The Core Pillars
Cheng Man-Ch’ing taught three foundational components of Tai Chi:
Tai Chi Chuan
The slow, continuous practice of 37 postures, known as “meditation in movement.”
Push Hands (Tui Shou)
A partnered exploration of unity with another person where our work with a partner teaches us about our balance, ability to relax, our rootedness and how to listen to ourself as well as someone else
Tai Chi Jian (Sword)
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A graceful exercise using a Tai Chi double edged sword that cultivates lively dance-like movements and the ability to extend one’s awareness beyond their fingertips.
A Living Tradition
Professor Cheng Man-Ch’ing (1902–1975) was a Chinese master of five excellences - medicine, painting, calligraphy, poetry, and tai chi. He is widely credited with bringing Tai Chi Chuan to the West, arriving in New York in the 1960s to teach both Chinese and Western students.
To make the practice more accessible, he developed a 37-posture short form derived from the Yang-style long form. This condensed version preserved the art’s internal richness while allowing modern students to learn and integrate it more easily into daily life.
Professor Cheng emphasized not just physical technique, but inner stillness, uprightness, and relaxation. His form is known for its softness, calm pace, and meditative presence.
