Chen Taiji Practical Method and Hunyuan Taiji on Daqingshan Mountain
To experience “two ceilings”, wedge your thigh under a picnic table, push upward against the table, then, you have the “waist ceiling.” If you don’t have the “waist ceiling,” you don’t have the “crown ceiling” either.
(In the photo: Marvin Glotfelty)
When I first heard Master Chen said “not-on not-off” in push hand a few years ago, I thought it was impossible. We either push (on), or not push (off). Through years of training, I slowly come to understand that “not-on not-off” is the result of “peng”, or Yin Yang separation.
A few days ago, after I wrote about stepping training by hugging a tree, I dreamed about a new exercise to help students experiencing “not-on not-off” by pushing a tree. Read more
In Practical Method, when we want to move foot forward, back, or side, we need to have the weight shift to the supporting leg and “pump” the other leg out. In other words, the leg which is moving out will not interfere the whole body balance. It’s independent from the rest of the body. It can move freely. The taiji terminology for this is “Chan Chu” (Shovel out). Read more
The way of learning and training Tai Chi is different by different people. I am a kind of slow learner. Realizing that, it actually helped me overall. Read more
I am so happy that Master Chen will visit Phoenix on Nov. 10 and 11 (Saturday and Sunday, based on most recent update). If people from out of town would like to visit and join us, I can host two more people in my house. Can’t wait.
Did Yilu on the ship while cruising on St Lawrence River. The deck was rocking, the wind was blowing. The condition for Tai Chi was very difficult. I lost balance in the very first a few moves in the first try.
It was a beautiful morning in Phoenix, Arizona. Went to my Tai Chi class at 7:30am. Adam, Read more
For those who attended Master Chen’s workshops, we all have this experience. When Master Chen demonstrated any push hand technique, he executed it crisply clean and looked so simple. Then, everybody tried to copy the technique, but didn’t work. In my recent classes, I start to realize the techniques are only valid (or more efficient) when you have the split of Yin and Yang.
New Year’s day, a beautiful sunny day in Phoenix, Arizona. Today’s training theme is Yin and Yang split.
I’m still at the “slow” phase.
第一勢 金剛搗碓(1) 只一勢言太極蔭陽之理皆具 Read more
“虛領頂勁“ is one of many Tai Chi principles. 虛 means void, which really has misled many people.
Marvin, Gerry, Peter, and Ping. Yilu first 13 moves.
Ping Wei is one of Master Chen Zhonghua’s indoor disciples. He lives and teaches Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method in Phoenix, AZ. USA.
August 28, 6:30am, Phoenix, AZ. Temp: 35 C. Read more
A simple exercise we did this morning is to experience pushing by not pushing (forward).
Gerry (left) and Ron (right)
When Master Chen visited Phoenix from Jan 31 to Feb 3, 2011, he introduced this new exercise to me. When you do the circles, put a yoga block between your knee and the wall, and use your knee to push very hard against the block. So, when you start to do circles, your knee is stationary. Your kua opens! Try it with the block, try it without. Eventually, you can do the circles without moving your front knee.The function of this block is that it allows free push of the body and kua forward and yet, the force transmits to the ground from the knee. Without it, the force applied forward will go out from the knee and not into the ground. Taiji movements require that force only goes to the ground, impact goes into the opponent. This is another aspect of the yin yang separation. Many people are aware of this principle and yet they cannot produce the effect. The reason is because they do not have a physical way of actualizing the theory. This is one of the special abilities of Master Chen Zhonghua. He believes, like his master Hong Junsheng, that in learning one must not trust themselves. They should find ways to ensure what is believed is actually done. 
In this excise, I have seen Master Chen teach the principle of not moving the knee before and have also seen that everyone was moving the knee right in front of him (Master Chen). The reason, Master Chen said, is because people tend to believe in what they feel. They FEEL that their knees don’t move but in reality the knees move a lot. The introduction of the block in between the knee and the wall is a personal invention of Master Chen, I believe. But the important point is that the use of this simple device actually keeps us closer to what Hong Junsheng taught. I tried it for less than a month, now I can get the same feeling about my qua and knee when doing circles without the yoga block. To keep the front knee not moving is important. To push forward without moving (forward). I urge practitioners to find ways to “force” our body to do what we believe we should do; not just believing we are doing it. This is true “Body and Mind” connection!
I treasure every learning opportunity if I go to see Master Chen or he comes to stay with me (in Phoenix, Arizona). Unfortunately, I am such a slow learner, I won’t get sudden enlightenment. My goal of attending workshops is to learn one thing at a time. Read more
Wednesday Night Class in Phoenix
