredible torque on the arm. Completing the takedown could severely damage to the opponent’s shoulder so in practice is necessary to release the opponents fingers to avoid serious injury. The risk is so great that one should not complete the movement because there is no way one’s partner to fall correctly. Sweeps are especially violent. Whirlwind Kick when applied properly will dump the opponent straight down next to your left leg. Being so effortless one has to be careful not to overdue. Practice slowly at first. If a grappling application requires muscle, speed or explosive energy to work, it is not being performed correctly.

8. The Application Is What It Is, Not What You Want It To Be. 

Forcing a posture to fit a certain scenario is like forcing a round peg into a square hole. You have to keep an open mind when deciphering a movement. For example. practitioners assume that every movement with a closed fist is a strike. Vajrapani Pounds the Mortar and Ape Offers Fruit are often interpreted as strikes. That is not correct. It is very clear in Chen Taijiquan which movements are strikes and which are not. Punches are punches, kicks are kicks and sweeps are sweeps. These are fast movements with fajin. Slow movements are grappling techniques. Chen Taijiquan is a grappling art which is why the moments are done slowly with the emphasis on balance, sinking, and weight distribution. These techniques are joint locks, throws and takedowns. There is no benefit to performing punches and kicks slowly. Once a boxer has learned the proper way to punch, they do not practice in slow motion. It also must be understood that there are no hidden kicks or punches in Chen Taijiquan. Therefore techniques that use a closed fist or raised knee performed slowly are not strikes. If your application ignores these principles then it is not correct. One must allow the application to reveal itself and not try to force it to be something it is not

Guideline #9: Pushing Hands Does Not Teach Applications.

Pushing Hands is a sensitivity exercise and is not the be all and end all of Chen applications. It teaches the essential skills of “listening” and “sticking” and  requires a great deal of time and practice to master. It also allows one to practice the Eight Energies against an opponent. These exercises help to instill the principles of relaxed power that will improve effectiveness of movement applications but they are not applications themselves. Pushing Hands is only a drill albeit an essential one. It is only one component of the Chen Taijiquan system. The purpose of Pushing Hands is to show you the wAeakness in your practice of the routine. Once the weakness is corrected in the form, one goes back to Pushing Hands to confirm the correction and so on. No one practice is more important than the other. Push Hands, while important (and fun) is ultimately still a practice drill. My Filipino Martial Arts teacher used to say: “Learn the drill. Master the drill. Forget the drill” The goal of Chen Taijiquan is to be spontaneous and natural during combat. Pushing Hands is only one component of that journey. It is also important to realize that in a self defense situation, this sensitivity may only be used very briefly. Parrying a punch requires only an instant of contact. Using sensitivity to guide the attack dissipates its energy and allows for the counter attack.

Once a comfortable of Push Hands has been achieved, the student takes the sensitivity and relaxation they developed back to the applications to in order to improve. The correct blending of the two serve to make applications natural and spontaneous. The higher levels of Chen Taijiquan Pushing Hands; Ding Bu (fixed step) Huang Bu (single backward/forward step), Da Lu (moving step, deep stance), Luang Cai Hua (free step, double handed) and San Tui (free pushing) greatly increase one’s sensitivity. While absolutely essential for gaining mastery in Taijiquan, techniques used in Push Hands are not in themselves movement applications.

When attempting to decipher applications it is my belief that if an application will only work  from Pushing Hands position it is not correct. This is what I call “cheating” I have yet to see a bar fight where both combatants began by placing their hands on the elbow and wrist of their opponent. One is more likely to be attacked with a sucker punch. It is here that sensitivity because invaluable to in order to parry and dissolve the attack. Pushing Hands should be viewed as method to increase the effectiveness of applications but it does not teach the applications of the individual movements.  

Over emphasizing Push Hands is a mistake. It is a training exercise not a competition. Most Push Hand competitions quickly dissolve into wrestling matches. If you want to compete in grappling, you would be better off learning Judo or Wrestling.

 One thing to be aware of is that in the Eight Energies, there is no mention of push (tui).The term used is Press (an). Many believe that the goal of Push Hands is to shove the opponent away. This is counter productive as the opponent, if pushed straight back, can easily attack again. Twin Pushing Hands (shuangtuishou) is the only movement that specifically mentions Push and even then the push is designed not to toss the opponent away but to drop him where he stands. If push hands skill is the only thing that matters, why bother learning the form at all? I saw that clearly in my early Taekwondo training. We spent hours learning forms but never used them in actual sparring. The Chen forms contains fighting techniques and these techniques are the core of Chen Taijiquan as a martial art. Push Hands is a valuable tool but it is important to keep it in the proper perspective. 

Many Levels of Mastery

There are many levels to mastering Chen Taijiquan. The first step is to master the basics of Silk Reeling, stances and stepping, etc. Second is learning the empty hand form. From there one can begin to discover the applications. The ultimate goal however is to become formless. Here one does not perform specific applications but rather uses to the principles and techniques to quickly adapt to an attack and then counter it and follow up with a counter attack. At that point, it is difficult to tell which posture is being used.

In conclusion, the Chen Taijiquan forms contain everything you need to know. Practice of the basics and the form will provide all the clues one needs to successfully discover its applications. I sincerely wish all Taijiquan practitioners much success on their journey.