Master Chen:
I have been following your on-line for about a year now and started trying to learn the Yilu form from your videos about 6 months ago. About 2 months ago I was able to contact Alex Renwick here in Houston and he has been kind enough to offer assistance in helping me learn the Yilu form.
I recorded myself doing about the first quarter of the form and would appreciate any comments/feedback. Comments from others are appreciated as well.
I have done Yang style taichi for 20 years now and Chen for 1 year but that was a long time ago. The Practical Method is quite different but makes a lot of sense and I actually really enjoy doing the form. I have to admit though that a lot of times I feel that I’m not really sure if what I’m doing is correct or not, especially about having one/some parts not move, especially when transitioning from move to move. But Oh well, I’ll keep plugging away at it.
Thanks!
Gary Readore
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Gary,
It’s too bad you couldn’t make it up for our snow storm and workshop with Shifu Chen last month. That would have alleviated a lot of your concerns.
Your form looks very good, and for not having any formal, only video, instruction, it is quite remarkable. You are definitely on the right track.
There are a few minor corrections. After First Closing, I think you are missing a circle. Review your video.
Remember in the Practical Method the hands don’t move. That is, they only rotate and adjust to body movements. This seems like a contradiction to the guidance, Out with the hand, In with the elbow, but it is not. When you resolve the apparently conflict you will be closer to doing Taijiquan. I think there may be a video or two on these topics.
In addition to contacting Master Chen, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Happy practicing,
Richard Johnson
0:35 and alike: rear knee is loose and low. It should point away from front knee and is up.
There need to be a core hinge in the chest, vertically. This will be easier if your stance is much larger.
Punch at 2:13: the shoulder popped up. Choreography is roughly acceptable. You are very smooth. No need to be though. Pay attention to pulling up of the head. It will help with the setting up of a core in the upper body.
Great job!
Thank you Master Chen, I will work on these things.