Sun Style
Sun style Tai Chi is the most recent of all the family styles and was created by a proficient martial artist Sun Lutang (1861-1932). By the time he came to learn Tai Chi, Sun Lutang was already adept in two other internal Chinese martial arts - Ba Gua and Xing Yi and had already proven himself in external styles.
Much like his Tai Chi predecessor Yang Lu Chan, Sun Lutang began his life from humble origins. He was born into a poor farmer's family and when his father died it passed to Sun to provide for the family. He was sent to work for a wealthy landowner who treated him terribly, forcing the young and poorly Sun to work without pay, receiving only food in compensation. When he found the opportunity to study Heng Gung Shaolin Kung Fu with a local master, Sun proved a dedicated and fast learning student. Consequently, he was sacked from his job when he injured a member of the landowner's family in self-defence. The young martial artist returned home impoverished and rather than burden his mother, he often sought out wild vegetables to eat while he continued his martial arts practice. A solution was found and Sun was sent to live with his uncle. It was there that he met an instructor of the Chinese internal martial art Xing-Yi by the name of Li Kuiyuan. Li sent him to train with his own master, Kuo Yenshen, and after 8 years of dedicated practice, Sun Lutang graduated in Xing-Yi.
Now a career martial artist, Sun sought out another Chinese internal martial art, Bagua. He trained with the renowned master Cheng Tinghua. As an already advanced martial artist, Sun completed his training in just three years.
A chance meeting led him to Tai Chi master Hao Weichen. The old master was in unfamiliar territory, away from his friends and had been taken ill, laid up in an inn. Despite not knowing him, Sun Lutang took meticulous care of the convalescing Tai Chi master, nursing him to health. In gratitude, Hao Weichen taught all he knew of Tai Chi to Sun.
In a unique position as master of three internal arts, Sun Lutang synthesised his knowledge into the art of Sun style Tai Chi Chuan. In addition to his martial knowledge, Sun Lutang was a reputed scholar of Neo-Confucianism and Taoism. Furthermore, he was an expert in the I-Ching, the ancient Chinese system of Cosmology and Philosophy derived from the 3000 year old Book of Changes.
Sun Lutang brought Bagua's circular footwork and Xing-Yi's hand techniques, together with Tai Chi's constant flowing movement. Sun style Tai Chi uses a high posture that is easy on the knees and an open hand throughout the main form. The flowing, graceful Sun style omits sharp movements and jumping, making it an ideal style for old and young practitioners alike. Its health benefits inspired a 32 posture form for the US Arthritis foundation, created by Australian Tai Chi teacher Dr. Paul Lam.