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The Snake Style
System
 The Snake Style System of Yang tai chi is the most martial and
exclusive of the three Yang style forms - crane, tiger and snake.
Grandmaster Yang Sau Chung learned this system from his father, Yang
Chen Fu, and passed it on to his male heir and First Disciple, Ip Tai
Tak.
In turn, Master Ip taught this system to his Disciple, Robert Boyd.
Before his death, Master Ip gave Mr. Boyd permission to teach this
system without prejudice to those who seek a deeper martial
understanding of Yang tai chi.
The Snake Style of tai chi requires great flexibility of the spine,
hips, rib cartilage and internal muscles of the abdomen and upper
thoracic ribs and back. The serpentine movement of the snake style moves
the center of gravity using 'core' muscles. These core muscles strongly
root the foot at the completion of each posture, sending powerful jin
energy through the spine to the hands. The result, over time, is the
legendary 'iron in cotton' phenomenon that gives speed, power and
sensitivity to the hands and arms. This is the key to the successful use
of tai chi in self-defense.
The components of the Snake Style System are:
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Snake Style tai chi chuan
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Snake Style Long Boxing
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Zhan Zhong
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Push Hands
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Broadsword
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Tai Chi Sword
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Spear
The subtleties of the Snake Style System are hardly discernable to
the eye. The hand positions are less extended than the tiger style, and
certain hand positions are angular as opposed to straight ahead. The
snake style also centers the bodyweight 100% on the standing leg,
clearly defining the substantial and insubstantial leg in every stance.
The snake style offers the tai chi practitioner the potential of
great martial prowess. However, the application of flexible strength in
performing the snake style, including the animation of the spine and
core muscles, make the snake style also a powerful exercise for health
and longevity.
Common misconceptions about the Snake Style
There are many misconceptions
regarding the snake style that I would like to correct. First, the snake
style is not the tiger style done very low. The concept of ‘snake’
refers to the manner in which one moves in tai chi. Movements in the
Snake Style originate in the trunk of the body, not in the legs.
Secondly, the snake style is not
dangerous to practice. I suffered two major injuries in my body by
practicing the tiger style. One was an SI joint injury that came from
tucking my tail bone (very bad and incorrect idea). The other was a
rotator cuff injury resulting from dropping my shoulders forward in an
attempt to (mistakenly) apply ‘hollowing the chest’. Practicing the
Snake Style has been very therapeutic for both injuries and both have
greatly improved thanks to practicing Grandmaster Ip’s tai chi.
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