Possibly Grandmaster Sun, the founder of Sun Style Taiji, demonstrating Xing Yi Quan poses. Author unknown.

Introduction

I have done a tiny bit of Sun style Taiji and wanted to pull together some notes for other beginners in this style.

If you are mostly interested in watching a high quality modern production of the classic Sun style form, then skip toward the bottom of the article to the video of Master Faye Yip. The other examples presented, particularly from the Sun family are included for historical completeness.

Note of caution: some of the videos included below reference their number of steps (98, 97, 73 etc.). Rightly or wrongly, I am currently ignoring these distinctions.

Sun Style Taiji

The Sun-style tai chi (Chinese: 孙氏太极拳; pinyin: Sūn shì tàijíquán) is one of the five primary styles of tai chi. It is well known for its smooth, flowing movements which omit the more physically vigorous crouching, leaping and fa jin of some other styles. Its gentle postures and high stances make it very suitable for martial arts therapy.

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun-style_tai_chi

Most modern styles trace their development to the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu, and Sun. Practitioners such as Yang Chengfu and Sun Lutang in the early 20th century promoted the art for its health benefits.

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi#

Sun Lutan (1860-1933) - founder

He was also well-versed in two other internal martial arts: xingyiquan and baguazhang before he came to study tai chi. His expertise in these two martial arts were so high that many regarded him as without equal.

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Lutang

He was an exponent of…

Neijia (內家) is the collective name for the internal Chinese martial arts. It relates to those martial arts occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects. The distinction dates to the 17th century, but its modern application is due to publications by Sun Lutang, dating to the period of 1915 to 1928. Neijin is developed by using neigong or "internal changes", contrasted with waigong (外功; wàigōng) or "external exercises”.

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neijia

Sun Jianyun (1913-2003) - daughter

With additional Xing Yi, Bagua and sword material (video via Mushin Martial Culture)…

Sun Shurong (1918-) - granddaughter by Sun Cunzhou

See https://www.suntaichi.com/sun-shurong for biographical information and the following link for a list of the moves in the traditional long form https://www.suntaichi.com/training/tai-chi-form (the video shown above is also included at the bottom of that page).

Master Faye Yip

A modern and beautiful version from the front…

Unknown practitioner

Nice additional version, shot from behind. Athletic, longer steps, lower stances.

Image Credits

Portrait of the chinese tai chi master Sun Lutang (1860-1933), circa 1930, mingtuotupian.com, Unknown author

Sun style Taijiquan