staff, swords, halberd, mace, and sickles, but the manuals specifically described training for spear (枪, qiāng), staff (棍, gùn), broadsword (saber)(刀, dāo), and straight sword (剑, jiàn). Existing Chen Village Forms Two-Path Curriculum Today, the two-path curriculum is the basis of training for all branches of Chen-style taijiquan. Each path is generally trained by a single form, known simply as the First Form (Yi Lu), less commonly called, the Thirteen Movements (十三势, Shísān shì), and the Second Form (Er Lu), also called Cannon Fist (炮捶, Pào Chuí). Each path takes a contrasting approach to training. The Yilu begins to train the student in principles specific to Taijiquan. It focuses on the essentials of steps, stances, and movement; internal development including silk reeling training; how to use the mind to engage the body to move oneself according to Taijiquan principles. The method of training application on this path, push hands, teaches how to control an opponent through yielding, attaching, redirection, manipulation, grappling, breaking structure and other skills to render the opponent unable to counterattack effectively when martial and weapon techniques are used later in training. Push hands has evolved over time from training to test and improve the proper usage of taijiquan to a contest between practitioners to a form of sport fighting mostly divorced from its roots in taijiquan. Erlu (Second Path) training usually starts after the student is proficient in Yilu. Erlu focuses on expressing the internal skills cultivated during Yilu training; its applications contain more striking, jumping, lunging, and more athletic movements. Whereas in Yilu, the body was used to lead the hand (以身领手, yǐ shēn lǐng shǒu), in Erlu, the hand is used to lead the body (以手领身, yǐ shǒu lǐng shēn). In appearance, Erlu form is often executed faster and is more explosive than the Yilu. The intent is focused on defending one’s life, so each posture is training for a strike or break rather than a grapple and the technique uses the energies of smaller and smaller circles. Although the Cannon Fist form, is accurately taught in many traditions, very few teach Erlu self-defense skills, and then, usually only to a few trusted students. In some training traditions today, both forms may be used to train each curriculum path. Frames - Large and Small, Old and New Within the Chen Family, there are three main variants (frames) of Chen forms that are being practiced today.