by Massimo Neresini (translated d. kerr) Our Massimo Neresini with his Master Giuseppe Bon, after the trip to China of last year, went all the way to Canada to meet with Grand Master Chen Zhonghua to broaden his Chen style Taijiquan. This is a Chronicle of an absolutely exceptional voyage.
This year too, Master Giuseppe Bon of the ASD Italia Poon Ze’ Team of Vicenza School sounds the praises of a voyage of study and application of Chen Style Taijiquan. Last year we did 10,000 kms towards the East to the country of the “Dragon,” China, and this year another 10,000 kms, to the West, to the country of the beaver, Canada. A voyage around the world in the name of Taijiquan. But why to Canada? To find who? Simply to meet with one of the Great Masters of this fascinating and historical Art that hides between balance and harmony of movement, a supreme efficiency in combat.
Master Chen Zhonghua is a 19th generation master of Chen Style Taiji and studied under the direct guidance of Grandmaster Hong Junsheng, 2nd generation of Hunyuantaiji. He studies still today with Master Feng Zhiqiang. Our journey continues to research and broaden our understanding of Chen style. We are aware of the difficulties and sacrifices that constantly await us, to never retreat, but we have ahead of us our own Master Bon, that even after 35 years of Kung Fu is always ready to accept new challenges, so why would we not accept them as well? On the other hand, this experience in Canada, in a marvelous environment with excellent companions and the superlative Master Chen Zhonghua ready to astonish continuously and to teach us like a carpenter brick by brick, constructing around us and into us a bit of Taiji, is unforgettable, and I hope it will not be the last visit, as our Canadian friends have already extended an invitation for next year.
We arrived in Victoria in the Province of British Columbia (Vancouver Island) from Seattle in the United States and found our Canadian friends ready to transport us to Camp Shawnigan, a location situated on the Coast, East of Lake Shawnigan, a lake where the colors of nature seem to melt into your spirit and give you vitality. With little delay we went right to the gymnasium where we were greeted directly by Master Chen Zhonghua and one of his instructors and organizer of the workshop, Gordon Muir. It was obvious to everyone there that to meet Master Chen again after our experience with him of last April in Vicenza was very emotional for us; we are the first Europeans to participate at the Workshop there and moreover, being Italians we are “a bit to be discovered” even though many of the Canadian people had a father or a grandfather of Italian origin. This is when we met the fantastic Dina Kerr and her instructor, Bill Vanderhall of Maple Ridge Chen Taiji School (Canada).
They were of huge help to us at all stages of the camp. Let me say a few words of recognition about Dina because she was great. I tell you that you will not easily find a woman that full of energy and vitality, an affectionate “nonnina” (lovely Granny) that can apply the techniques of Chen and drop an adult of 80 kgs to the floor with a smile on her lips. And to hear her speak in a Venetian dialect (her origins are from Treviso, north-east of Italy close to Venice) made us feel as if we were at home. She was fundamental in helping us to understand and appreciate better the teachings and theories of Master Chen Zhonghua. Dina is an example of how the practice of Taijiquan leads to health and vitality. Also, we came to know many friends (at times there were around 40 people coming from Canada and USA); I can’t forget the “magic” Ping Wei from Phoenix, Arizona, that succeeded in helping me to get over a terrible back pain and later was our companion and our “master of stretching” on the Victoria Clipper, the catamaran which took us back to Seattle before our return flight to Italy. But let’s go back to the principal “stars” of our trip: Master Chen Zhonghua and the Chen style Taijiquan practical method of Hong, that he teaches with such innate skill and passion.
Master Chen Zhonghua was born in 1961 in the City of Weifang in the Province of Shandong, and in his youth practiced Sitongchui, Baiji and Taizu, Xiao Wushu and Da Wushou. With the guidance of Master Li Enjiu, President of the Academy of Martial Art in Jinan, he was introduced to Grand Master Hong Junsheng (18the generation of Taijiquan Chen style) at Black Tiger Springs Park in Jinan (China) and he became his direct disciple, training every day for six years. Under the tutelage of his old Master, Chen Taiji became his constant, his fine point of reference until his Master’s death came in 1996. Subsequently, this caused him to go to Beijing to seek out Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang (18th generation of Chen style Taijiquan, who was also a direct disciple of Grand Master Chen Fake) to learn his style of Chen Shi Xinyi Hunyuan Taijiquan, and he became his disciple.
Master Chen is the International Representative of the lineage of Hong’s Chen Practical Method Taijiquan, and President of the Hunyuan Taijiquan Academy. He actually lives and teaches in Canada, but constantly travels all around the world to divulge the Chen style of his old Master Hong. Thanks to the teachings of his two Grand Masters of 18th generation, and another twenty years of learning and practicing of Chen style Taijiquan, Master Chen Zhonghua has a profound knowledge of the contents of the forms, of internal energy, of the theory and its applications. He has produced many works, in the form of books and videos, for example “The Way of Hunyuan”, “The Circles of Taijiquan”, the translation of the book of Qi Gong of Grand Master Feng Zhiqiang titled “Hunyuan Qigong” and the translation of the book of Grand Master Hong Jungsheng titled “Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method”.
But what is Chen Style Taijiquan practical method of Hong? Its very simple and Master Chen Zhonghua says this as well: “It is a martial art, nothing but a very powerful style of combat which employs with great advantage the internal mechanics of the body itself, in particular the hands, feet, elbows, shoulders, knees and hips. He also divulges the quintessence of teachings of The Grand Master Chen Fake and Hong Junsheng.
I assure you that to see the Master in action is impressionable and many times absolutely embarrassing as you fall to the ground with such ease, that you wonder if you can ever achieve success on this path, because I can’t think how I can get close to applying his techniques. The explosion of energy and absolute ease and spontaneity with which he blocks you or drops you to the ground resembles the tiger. You can’t imagine winning against him, and at the same time you remain bewitched and fascinated at his movements which seem to hardly brush against you. “Movement without moving”, one of the principles of Taoism is demonstrated in practice and the Master seems to be absolutely still while his energy overwhelms and repels his opponent.
The practices in the gymnasium followed a timely rhythm: We awoke at 6:30 a.m., while it was still dark outside, to begin in the gymnasium with Qi Gong and other exercises to stretch and warm up. After a wonderful North American breakfast, eggs, hamburger, fruit, and much more, we were away to the gymnasium again until 12:30 p.m. We were served a good lunch with a little of everything and it was very good and prepared with gusto. Immediately after lunch we returned to the gym until 5:30 – 6:00 o’clock when we paused for supper. We thought that was the end of it, but it was not so because at 7:30 Master was waiting for us again in the gym for final training and explanations.
Needless to say, at the end of the day a hot shower and a sound sleep came easily, even though it was not on your own bed. During evening explanations (and at times during the day) there were moments that were truly exceptional, and it seemed all the students were like “starved puppies” around the Master “the fountain of knowledge”. In fact, we all sat on the floor of the gymnasium while the Master stood at the blackboard finding various ways to explain the very simple principles that are so complicated: The division of yin and yang is the basis of the practical method of Chen Style Taijiquan. Every movement must be divided into yin and yang; this signifies that every zone of the body is divided into two directions, but must not be first yin and then yang because in yin there is yang and vice-versa and the principle of continuation of movement is basic to Taijiquan.
It’s like explaining to a Martian verbally or in writing how we tie our shoes. It is very difficult, but also very simple and only a question of practice, so therefore practice really is “the secret ingredient”. Not that we must snub the theory because it is fundamental to understand the principles, but if we think we can absorb them only from a blackboard explanation, we will have it all wrong. We must practice and practice again until it becomes so habitual that it is part of us. The tiger does not think, it acts because it is her nature taught to her by the Mother-teacher through continuous practice. Master Chen Zhonghua with simple clarity guides his pupils towards a destination that seems impossible and succeeds in transmitting his skill to his students. It is a difficult course to understand at times.
“We are never finished learning because art has no limit” said the Grand Master Chen Fake, and there is no better message to take with us in our fragmented learning. The practices in the gymnasium followed a timely rhythm: We awoke at 6:30 a.m., while it was still dark outside, to begin in the gymnasium with Qi Gong and other exercises to stretch and warm up. After a wonderful North American breakfast, eggs, hamburger, fruit, and much more, we were away to the gymnasium again until 12:30 p.m. We were served a good lunch with a little of everything and it was very good and prepared with gusto. Immediately after lunch we returned to the gym until 5:30 – 6:00 o’clock when we paused for supper. We thought that was the end of it, but it was not so because at 7:30 Master was waiting for us again in the gym for final training and explanations. Needless to say, at the end of the day a hot shower and a sound sleep came easily, even though it was not on your own bed. During evening explanations (and at times during the day) there were moments that were truly exceptional, and it seemed all the students were like “starved puppies” around the Master “the fountain of knowledge”.
In fact, we all sat on the floor of the gymnasium while the Master stood at the blackboard finding various ways to explain the very simple principles that are so complicated: The division of yin and yang is the basis of the practical method of Chen Style Taijiquan. Every movement must be divided into yin and yang; this signifies that every zone of the body is divided into two directions, but must not be first yin and then yang because in yin there is yang and vice-versa and the principle of continuation of movement is basic to Taijiquan. It’s like explaining to a Martian verbally or in writing how we tie our shoes. It is very difficult, but also very simple and only a question of practice, so therefore practice really is “the secret ingredient”. Not that we must snub the theory because it is fundamental to understand the principles, but if we think we can absorb them only from a blackboard explanation, we will have it all wrong.
We must practice and practice again until it becomes so habitual that it is part of us. The tiger does not think, it acts because it is her nature taught to her by the Mother-teacher through continuous practice. Master Chen Zhonghua with simple clarity guides his pupils towards a destination that seems impossible and succeeds in transmitting his skill to his students. It is a difficult course to understand at times. “We are never finished learning because art has no limit” said the Grand Master Chen Fake, and there is no better message to take with us in our fragmented learning. Master Chen Zhonghua (19th generation) is a direct descendant of Grand Master Chen Fake (the only direct descendant of the 17th generation of Chen style Taijiquan), and he was the direct disciple of Grand Master Hong Junsheng(18th generation).
Only this Master together with Pan Yongzhou (Wing Chow), Tian Xiuchen, Lei Muni, Li Jingwu, Feng Zhiqiang, Chen Zhaokui and Chen Zhaoxu received the true teachings and follow the direct lineage, a prerequisite fundamental to teach the real Chen style Taijiquan. In this way, fame, power, social status, age of teacher or school are not factors that can influence the understanding of the true Chen style. The teachers that received the true teachings are therefore able to maintain a direct lineage to the original school of thought.
It is true everything that is considered a normal action in our everyday movement is considered an error in Chen style of movement, we need to calmly familiarize ourselves with it. Physical and intellectual ability is a necessity to be able to learn and practice the Chen style. Those two things in particular, in the Western world of today are not that easy to find. Hard work is always underlined to be fundamental to Kung Fu (Taijiquan is one of the styles said to be internal in Kung Fu), and it is absolutely basic in the Chen style, so much that Master Chen Zonghua told me “water boils at 100 degrees C and if you achieve only 90 degrees, it will never boil.” If the next day you want to boil it another time, remember that you will have cold water again at the beginning. This signifies that if you quit practicing then you have to start again at the very beginning because you lost the habit of practice and will not progress.
A Master of 19th generation of Chen style said after observing for years the work done in the USA that “most people work hard for over 20 years and succeed…wrong”. It requires very hard work, togetherness and much trust. Why not accept it, if the result is fantastic and if we can find a teacher this skilled and ready to give of his knowledge! Again, thanks to Master Chen Zhonghua for letting us get a taste of this supreme refined art of Chen style Taijiquan. He is truly a Master with a capital M. My infinite gratitude to Gordon Muir of Victoria Chen Taiji Academy for the splendid organizing and thanks to all our Canadian and American friends, companions in this adventure. A particular thanks to Daniele Maitan (black belt Kung Fu of the Italian Poon-ze Team School) and Patrizia with whom we shared “joys and pain” (they know why) in our adventure to Canada. Thanks again to my Master Giuseppe Bon of the Italian Poon-ze Team School of Vicenza for being the first to share this difficult journey of Kung Fu to add to his enviable career in various styles. Thanks to all, and practice continually if you want to achieve…100 degrees.
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Thanks Massimo for the reminder. Let’s not let the water get cold.