Cheng Hsin Degree System
The Cheng Hsin Martial syllabus is divided into eight degrees.
The first 6 degrees are each further subdivided into 5 levels . In total there are 30 levels. Once a student has passed all the 5 individual levels in a degree, they are then ready to be tested for that degree.
Each degree is accumulative: the material in each prior degree must be demonstarted at a higher level in the next degree. For example, to pass a degree 3 test, the student must demonstrate all the degree 1, 2 and 3 material at a degree 3 level.
The requirements for the first 6 degrees are listed below:
DEGREE ONE
Level 1:
Falls:
Squat rolls
Stepping back
Side step with slap
Forward: Kneeling
Backward: Kneeling
Stationary Four Corners
Stationary Leading Rollback
Push*
Whole Body Neutralizations
Level 2:
Basic Routine
Rollback Variations:
Roll Off Rollback
Roll Off Escape
Inside Rollback
Leaning Rollback
Shoulder Sluff
Dynamic Four Corners
Level 3:
Press Uproot*
Ward Off
Straight Pull
Elbow Pull*
Basic Spiral*
Level 4:
Cheng Hsin T’ai Chi Mini-Set (12 moves on both sides)
Cheng Hsin Body-Being Basics (5 Principles, 7 Points)
Level 5:
Folding In
Game F
Yielding
Game A
Pressure-No pressure
DEGREE TWO
Level 6:
Pa Sik Po
Falls:
Forward: Standing
Backward: Standing
Standing breakfall
Rolling breakfall
Pin Foot Throw Ex.
Roll Down*
Inside Wrist Technique*
Level 7:
Turn Out Projections*
Centrifugal*
Pull Through
Spiral Down *
Pull Down * and pin #1
Armpit Spiral Down *
Level 8:
Brush Knee Projection *
Body Throw *
Outside Foot Sweep/Foot Propping
Pa Kua Techniques:
Opening the Door Entrance
Revolving Door Entrance
Basic Blend
Changes
Level 9:
Spiral Extension*
Inside Foot Sweep
Turn Out Follow Up:
Shoulder Stroke
Bounce
Inside Wrist Follow Up:
Corkscrew into the body
Inside Wrist Counters:
Spiral Down
Slapping the Rock
Game B / Game O
Intrinsic Strength Practice; Outreaching; Following
Level 10:
Cheng Hsin T’ai Chi Set (64 moves)
DEGREE THREE
Level 11:
Brush Knee Pull*
Holding the Palm Pull
Drop Back Spiral Extension*
Horizontal Spiral Down *
Shoulder Throw *
Level 12:
High Pat Spiral Extension *
Circular Spiral Extension
Elbow Splitting:
Raise Hands*
Dynamic Body*
Elbow Twisting* and pin #4
Level 13:
Spinning Brush Stroke* and pin #2
Central Spiral Drop
Spinning Spiral Drop
Downward Wrist Technique (and pin #4)
Kneeling Spiral Down* and pin #3
Level 14:
Inside Leg Sweep
Elbow Twist Counters:
Elbow Escape -- Snake Creeps Down
Horizontal Spiral Down
Armwrap Spiral Counter
Downward Wrist Counter:
"Become the Sword" (and spiral down)
Hi Pat Follow up:
Spiral Extension (Reversal)
Roll Down Counter:
Drop Back: counter to roll down attempt
Level 15:
High Flip Breakfall
Rolldown Flip
Inside Wrist Flip
Armpit Flip
Game C / Game J
Wu Tsan Ch’un (Misty Body Boxing)
Interactive Skills: Yielding, Outreaching, Following, Joining, Leading, Folding, Intrinsic Strength
Improved Freeplay/Sets/Body-Being: Ball and Chain, HUYD, Extension
DEGREE FOUR
Level 16:
Hand Sacrifice Throw
Backward Spiral Extension *
Outside Wrist Technique and pin #5
Outside Leg Lift*
Body Corner Throw*
Level 17:
Inside Leg Lift*
Bent Leg Lift*
Major Outside Foot Sweep/Rear
Floating Hip Throw (Uki Goshi)
Follow Up: Shoulder Throw (attempting Pa Kua blend)
Level 18:
Circular Press
Shifting Push
Elbow Splitting Throw
Rear Leg Lift*
Spiral Upward Wrist Technique and pin #6
Brush Stroke*/Turning in/Turning out
Follow Up: Spinning Brush Stroke (counter to spinning out escape)
Level 19:
Opening Spiral Drop
Rotating Spiral Drop
Wrap Around Sacrifice Throw
Rear Sacrifice Throw
Outside Wrist Counters:
Become the Sword Variation
Spiral Extension
Spiral Upward Wrist Counters:
Spinning Brush Stroke
Spiral Extension
Level 20:
Freeplay
Sword Set and Sword Play
Improved Sets/Body-Being: Waterdrop, 8 Attitudes, Intrinsic Strength
Skills: Advantageous, Cutting, Borrowing, Joining variations, Leading variations
DEGREE FIVE
Level 21:
Circular Spiral Drop
Foot Assist Sacrifice Throw
Kneeling Corner Throw
Wrap Around Throw (Makikomi)
Level 22:
Standing Corner Throw
Sacrifice Corner Throw
Foot Sacrifice Throw
Level 23:
Rear Hip Throw (Ushiro Goshi)
Scooping Throw (Sukui Nage)
Body Drop (Taiotoshi)
Neutralizing Kicks:
Spiral Down -- Low
Backward Spiral Extension -- Slanting Flying
Spinning Spiral Drop
Horizontal Spiral Extension
Open Response
Level 24:
San Shou
Open Attacks/Multi-person Attacks
Choy Lin: T'ui Shou with strikes
Basic Ontology (written exam)
Level 25:
All skills/All Techniques
DEGREE SIX
Level 26:
Cheng Hsin Sets
Level 27:
All Techniques
Level 28:
Cheng Hsin T’ui Shou — Create 10 Techniques
Level 29:
Cheng Hsin Skills
Level 30:
Cheng Hsin Huan Sheng