Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy Phone: 780-413-0454
Chen Taiji Practical Method and Hunyuan Taiji practical_method@outlook.com
In this short video, Master Chen teaches key concepts and principles that are necessary in push hands and in the development of our taiji skills. After watching the video you will gain and understanding of what it means to “match” an opponent’s power. Additionally, you will have a clear understanding of how “adding” beyond the contact point requires yin yang separation, which is an inherent principle to Practical Method Taijiquan.
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The “Dimension: 5 Points” online video builds upon the understanding and skills that were covered in the Step Up To Ji, Move Into Empty Space and Warping Energy 2 Online videos and classes. It allows Practical Method Taijiquan practitioners the opportunity to expand on ones’ understanding of how to use multiple dimensions to immobilize an opponent much like a spiderweb does to ensnare a moth helpless.
Thus far, the videos I have selected as curriculum have been focused on the functional aspects of using ones own bio-mechanical structure and the structure of the opponent to “take up space” for the gaining of strategic positioning and for martial purposes. The video “Step up to Ji” gave a basic procedure of how to make contact while matching power and move in other body parts that adhere to the Practical Method’s principle of separated and sequential movements. In the following video, “Move into Empty Space”, several lessons were taught by Master Chen in various ways to take up the opponents space and demonstrated a few examples of applications, such as going down and adding a dimension.
In this video, Master Chen teaches additional methods of taking up space by “whatever happens, you fill in the gaps”. It is taking out space, working with space, playing with timing, and/or playing with structure. The information from the previous video online classes come into play. Significant additions are made in this video that further advances ones’ repertoire on how to use ones’ structure and the intentional use of working with space as a means of building martial skills and abilities.
Move into Empty Space
Various Methods
In this video viewers get to witness Master Chen teaching various methods of how to take up empty space along with a variety of applications. This complex video requires viewers to segment each movement in a number of lessons given. In addition, with the direct examples demonstrated, key principles inherit to practical method are embedded throughout the video.
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We will have an online class based on this video using the comment section of this video at 10:30 am Central Time, 11:30 pm Eastern Time on Saturday, April 4, 2020. On the days that I am teaching, I have selected a series of videos that will be taught in a sequential manner. The primary emphasis will be improving your understanding of how to take an opponent’s space that utilizes the principles that are inherit to Chen Style Practical Method Taijiquan. The video’s include:
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I started learning practical method on 2005. I had a lesson once a week from one of Master Chen’s disciples. At that time I practiced maybe once per week.
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Mise en place (French pronunciation: [mi zɑ̃ ˈplas]) is a French culinary phrase that means “putting in place” or “everything in its place”. It refers to the setup required before cooking, and is often used in professional kitchens to refer to organizing and arranging the ingredients, the components that a cook will require for the menu items that are expected to be prepared during a shift.
Master Chen often has referred to “the set up” before applying power…before doing “your move”. What are the ingredients (components) of your set up? What needs to be in place before you do your move/apply power? Please add ingredients!!!
We are pleased to have Master Chen Zhonghua back for the 4th annual training camp. Once again, the taijiquan training, lodging and dining will be at one location with one cost at the same location as last 3 years. This will be an intensive workshop focused Theory, Foundations, Yilu, Push Hands and Broadsword. Disciples will take part in the instructions.
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Practical Method Popsockets for your smartphones are $12 plus shipping. As many of you are aware I teach a group of kids, which several have attended Iowa workshops taught by Master Chen. I was able to work out a fundraising deal with the company so 50% of all the sales will be applied towards tuition for my kid students that have financial need. So an awesome item + good price + great cause = excellent purchase!
For orders email me midwestpracticalmethodtaiji@gmail.com or message me on Facebook.
Thanks,
John Upshaw
I was having a discussion with my disciple brother Brennan Toh about what I have been working on with my long term students Gerry and Emily, with specific attention to Lie , one of the 8 techniques of Taiji. At the North American Practical Method Training Camp last year Brennan was taking me down with this same technique, except his upper/lower body separation was crazily effective….he took out significant space from below without his top moving (his top continued to match my upper body). This lead to him suggesting the following drill: Read more
Pretend to fight to find the end points. Once locked, move-in the middle point.
(Alignment) Rear fingers look for the front elbow. The rear kua looks for the rear elbow.
Personal Information
I was born in Austin, Minnesota USA in February of 1968. I moved to the neighboring state of Iowa as a child. My early experiences in life set me on my path in martial arts and a career of helping struggling children. I was a homeless orphan at the age of 15. I was fortunate enough to have been taken under the wing of someone who taught me kung fu every morning with no fees…it taught me many life lessons besides the martial aspects; such as commitment to others, commitment to the art, self-discipline, and an overall respect and awe for being a part of something that had a bountiful history, honorable tradition, and rich with culture.
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We are pleased to have Master Chen Zhonghua back for another training camp. Again, the taijiquan training, lodging and dining will be at one location with one cost at the same location as last year. This will be an intensive workshop focused on foundations, drills, form, push hands and applications. Disciples will take part in some of the instructions. Other areas of instruction may include Chen Style Jian and Cannon Fist (Erlu).
There are 32 accommodations on-site and 2 single occupancy cottages. If those slots should fill up, we will list hotels near the retreat center and allow those individuals to participate just the same as the other participants.
July 25th 2018 through July 31st 2018
Price:
4 nights 3 days is $550,
5 nights 4 days $700
6 nights 5 days $800
4pm check in and check out is following your last day breakfast.
Prairiewoods Retreat And Conference Hiawatha, Iowa
For more information please contact:
John Upshaw johnnyupshaw@yahoo.com
Levi Sowers lpsowers@gmail.com
One of my corrections from Sifu during a private lesson in 2015 was on separation of hand from my head. For instance, when out with hand in Single Whip, as I placed emphasis on the stretches when my hand went out, my head would follow…this would occur at varying degrees, yet that isn’t relevant because any deviation of the head changes everything as I will get to soon.
History and Development of the Midwest Group
Master Chen Zhonghua’s first workshops in Iowa were in 2007 and 2008, hosted by John Brown. In the summer of 2009 I organized the first Midwest Practical Method gathering, along with Tim and Levi, in the Northeast Iowa area, which was led by Tim Duehring. The group met periodically throughout the year for several years. Tim move to China to work for Master Chen, which Levi Sowers then led our gatherings. Several of our group members became disciples of Master Chen Zhonghua, which initially, Tim was the only one. The Midwest disciples, in chronological order, include: Levi Sower, John Upshaw, Erwin Ramthun, Jeff Clevenger and Christopher Dusek.
Levi Sowers and I have organized 3 Midwest Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Workshops that was taught by Master Chen. These workshops occurred in October of 2013, September of 2015 and July of 2016. We have organized the first North American Practical Method Training Camp that will be led by Master Chen this coming July.
We are pleased to have Master Chen Zhonghua back for another workshop. This time Taijiquan training, lodging and dining will be at one location with one cost. This will be an intensive workshop focused on foundations, drills, form, push hands and applications.
Date: July 28 – Aug 1 2017
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Partner exercise to train getting in
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Vancouver
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 8 min. In: English Year: 2014 Difficulty:2/5 At:Perth
In this short online instructional video, Master Chen teaches many essential elements that are necessary when applying Ji to an opponent and several principles inherit to Practical Method. Ji, squeezing, is a passive action that has “water like qualities”. Ji, like water “takes up all the space in all directions”.
In the beginning of the video, Master Chen has his foot on the bottom of a door with a student on the other side. There was a little space the door could open. Once he occupied that space with his foot, it became a “lock”, which is a passive action. It “jammed”, the door preventing the person on the other side from having that space again.
In the GIF below, Master Chen demonstrates the “water like quality” with the participant, Gawain Siu. He rotates and stretches his shoulder around to fill the space between Gawain’s left elbow and left side. Notice the stretch that is occurring while not moving the contact point.
In the GIF below, Master Chen points out Gawain’s Elbow took the middle, which is the Central Equilibrium. He then rotates his shoulder, taking up space and changing the central equilibrium. Master Chen then adds one, shifting the scale of balance. Master Chen says, “The middle is not a physical middle. When you are stronger, I have to be longer than you. When you are weaker, I have to be shorter than you”. Shortly after, he states, “when you change angles, I have to immediately mirror it.” This is significant as it speaks to the 3 ways of matching; length, weight and angle/direction. The 3 ways of matching was taken from my notes during a private lesson I had with Master Chen in Iowa, my note is included
In the first GIF below, Master Chen points out Jhung Siu has the space on top, then points out there is a little space on the ground between them. By taking that little amount of space between them, it is enough to “tip the scale”. Then throughout the rest of the video Master Chen demonstrates locking the top and moving the bottom, utilizing the stepping method that is instilled in all of our forms and movements in Practical Method Taijiquan. Please see the additional GIFS.
Master Chen Demonstrating Stepping
Master Chen Instructing Gawain to take space by stepping
Theory and training for matching power principle, to use indirect force to match opponent push
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 13 min. In: English Year: 2015 Difficulty:2/5 At:Edmonton
In this short video, Master Chen teaches key concepts and principles that are necessary in push hands and in the development of our taiji skills. After watching the video you will gain and understanding of what it means to “match” an opponent’s power. Additionally, you will have a clear understanding of how “adding” beyond the contact point requires yin yang separation, which is an inherent principle to Practical Method Taijiquan.
Read more
An awesome practice on Sunday with Levi and Gerry. We focused on separation of movements/body function, finding the lines, taking and not losing space…just to name a few…Levi corrected our first 13 postures
Theory and practice of scissors power
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 14 min. In: English Year: 2015 Difficulty:2/5 At:Toronto
The important components: 1. Having 2 lines, 2. Having separation 3. Resolve through rotation (one line is the catch or lock and the rotation provides the other action for the other line). Click on the gif
Last Sunday I made arrangements to have coffee then train with my elder disciple brother, Levi. He teaches Practical Method at The University of Iowa’s Chinese Martial Arts Club. We decided to train during his regularly scheduled class time as it provided a good space to practice. A new student arrived wanting to check out the class. Introductions were made. He was a visiting professor originally from China. After some discussion the gentleman disclosed he studied Hong Style Taijiquan for 7 years. Levi and I exclaimed that is the lineage we practice under our Shifu, Master Chen Zhonghua. He stated he studied under a disciple of GM Hong Junsheng and one of his grand-disciples, both Levi and I not having any knowledge of this Master. Read more
Theory and practice for finding space to move in during push hand.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 51 min. In: English Year: 2014 Difficulty:4/5 At:Toronto
How to make connection in own body, and how to disrupt connection in opponent’s
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 14 min. In: English Year: 2014 Difficulty:2/5 At:Toronto
Upper Midwest Practical Method Gathering will occur at Mount Hosmer City Park in Lansing, Iowa.
We will cover Yilu, Erlu, and push hands. We will be meeting on 08/09/2014 at 5:30 am through 9:00 am and 7:00 pm through 9:00 PM.We will meet again the following morning on 08/10/2014 at 5:30 am through 9:00 am. Read more
A Taiji move has to be done with sub moves in different dimensions. This 65 minute video cover the Theory, Training and Application of this principle
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 65 min. In: English Year: 2014 Difficulty:2/5 At:Oakland
Mini lesson on the importance of not moving the back, training for isolation of the arm by doing spiral movement.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 15 min. In: English Year: 2013 Difficulty:3/5 At:Oakland
The Drill
In the beginning of the video Master Chen demonstrates a drill that emphasizes separation. This is the primary theme throughout this instructional video. He stands with his back against the wall and has a student push against his torso. Without moving his back, he easily brushes the student’s hand off. He demonstrates this again, the wrong way, moving his back and shoulders, which then is unsuccessful at removing the student’s hands. Master Chen then explains with out separation, there is no yin and yang. “The separation of yin and yang is very important!”
The Lessons to Remember
“Once there is yin and yang, the recombination of what yin and yang can do becomes unlimited!”
“The separation gives you yin and yang. Once it is is separate, the recombined effort is what we call in taiji whole body movement. The body has to work as one unit, not one piece.”
GIF showing no seperation
GIF showing yin and yang seperation
GIF showing differences between no separation and seperation
GIF Master Chen demonstrating the same principle of separation or isolated movements without the wall behind him
GIF showing the difference between the shoulder tossing and the shoulder rotating in it’s socket (open hand represents the socket and fist represents the shoulder joint
GIF demonstrating the drill once more
At the end of the video as Master Chen was doing the drill, he said you must experience this Chuck (Charles Paoletti disciple #19)! I met Chuck in 2013 and I can say with 100% accuracy, he is the biggest person I have met practicing Practical Method Taiji! Master Chen’s point was that if you train this with a more powerful person, and you are able to move their hands off of you while doing the drill, you did it right, achieving yin and yang separation!
Please ask questions or make statements about what you learned from this video.
By John Upshaw and Levi Sowers
The interaction occurring amongst the various elements of our body are numerous and complex. This is especially true when applied to the movements, and thereof lack of movements, in Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method. The purpose of this article is to provide a framework that will allow the reader to conceptualize the necessary movements that are congruent with the taiji principals, and inherent to the Practical Method system. The 1, 2, 3 theory of taiji movements will be the framework for describing these internal relationships. We hope that readers will be able to distinguish between what parts of the body moves from what does not move. When that is identified, then a clearer understanding of the lines that are stretched upon within oneself becomes more recognizable. Read more
1. Beginning. 2. Basic Energies in Taiji Applications. 3. 8 Techniques in Taijiquan. 4. Some Applications.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 53 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:3/5 At:Daqingshan International Taiji Training Center
