About learning
1. “The teacher teaches the principle. You go home and practice.”
2. Follow the principle. Don’t deviate.
Instructions
1. Propeller in water creates friction with space.
2. Yin Yang Separation –
- No yin or yang unless you put the middle in.
- “Add one”.
- Create a pivot by splitting or adding a dot. The techniques may differ but the principle is the same.
- You act as if the 2 halves are divided… to create a function.
A copy of Master Chen’s illustration depicting Yin Yang separation.
3. Dot creating lever.
4. Never assume. Always calibrate.
5. If you’re off, you’re off.
6. Everything has to be through. Nothing can deviate.
7. “It’s on. It’s never off. It doesn’t deviate.”
8. “You can only see deviation. You cannot see what doesn’t deviate.” If I don’t move sideways you cannot judge distance (because of our 2 eyes). Size change cannot be perceived at a close distance. It’s the horizontal movement that we use to judge movement at a close distance.
9. Alignment is lining up any 2 dots. You can align 3 dots, 4 dots… then you can align from your heel to the finger.
10. Focus on the spot. Carry out the intent.
11. No deviation is when you’re on track.
12. You can power into the dantian or out of the dantian.
13. When kua is open, dantian can rotate.
Theory
1. Heaven, Earth, Human –
| Heaven | When heaven receives 1 it is a clear day (晴). | Nothing |
| Earth | When earth receives 1, it has everything rich with life. | Everything |
| Human | When humans receive 1 it has peace of mind. | Nothing |
2. Positive circle absorbs; the negative circle creates.
3. Power is like water. Whatever it touches it goes through the other side.
4. Spiral means you’re on the line. The spiral is the move on the object. The line is the screw. “The spiral catches you… the line finds you.”
Push Hands
1. Ask for direct information. Never give your opponent direct information. Give them indirect information.
2. Create a time differential to create a lock.
3. Distance, accuracy and timing –
- If it’s too late we say “stifle”.
- It needs to be just right.
4. (1) Peng, (2) lu, (3) ji, (4) an –
- If it’s circular it doesn’t make a difference where you start.
- All these need to be there, and they all exist together.
- The four moves need to be done in sequence very quickly. It has to be done in order (1-2-3-4), but sometimes the opponent has started at 2, or 3, then you just do the remainder of the sequence.
- Listening is independent of this technique.
- Timeline always stretches forward and doesn’t return (circular description is for ease of understanding).
5. Push hands allows us to see what we’re doing wrong.
Drills
1. Exercise – Buddha’s finger (reach), eagle claw (grab).
2. Finding the centre drill – Use the touch to feel the other end.
Please also refer to notes by disciple Brian Chung located here for more.
