Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy Phone: 780-413-0454
Chen Taiji Practical Method and Hunyuan Taiji practical_method@outlook.com
Saturday:
1. Gear box / Bite: Don’t add extra moves. With twisting of towel you need to grind elbows on ribs. Everything is proportional and nothing is loose or it will break at higher speeds (like an engine). In this way, nothing leaks out.
2. A rock cannot have a relationship with itself; it needs to split and then one part can move around in relation to the other.
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Maple Ridge Workshop With Chen Zhonghua October15/16, 2016
It was windy and raining in Maple Ridge last weekend, but in our cozy hall, Master Chen was telling us once again what he has been telling us for sixteen years: elbow in, hand out, move one thing at a time, observe your opponent, where his energy is located, see his lines.
Taiji enthusiasts in Houston, Texas were treated to an unexpected treat, a visit from Master Joseph Chen due to a flight layover. Master Chen’s disciple in Houston, Jeff Clevenger, arranged for a get-together with Master Chen which included breakfast, a training session at a local park followed by lunch at a good BBQ restaurant, before Master Chen had to fly out in the early afternoon. Although it was short notice and during the work week, five participants showed up to meet and train with Master Chen.Master Chen’s Practical Method workshop and private lessons in Phoenix, Arizona, October 1-4, 2016. Read more
Students from Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, India, US
Video Clip below
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Iowa workshop participants, please comment on what you learn from this drill.
Todd Elihu : Response Drill is to train not to react locally to the opponent’s touch on your shoulder but to simultaneously move your hand in toward the opponent. Therefore the intention is on hand out and not on the opponent touching your shoulder. It also trains timing.
You can also see a few pictures here.
Workshop Practical Method Chen Style Taichi Quan push hands by Grandmaster Joseph Chen Zhonghua
De Glind 26-27april 2014, Netherlands
These notes are partly chronological and based on how I percieved them. I kept as close as I could to Master Chen’s exact words.
Day one
The workshop started with an introduction. Underlying the art of Practical Method Taiji Chen Style are thirteen dimensions. These thirteen dimensions are divided in two levels. Eight dimensions are related to the air; five are related to the floor.
Click to view the collection in smugmug.com (click the arrow on the side to browse)
Nearing Christmas, under the bright festive lights of Hong Kong, K.T. Lin and Nicholas Fung (馮嘉傑) from the Hong Kong Chen Style Taiji Practical Method (香港陳式太極實用拳法) organized the year ending workshop with Master Chen Zhonghua. On a mild weekend, more than thirty participants from Hong Kong, the Mainland, USA and Canada gathered to train with Master Chen. A special thanks to Tim Duering and Hán Ruì (韩瑞) who came from Daqingshan to help with the workshop. For two days, Master Chen covered the basics of the Practical Method such as the foundations, movement and Yilu. Master Chen also covered the theory of Chen Taijiquan as well as hands on applications and the intricacy of push hands training.
Good workshop with students from Victoria and Seattle who made the trip. Worked on foundations and a drill to line up two dots on the body.
Han Rui and Tim Duehring joined Master Chen for Hong Kong 2015 workshop
On another perfect Ottawa autumn weekend, Master Chen taught his disciples and Taiji enthusiasts the intricate art of Taijiquan. The organizers (Rachelle, Daniel and James) meticulously planned three days of intense training focusing on Taiji history, philosophy and the unique nature of the Practical Method. the workshop participants was fortunate to have an entire day devoted to the hidden art of Pao Chui. A special thanks to all the students from Toronto and Montreal who made the long trip to take advantage of the hands-on training with Master Chen.
Camille from Port Alberni, and Phil from California joined us.
Four days focused on yilu correction. Master Chen went around while we did yilu and gave lessons based on our errors.
For me, this experience pushed my envelope of what is required from yilu, and I feel a difference on the last day, how my body is more stable in doing it. Master Chen reminded me to keep practicing correctly otherwise I will revert to my old habit.
Some points from my notes:
In a way Yilu is a progressive system, I only notice the higher difficulty requirement if my body can perform it and can tell the difference when I do it correctly.
New disciple: Jeff Clevenger and Chris Christopher Thomas Dusek
Notes by Aaron from September 12th and 13th Iowa workshop:
Drills:
stepping foundation drills: power is constant, speed determines the appearance of more force.
Positive circles, negative circles, mixed circles, 6 sealing 4 closing
Romania Workshop 2015
One week ago Master Chen held the first workshop in Romania. Four years ago I myself took my first step in the practical method world, buying the first video: foundation. In these four years I met Master Chen three times in workshops across Europe. It was not easy. Without this modern approach which allows you to work using videos from practicalmethod.com, it would have been impossible for me to make any progress.
Fantastic first day with applications, foundations and basic “don’t move” information. Great progress was demonstrated by all attendees showing how an extended concentrated learning situation can boost the body and understanding to grow. Grandmaster Chen’s instructions and guidance was as usual extraordinary. More Foundations and Yilu for the second day as well as a disciple ceremony. We are so looking forward to our last day of training and fellowship.
Rick and Wolf joined us from Victoria Island
We worked on separation at the shoulder. This is the first time I have a taste of how to do it, as I heard of this principle before but in the past my body can not do it, or just do it by accident, not in controller manner
The application of separation is not just moving the arm in a separate manner, but it is having two focus in the move. One is to keep opponent contact point steady, and one is to have the arm move not affecting the first focus.
It is unnatural because habitually only do one move with one focus at a time. Master Chen showed me the finer detail of this move, like having a stretch to compensate for the arm move.
Even though it is still cold, many students attend the workshop.There is also discipleship ceremony, push hand tournament and calligraphy during the weekend
