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While observing my training, Master Chen explained that I had slack in my foundation exercise. He went on to clarify that when I was in a posture and started the transition to another posture the tension/stretch was lost. This stretch must be maintained even if one is letting a joint adjust. Master Chen used the example of the elbow, the section below the elbow must be like a stick, and the section above the elbow must also not be slack. To elaborate, Master Chen said to think of a car. Even though the gears rotate, the physical structure of the car is solid. He said that this concept of removing the slack must be used on all parts of the body so that in push hands you will not collapse under the push of your opponent.

Next, Master Chen spoke on posture. He was pointing out the delicate balance of where the knee placement was relative to foot on the front leg. During this demonstration I made a learning error which I will share for the benefit of readers:

Master Chen was showing me specifically the placement of the front leg, pointing to the front leg to make that clear. After I was convinced that I had an image of how his leg was positioned, I moved around to get another perspective of the overall posture, this is a mistake. Master Chen pointed out that he was specifically making sure that the front leg was correct so that we could learn from the placement. He went on to say that he may even sacrifice some other aspects of his posture to make sure the single point is demonstrated as accurately as possible, so if we as observers look elsewhere we may be copying an incorrect body position.

Specific to the posture, Master Chen demonstrated when the knee was too far back how there was an inability to get full power out of the front lower leg muscles (Tibialis anterior, and Extensor digitorum longus from what I felt). When the knee was bent too far forward, Master Chen demonstrated the inability to get a bite (also resulting on the muscles not engaging). Once the position was correct, he demonstrated that a bite could be obtained, and this could be felt through the Master Chen’s leg muscles.

Today, Master Chen covered Foundations and provided corrections on Twisting the Towel.

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Today Master Chen provided partial Yilu corrections.

Master Chen demonstrated the Positive Circle today.

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In this lesson the following students recieved Yilu corrections:

• John Upshaw
• Brennan Toh
• Dina Kerr Read more

Master and Kelvin Ho provided instructions and corrections on Six Sealing Four Closing today.

Six Sealing Four Closing – Kelvin Ho

– Hand does not move. Dantian initiates the action. Kua lines up with elbow. Rotate the dantian to push the kua out.

– To connect the rear leg through the kua to the front arm. We don’t want the upper body there.

– Create a line from the front arm to the rear foot.

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倒手 Dao Shou

Master and Kelvin Ho explained, demonstrated and gave examples of Dao Shou.
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Master and Kelvin Ho provided instructions and corrections on the double negative circle. (1) Fist draping over body (2) Double push down.

Master gave a physical example: hold a stick to cross a door that is 3 feet wide and 6 feet tall.
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Master Chen Zhonghua’s Toronto Workshop March 2020-3
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 9 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:2/5 At: Toronto, Canada

Movement is yin, and structure is yang. Master Chen demonstrated what that meant in this video. There were also other discussions on yin-yang theory, which requires constant practice and understanding.

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These are my notes from the 2 hour lesson Master Chen did on twist towel.  I missed the beginning of the lesson, so if anyone could fill in the gaps I would appreciate it.

• Redirect lightning through you to the ground

• When doing twist towel, lock the 2 ends, move the middle.

• We can’t actually not move the head, we are not open enough, but we try to move the head only 1 unit; the kua moves 3 units. (Something moves 2 units. I missed this.)

• the kua moves the hands. Like moving a book on the table. The book doesn’t move by itself.

• Our body has a tendency that every body part likes to follow the other body parts, but it’s just tossing

• You need to have independent moves

• When you hammer a nail, the swing is a swing, the straight line is a straight line. The hammer swings, the nail goes in straight.

• E.g. a kid jumping to reach a basketball net. They run fast, then stop under the net and jump up to reach it. They don’t use the run and convert it into a vertical jump

• Thrust is still there. Convert your run to the movement forward

• The vertical move is designed to power your arm

• First we try with bending at the waist forward and backward, but actually, it’s a vertical move

• The shoulder goes down, the heel pumps to move the kua up towards the shoulder

• We all need to re-calibrate. We think we are doing everything with the kua. Actually we are doing very little.

• Your hand is tied to your opponent

• Your kua needs to go to your elbow, not your shoulder

• This is a characteristic of our system. There are 3 parts to each move so it can apply to any body part

• Power comes from the kua, there are no individual moves

• Zhuo. Connect between kua and elbow. It means clutch.  Or to adhere.

• First we train to isolate body parts so that they don’t affect each other. Then they must be able to engage and disengage

• it is exactly gears

• The centre cannot move, you can’t reach out, you only extend

• This is the connection we want: the opponent is on your foot

• Kua very big, shoulder is zero

• During training; foot to kua to elbow to hand, this is the alignment

• During Push hands, when you touch your opponent; hand to elbow to kua to floor. Your opponent feels it on their foot.

• This was a characteristic when you touch grandmaster Hong. You touch him and you immediately feel like you’re floating, or something is wrong with your shoes

• Energy alignment (? I missed this)

• Application is 用法

• 打法 is free fighting

• The kua is the semi opposite of the hand. The foot is the complete opposite of the hand

• At first, when you begin learning, you use your kua to mirror the opponent’s hand.

• Then as you get better, use your foot to mirror your opponent’s hand. You mirror from below, so your movement is much bigger than your opponent’s move

Master Chen and Kelvin Ho provided instructions and corrections on the following Negative Circle procedure.

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It’s the fourth year since we started the European Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Meet-Up Series. It continues this year close to Żywiec, Poland on September 12/13th. This years host is Damian Jagosz, who is a very dedicated student of our style.

4th European Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Meetup. This year in Żywiec, Poland.

Learning from Master Chen is a unique experience. One of the most striking things he said during our first day was I give you instructions and you don’t follow it. I didn’t take notes. I made no recording. I took no photos. I cannot describe the form or the details of the foundation drills that we practised. Would I remember anything from the workshop far less follow it? At the end as we were saying goodbye I asked his advice. He said write about the workshop. Read more

Hi Master  Chen Zhonghua,

Is it possible to contact Shen Xinpei: Shen Guanglong Sword Maker directly? I would be honored to order a sword with specifications. Moreover, if you are in contact with him I would appreciate your help. Read more

(Click here to see video)

Student: Why can’t the cormorant swallow the eel?

Master:

A) Don’t play with your food! The cormorant should stop tickling the eel and just swallow it.
B) The cormorant is eel.
C) The cormorant can’t get behind the eel.

D) A, B, and C.

The master continued:

The truth is, the eel must have studied this video: Switching in the positive circle.

Liu Yaokun started on Feb 2, 2020, and learned move 5 to 15 and most of the foundations over weekly video-conferencing sessions.

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Hi everyone! I’m Susanna Chwang, a Toronto disciple of Master Chen. I have been training Practical Method Taiji for 8 years.  The first annual Toronto Practical Method Tournament (affiliated with the Toronto District School Board Intramural Sports Program) was held on December 19, 2019. Children of all ages and every grade participated, some as young as 4 years old!
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Yilu completed since last video: 200

Areas of focus in the last month:

• Keeping the front kua up
• Straightening the hips to pull the shoulder over the kua
• Opening the kua by connecting directly to the foot and bypassing the knee

Areas to work on next:

• Sinking shoulder into kua
• Keeping hands on the line
• Do not retreat with torso during elbow in

Training Log for Prior Month

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In the previous section I covered The  4 Essential Taijiquan Techniques, which included Peng, Lu, Ji & An.  I left that lesson on here for review and quick reference.  In this finial section, part 3, I will cover The 4 Corner/Auxiliary Techniques, which include Cai, Lie, Zhou & Kao.  It is located after section 2.   Subsequent information from Master Chen’s writing will also be included in the descriptions. For those that are interested, I will moderate a Zoom discussion about all 3 sections this coming Sunday July 5th at 8 am CST. If you want to attend and can’t, please message me and we can set up a private Zoom session.

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I have recently started re-reading Chen Style Taijiquan Practical method Vol. One: Theory by Hong Junsheng Shi Gong as translated by Chen Zhonghua Shifu. Not cover to cover…just browsing/scannng through while locking on to some points.

As I was doing this I noticed that I was enjoying the book more than in the past.I think one of the reasons is that as one matures in any special skill/art…understanding at a new level is achieved. And so clarity is pleasant.Of course this is an endless path. Otherwise it might not be worth the time & effort needed to aquire the higher levels.
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Since January 2017, I have been teaching Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method at Paradise Valley Community College (Phoenix, Arizona) every Monday and Wednesday as a one credit class. I started just one class per semester (Spring and Fall) plus summer session. From January 2019 on, my Tai Chi class was split into two classes. One for total beginners, the other for returning students. More important, I developed a core group of Tai Chi students we meet outside of college and consistently meet every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings (one hour) at Roadrunner Park. So, this core group of 10 students would practice at least 5 time a week. Some I know practice every day. Read more

For this Online Video Class, I will be examining the contents in a segmented manner.  In this classic video, Master Chen descriptively teaches the 8 Techniques in Taijiquan.  In this 1st segment of the online video class, I will cover the Basic Energies in Taiji Applications.  In the 2nd segment I will cover The 4 Essential Taijiquan Techniques, which include Peng, Lu, Ji & An.  In the last segment I will cover The 4 Corner/Auxiliary Taijiquan Techniques, which include Cai, Lie, Zhou & Kao.

This video is definitely worth taking the time to thoroughly investigate and gain an understanding of the techniques of Taijiquan.  I will moderate a Zoom group session during the last segment for those that purchased the video as a means of solidifying the material taught by Master Chen.

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