2016 Berlin Workshop featured Master Zhonghua Chen and Michael Winkler

Maxime Fréchet·Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Author: Maxime Fréchet

Here is a little review of the workshop with Master Chen Zhonghua. I’m not in a position to explain anything so I’m just going to share my feelings and experience.

Great experience! Zhonghua Chen is a kind and humble person. He often shares but not too much either. His approach goes straight to the point. He makes you understand principles and concepts with clear words and demonstrations. There is always a bit of Dao in everything, which I really appreciate, it keeps your mind open. Great bunch of people from different countries, good atmosphere and workshop in English.

Zhonghua Chen always shares of his person during the seminar, there is action and a lot of opportunities to touch and feel his body which is fantastic! The workshop was well rounded, FAQ, foundations training, Yilu and couple of push-hands applications.

Power is real, no magic, Chi or whatever. Just Taiji principles and body mechanic concepts applied in a highly effective way. Zhonghua Chen doesn’t show off during the seminar but he gives you just enough to have an idea of what’s going on inside and the power available. It is like feeling the top of the ice knowing you are walking on an iceberg.

Finally, you don’t need to practice Chen or even Taiji to join the seminar. You will still learn a lot and personally grow from the experience, no matter your martial practice.

Subjective points of view:

It changed my understanding on how to generate power (cf from the ground up) and when (different energy Peng, Lü, Ji, An).
I have been amazed about Zhongua Chen’s structure. Never felt anything like it. It is strong, not hard and tensed but stretched and full. I didn’t feel the ground at all when I applied force on him. His body is like a gearbox. It feels like power is coming from the dantian in any directions. Some points moves while others don’t, then connect. When you feel it, it’s already too late. “He has 51%, you have 49%” and you are down.

Ratio. This is fantastic. When something is getting smaller, something is getting bigger, ratio is preserved. No matter what moves, energy always expend, never pull back.

A lot more could be said, or maybe I already said too much. These is related to my personal experience and understanding after 3 weeks of Chen Taiji and my background of Martial Art. It does not intent to explain anything. The only thing I can say for sure is that I highly recommend the experience to anyone!