Chen Style Taijiquan and Hunyuan Taiji email: practicalmethod@qq.com
Blake Norman
(780) 604-8714 #409, 12015-103 Ave. Edmonton, AB T5K 0S9
Objective
Position where I am challenged to learn new skills and work with people in ways that further allow me to develop my existing skills
Skills Read more
Resume on Discipleship of Master Chen Zhonghua
Background Read more
Pavel Codl, Michael Winkler, Henrik Bruck and I drove from Freising, Germany to Valdagno, Italy in April to my Italian Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method workshop. Here are some photos of the trip and activities in Italy outside of the workshop. The workshop was sponsored by Master Bon and Massimo. Read more
Thank you Michael Winkler, Henrik Bruck, Pavel Codl for making my stay in Munich so pleasant.
Most people talk about the difference between internal and external and in recent years, people have been proud to call their style “internal”. In reality, there is no such a thing as internal martial art or external martial art.
10:00 am-1:00 pm and then 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This is the only place I have a schedule like this but it actually is quite good with a long break in the middle.
Day one March 26, 2011. Foundations in the morning we only worked on positive circle. Lots of explanations and drills. In the evening we worked on the 13 moves of Yilu. Didn’t quite finish it yet but people were able to follow through it. A bit a adjustment for now and I am pretty sure tomorrow we will learn a bit faster.
Day two on March 27, 2011. During the foundations session this morning, we reviewed the positive circle and added negative circle and double positive circle. Lots of explanations. During the forms session in the evening we reviewed 13 moves.
Day 3, March 28, 2011. Morning finished all Basic Foundation exercises. Reviewed Yilu 13 moves. Evening 13 moves explanations. Applications and paired exercises.
Day 4, March 29, 2011. Morning. Foundations review. Theory. TV Station Interview. Afternoon Yilu 13 moves. More applications. In with Elbow and out with hand exercise. Block Touching Coat Application.
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“Am I creating all this cold weather or am I just following the cold weather in the world?” was the topic of discussion over supper last night in Helsinki. Apparently people have been following my travels this year of the snow storms in New York, Arkansas, Daqingshan, etc. Read more
To know the history of a people, one needs to see the museums. Tomi took me to the Finnish National Museum yesterday.
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Just arrived in Helsinki, Finland. It is much colder here than in Iceland yesterday. Checked into Scandic Hotel downtown. Had a brief private with Tomi after supper. Here are the main points on basic movements. I am trying to set the rules out for the initial Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method workshop in Helsinki. Read more
It is Iceland after all. It snowed early in the morning again. I had a walking tour of the city during the warmer lunch hours. Here are some photos.
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Got in at 9:00 am. On the first tour in the afternoon.
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The real taiji is invisible to the naked eye; wrong things are the easiest to learn. From a traditional point of view, taijiquan is not about comfort, flow and natural. It is an art that requires the student to practice according to certain rules. In doing so, the student will not be used to the practice at the beginning and will not feel comfortable. Through long time repeat training, the student will start to feel natural. This NATURALNESS is not the normal naturalness. This kind of training is not within the realm of normal human sport training.
Nona
Perrie
James Tam
In taijiquan, there are only two basic movements: pull and push. When pushing, one needs to make the body behave like a stick so that the energy transmits through. When pulling, one needs to make the body act like a rope in order to transmit power. Different actions require different body shape and movements.
Photo of porcelain from Longquan, Zhejiang, China
With Mr. Shen Peixin, THE sword maker in China!Hangzhou stop-over on my way to Longquan.
Some photos of the workshop. Read more
Some photos of Jesus and Hilda’s discipleship ceremony in San Juan. The ceremony was held at the training location which is the Puerto Rico Sport Center. We had to make do with what we had: no chairs or tables. It was the thought that counts. Both Jesus and Hilda are serious students of Practical Method and are sincerely people. I am very happy to have accepted them on the recommendations of Raul, Xavier and Rafael.
Thanks, Raul and Veronica for taking us to Cindy’s after the workshop. It was a beautiful dinner in old San Juan!
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It’s nice to be back in San Juan, especially after a horrendous snow storm in Arkansas! It was only hours ago that Richard Johnson and I were cold getting in and out of his van. Now I am in the hot sun of Puerto Rico! Good to see Todd Elihu who came from Athens, GA to join us. Raul Pujol and Xavier Santiago both came to the airport to pick us up. I am grateful. Here are photos of our walk this afternoon. After that, Raul and Todd both showed me their Yilus in Raul’s living room. Great progress, both of them! Read more
Last year, I was stuck in Helsinki, Finland. A heroic trekking trip took me over 3 days to travel from Helsinki to Italy via many cities in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria. It was my disciple Pavel Codl who rescued me in Europe. This year, I am stuck in Bentonville, AR., USA on my way to sunny and warm San Juan, Puerto Rico. My disciple Richard Johnson drove me to the airport only to find it closed. It took two hours for something that should be done in 2 minutes over the phone. I guess no airports or airline can be trusted in times of snow storm. Thanks Richard! Here are some photos I took along the way.
Four Points in Actions:
