Cheng Ming seal emblem Cheng MingInternal Martial Arts
Cheng Ming International Kung Fu · September 2022 update, Taiwan

Grading Syllabus

The official Cheng Ming grading syllabus, set by Grand Master Wang Fu-Lai and Grand Master Huang Shu-Chun. Content is tested in each country, but certification comes from Taiwan.

The path

Ten levels, four sashes

Level 1Tai Chi Chuan 100 Form — section 1Nei Gung (Stand Form) — set 1: positions 1–5Blue Sash
Level 2Tai Chi Chuan 100 Form — section 2Blue Sash · 1 black dot
Level 3Tai Chi Chuan 100 Form — section 3Blue Sash · 2 black dots
Level 4Tai Chi Chuan 100 Form — section 4aNei Gung (Stand Form) — set 2: positions 6–13Green Sash
Level 5Tai Chi Chuan 100 Form — section 4bTway So (Push Hands) — level 1Green Sash · 1 black dot
Level 6Tai Chi Chuan 100 Form — section 5Tway So (Push Hands) — level 2Green Sash · 2 black dots
Level 7Tai Chi Chuan 100 Form — section 6Tway So (Push Hands) — level 3Red Sash
Level 8Tai Chi Sword 52 Form — section 1Red Sash · 1 black dot
Level 9Tai Chi Sword 52 Form — section 2Red Sash · 2 black dots
Level 10 Instructor Level Tai Chi Form performed in no less than 25 minutes 13 Nei Gung stand forms, each held for a minimum of 2 minutes Stand Form “Alleluiah” Applicant must be able to conduct a class Black Sash applicants complete all of the above with a high level of skill Black Sash

Any Black Sash ranking student who does not attend classes for four months or longer will be required to re-sit competencies to their appropriate level.

Tested at grading

General syllabus

Tai Chi

  • Stand Forms, Sets 1 & 2
  • Tai Chi Form
  • Tai Chi Sword Form
  • Tway So (Push Hands) — all 8, no applications
  • Da Liew

Xing Yi Chuan (Hsing I)

  • 5 Elements
  • 9 Animals
  • Shang Sun (creation) — five elements combined into form
  • Lian Huan (linking)
  • Ba Shi (posting)
  • Er Shi Si Guai — short stick
  • Jian — sword
  • Gun — staff / long pole
  • Qiang (Spear) — drills 1 & 2

Ba Gua

  • Circle or Figure 8 walking
  • Ba Mu Zhang — Eight Mother Palms
  • Lian Huan Zhang — Earth · Bu Fa (Xia Pan), way of footwork
  • You Shen Zhang — Heaven · Shen Fa, way of body movements
  • Bian Huan Zhang — Man · Shou Fa, way of hand movements
  • Ba Gua Dan Lian Fa — eight diagram hand drills
  • Feng Yu Zhang — Wind & Cloud
  • Ba Gua Staff — long pole
  • Ba Gua Double Sword
Beyond Black Sash

Instructor levels

All students must be Inner Door students to attain Tai Chi, Hsing I and Ba Gua Instructor levels — the advanced stages of transmission within the lineage.

Tai Chi Instructor

  • General Syllabus
  • Stand Form “Alleluiah”

Xing Yi Chuan Instructor

  • General Syllabus
  • Ji Xing Si Ba — Rooster
  • Shi Er Heng Chuan — Twelve Crossing Fists
  • Za Shi Chui — Combination
  • 3 extra animals
  • Qun Yang Jian — special (advanced) sword form
  • Wu Lu Gun — five-route staff
  • Qiang (Spear) — all 5 drills and form
  • San Dian Shou — Lightning Hands

Ba Gua Instructor

  • General Syllabus
  • Ba Gua Gun — staff / long pole
  • Ba Gua Shuang Jian — double sword
Certification

Held to the Taiwan standard

The Cheng Ming system is a virtuous art form in the realm of the Chinese martial arts.

The content of each grading may be tested in each country, but certification comes from Taiwan. All internationally graded students must visit Taiwan to train at least every two years, otherwise qualifications will be considered null and void.

See the full curriculum & lineage