Ping Wei
Vacation Reflections highlight benefits of Tai chi Chen Style Practical Method
Many people come to Tai chi PM with a background of martial arts of various types. Not me; I came for the health and well-being benefits, having never participated in any kind of martial art previously. When I retired, going to the gym became boring after a few months, so I decided to try Tai chi. Recently my teacher listed these benefits for PM:
Cardio
Strength
Balance
Stability
Stretching
Coordination
Flexibility
Energy/Qi
Inner calmness/Zen
Brain power
Complete fitness—Body and mind
It’s one thing to read the list, another to experience them for yourself. I can say after almost four years that I have experienced all of these. Not all details can be taught by your teacher; you will have self-discoveries relating to your own body. Earlier this year, after months of working on balancing, I realized I had no issue on one side (leg), but the other side was problematic. I spent a whole evening analyzing what was going on for one side vs the other side and finally figured out I was sticking out my left hip in a strange way. It didn’t have anything to do with Tai chi per se, it was the way I had carried myself for years. I had to push that hip in and then everything lined up and I could more easily balance. At first, I really had to concentrate during Yilu to keep that hip pushed in the entire time. It took several more months for it to become a permanent part of my form and a permanent part of my life. To me it was a thrill to stand in a crowded Tube in London, hanging onto the strap and feeling how straight my hip lined up. I’m 70 now, but I believe this will help with my stance and gait as I age. If I hadn’t noticed this while doing Tai chi, it is likely I would have never really focused on it.
Balance and stability jumped to the fore twice on my trip. Entering a bodega to pay for a couple of apples, I tripped over a slight lip in the doorway. My feet bobbled for a few seconds but my upper body remained perfectly still and upright as I moved forward. A similar situation occurred where there was one more little step going down than I realized. I went down further than I was expecting, but ended up standing in place as if nothing had happened. (there’s a lot of steps in getting around London!)
On another note, Tai chi PM is my only daily exercise and it provides stamina too as I usually clocked about 6-7 miles a day while in London.
If you’re considering learning Tai chi PM for reasons similar to mine, don’t hesitate to give it a try and prove it to yourself. It’s a great journey. Changes are not instantaneous by any means and you must be willing to put in the work, but the rewards are worth it.
Monday Tai Chi at Roadrunner Park. Cannon Fist. Yilu warmup, then drills with jumps and first section. It’s quite a cardio workout. Read more
Since January 2017, I have been teaching Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method at Paradise Valley Community College (Phoenix, Arizona) every Monday and Wednesday as a one credit class. I started just one class per semester (Spring and Fall) plus summer session. From January 2019 on, my Tai Chi class was split into two classes. One for total beginners, the other for returning students. More important, I developed a core group of Tai Chi students we meet outside of college and consistently meet every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings (one hour) at Roadrunner Park. So, this core group of 10 students would practice at least 5 time a week. Some I know practice every day. Read more
Hello, my name is Adarsh Khalsa, a 67-year-old woman retired almost two years now. I began studying PM (Practical Method) with Ping Wei at the beginning of 2019 and this was my first workshop (December 2019). One of the main things for me was how it exponentially increased my understanding of what this practice is really about. I found that it is harder to “not move” than it is to move; even becoming aware that you’re moving a part that shouldn’t be moving is a huge learning process.
Master Chen instructed me to use a wider stance, which I have started working on.
I had the opportunity to talk with almost everyone at the workshop, which I found very helpful. Thanks to 3 gentlemen and Master Chen, I was able to experience a taste of what push hands is about; in the correct position by rotating my arm just a tiny bit and moving my hip, my “attacker” fell over.
Very helpful was the instruction to read your notes out loud; also the idea to make use of devices, such as sticks and walls to train is good too.
There were many details, nicely noted elsewhere by Edward.
Thank you to all my fellow attendees and especially Master Chen for being so accessible.
Practical Method Phoenix, Ping Wei
Regular classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, from 7:30 to 8:30am at Roadrunner Park.
Foundations, Yilu, Erlu, and sword.
Call (602-373-3457) or email (peace_defender2003@yahoo.com) for details.
New Year’s Day Tai Chi and Brunch Hosted by Ping Wei
Practical Method Phoenix
8:30-9:30am Tai Chi at North Mountain Park (7th Street/Peoria).
9:30-, Brunch at Ping and Ross’ home, 10622 N. 8th Street, Phoenix.
RSVP by text to Ping @ 602-373-3457, or email: peace_defender2003@yahoo.com
On Tuesday, 1/29/2019, I was invited to the radio talk show in Phoenix, Independent Talk 1100 KFNX. The show was live streamed on Facebook, Successful Aging.
CHEN STYLE TAIJIQUAN PRACTICAL METHOD TESTIMONIAL
JAN GOULD and ROSS McLACHLAN, October 2018, Phoenix
My name is Ramona. I started practicing Practical Method Tai Chi with Ping Wei approximately one year ago at Paradise Valley Community College. I have always liked martial arts and was curious about Tai Chi. The promise of strength, balance, and brain power intrigued me so I decided to give it a try. After all, what can I lose? After a year of steady practice I have improved, or so my teacher tells me, and he should know. After all he has been practicing for many years.
Read more
Personal Review of the Chen Taiji Practical Method Workshop in Phoenix AZ (20-21 January 2018) Part II 3
Author: James M. Riviera Read more
Author: James M. Riviera Read more
During Phoenix Practical Method workshop on January 21, 2018, Master Chen Zhonghua accepted Winston Wang and Benjamin Benefiel as his indoor disciples. Read more
http://practicalmethod.com/2017/08/master-chens-phoenix-practical-method-workshop-120-212018/
Discounted early registration closes on January 10. A workshop T-shirt will be awarded to people who register early.
Ping Wei will teach a private workshop in Las Vegas on December 5, Tuesday from 10am to 5pm.
The workshop will be on foundations and Yilu. It will prepare people for Master Chen’s workshop in Phoenix in January.
http://practicalmethod.com/2017/08/master-chens-phoenix-practical-method-workshop-120-212018/
Ping Wei will teach a workshop in Irvine California on December 3, Sunday, from 10am to 5pm.
The workshop will be on Cannon Fist.
Practical Method Workshop in Phoenix, Arizona
By Master Chen Zhonghua
January 20 and 21 (Saturday and Sunday), 2018
We are excited to announce that Master Chen Zhonghua will return to Phoenix in January 2018 to give Practical Method workshop. The dates, January 20 and 21 (Saturday and Sunday), are confirmed. Save the dates and don’t miss this exciting opportunity.
The workshop will focus on Gongfa (foundations) and Quanfa (forms in Yilu and Cannon Fist).
Workshop Venue: World Martial Arts Academy, 2028 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
Time: 9am to noon; 2pm to 5pm.
Workshop Fee: Register by January 10, $300 for both days (lunches are included);
$200 for one day.
Register after January 10, $350 for both days, $250 for one day.
Send the check or money order to Ping Wei (Pay to Ping Wei),
10622 N. 8th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85020
If you have any questions, please call or email Ping Wei, 602-373-3457.
peace_defender2003@yahoo.com.
RSVP to Ping Wei, 602-373-3457, ping@northmountaintaichi.com
New Year’s Day Practical Method Open Practice
8:30 to 9:30am, North Mountain Park, Phoenix, AZ
Ping Wei will teach a full day Practical Method workshop in Irvine, California on January 16, 2017 (Monday, MLK Day).
Master Chen’s Practical Method workshop and private lessons in Phoenix, Arizona, October 1-4, 2016. Read more
Practical Method Phoenix, AZ Workshop October 1, 2016 – October 2, 2016
by Chris Liu on 10/4/2016
When I discovered the Practical Method, I started watching a lot of Master Chen’s videos. This led me to read more in depth about Taiji and its rooted philosophy in Taoism. I watched, and read, and thought about it every day for over a year then one day, I finally believed I was ready to meet Master Chen. Read more
