anyone train in it? How does it compare?

Are you torking about Chang Tungshen (Zhang Dungshen) of shuaijiao. It is one of the better methods because it has obvious martial qualities incorporating shuaijiao. Zhang Dungshen only knew shuaijiao and he bested General Li and this began the cooperatin of the two styles.

If you are talking about Chang Tung Sheng's style--Chang-Shih Tai Chi Chuan--I have been studying for about ten years and I am very happy because I feel that I am in a good martial tradition of Tai Chi. Our school does Chi Kung, forms, push-hands patterns, Da Lu and San Shou, but we also have some students who compete in Shuaijiao and Lei Tai tournaments and who pretty regularly beat the crap out of eachother . We are not a school bent on putting out the next Ultimate Fighter or All-Asia Champion--we are mostly average folk--but we make a decent showing for ourselves, I think. It's a great martial tradition and I love it .

One thing though--I never was clear on where the heck General Li's Tai Chi came from--anyone know? Looks to have been a medium frame Yang, but I'm just speculating from what I've learned and read...

I believe General Li's Taijiquan was Yang style.

Thanks for the response, Tim, and thanks for the great site--it is one of my favorites to visit. Anyone know any specifics about who General Li's Taijiquan teacher or teachers were? It's just pure curiosity on my part--Chang's Tai Chi is great no matter who General Li learned from...

Found a few different sites that say that General Li's teacher was probably Chien Hou (and possibly Pan Hou also) because Chien Hou was the only person who ever beat Li with a sword. They also imply that Li may have had a hand in helping formalize the Yang family Jin form. However--as is often said on these boards--none of us were there...

I'd love to see some discussion of Chang-Shih Tai Chi Chuan (no politics or "only so-and-so recieved Chang's full transmission and/or blessing", please!). Since I have posted with obnoxious frequency, I'll try to refrain until someone else contributes .

As Tim noted, Chang tai is Yang style and it follows the style faithfully. The only difference is that the endpoints of posture is where the applications of shuaijiao are manifested. As u c , all style have politics. some more than others. Chang had many students along with one of his being Daniel Weng. YOu can search. Seach Daniel Weng, Peter Chema, Gene Chicoine. Agian beware of politics!