List it HERE!

JOIN THE SUN STYLE
FORUM / DISCUSSION GROUP !!

To connect with Sun Style practitioners worldwide . . . Click here.

[ T'ai Chi, Qigong (Chi Kung) ]




FIND links to National and International Association Sites
of this Style of T'ai Chi:

FIND links to individual Schools
of this Style of T'ai Chi:

Sun style is the youngest of the major styles, it was created by Sun Lu-tang (1861-1932) whose daughter Sun Jian-yun is still living in Beijing. Sun was a well-known exponent of the Xingyiquan and Baguaquan (two famous internal martial art styles) before he learnt Tai Chi. In 1912 Sun happened to run into Hoa Weizheng (see Hoa style) who was sick. Without knowing who Hoa was, Sun kindly took care of Hao by finding him a hotel to rest a good doctor to treat him. After Hoa recovered from his illness he stayed in Sun's house and taught him Tai Chi.

It was said that Sun had only spent a relatively short period of time learning it and had subsequently incorporated his expertise of Xingyiquan and Baguaquan to create his own style.

Sun Style is characterised by agile steps. Whenever one foot moves forward or backwards the other foot follows. Its movements flow smoothly like water or cloud. Whenever you turn there is an opening and closing movement, which is a powerful Qigong exercise. Sun Style has a high stance.

The good points of Sun style are that it contains much Qigong, which is effective for relaxation and healing. The higher stance makes it more suitable for older people to learn. It is characterised by moving frequently or more mobility, making it especially suitable for people with arthritis.

A Published Study: Tai Chi for Arthritis

By: Rhayun Song, Eun-Ok Lee, Paul Lam, Sang-Cheol Ba

Published in the September 2003 issue of "The Journal of Rheumatology." (Abstract available online)

Title:

Effects of tai chi exercise on pain, balance, muscle strength, and physical functioning in older women with osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial

Authors:

Rhayun Song, Eun-Ok Lee, Paul Lam, Sang-Cheol Bae

Objective:

Twelve forms of Sun-style tai chi exercise have been developed specifically to reduce the pain and stiffness, and improve quality of life for people with arthritis. This randomized study examined the changes in pain, stiffness and physical functions (ability to do daily tasks) in older women with osteoarthritis (OA) at the completion of a 12-week tai chi exercise program.

Methods:

72 patients with OA were randomly assigned into 2 groups. 22 experimental subjects and 21 controls completed pre- and post-test measures over a 12-week interval. Outcome measurements were physical symptoms and fitness, body mass index, cardiovascular functioning, and perceived difficulties in physical functioning. The independent t test was used to examine group differences.

Results:

Compared to the control group the tai chi group had 35% less pain, 29% less stiffness, 29% more ability to perform daily tasks (like climbing stairs), as well as improved abdominal muscles and better balance. No significant group differences were found in flexibility and upper-body or knee muscle strength in the post-test scores.

Conclusion:

Older women with OA were able to safely perform the 12 forms of Sun-style tai chi exercise for 12 weeks, and this was effective in improving their symptoms, balance, and physical functioning.

Author affiliations:

Rhayun Song, RN, PhD, Associate professor, Soonchunhyang University, South Korea

Eun-Ok Lee, RN, DNS, Professor, Seoul National University, South Korea

Paul Lam, MD, Family physician, Tai Chi teacher, and conjoint lecturer, University of NSW, Australia

Sang-Cheol Bae, MD, PhD, MPH, Associate professor, The Hospital for Rheumatic Disease, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea

Grant supporter: Supported by the Korea Research Foundation (Grant no. 2000-042-F00100), Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Dr. S-C. Bae, The Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul 133-792, South Korea. E-mail: scbae@hanyang.ac.kr

Email us at:
wtcqd2000@aol.com
include your homepage's
url with our link on it, or just
send your url (declaring if
it is for a National
Organization for this
Style, or an individual
School of this styles link.)