Observe Brennan leg movement in this video, an important part of form practice is to train the bottom half.
Wilkin Ng
Someone asked a question in the Youtube comment of Master Chen video.
This is what I wrote back:
A: Taijiquan is structural power, from long time practice, you can find out the most efficient way to generate this power from joints relationship
Q: But how did the first founder of Taichi knew in the first place that if he started an unconventional ways with long practices he would achieved something?
how would you answer this question?
Dinner at Mike’s (Disciple #3) in Abbotsford with Zhang YanPing who moved to Abbotsford from Jinan.
Three new student attended, so Master Chen went over foundation and application of Yilu first move.
Fetch water application is getting in for a strike with shoulder, that’s the purpose of moving the arm down.
After many corrections, I am starting to understand that power should not come from the shoulder, but treat shoulder as a pivot
We did a lot 13 Yilu repetition with counting. The idea is to be clear in each step of each move. Master Chen mentioned once student learn the choreography, it is helpful to break down each move to understand it better, then latter perform it together again.
This sequence of breaking and putting it back should be repeated several times as student progresses in practice.
More photos below Read more
A 4 videos series explaining the concept of using joint power to generate force.
Using joint power is different then muscle power because using joints keep the body in place. Muscle power often rely on momentum which can be manipulated by opponent.
In addition joint power is additive, so the more the body is open, the greater the output.
 “Centered Move 1” |
 “Centered Move 2” |
 “Centered Move 3” |
 “Centered Move 4” |
23. Brush the Knee Obliquely (Lou Xi Ao Bu)
24. Flash the Back (Shan Tong Bei )
Master Chen told me that I need to maintain axis in the arm hitting moves in the transition between 23 and 24. Observant viewer of this video might notice another detail in the transition
During last Vancouver workshop Master Chen explained that there needs to be adjustment between stretch. Stretching alone normally doesn’t have correct aim, and adjusting the body after a stretch allow the subsequent stretching to be deeper.
The picture depict that the aim is in a diagonal, but stretch only go to horizontal, so adjustment rotate the body so the stretch will go toward the goal.
Subsequent stretches are done with different body parts starting from contact point to the feet.
The hand on the stick is to show that the hand is being moved by the elbow.
Camille from Port Alberni, and Phil from California joined us.
Four days focused on yilu correction. Master Chen went around while we did yilu and gave lessons based on our errors.
For me, this experience pushed my envelope of what is required from yilu, and I feel a difference on the last day, how my body is more stable in doing it. Master Chen reminded me to keep practicing correctly otherwise I will revert to my old habit.
Some points from my notes:
- keep the head not moving (this engages the core)
- keep the arm shoulder level, while adjusting below
I noticed this kind of motion before from Master Chen but only starting to feel the effect of it in my stability.
In a way Yilu is a progressive system, I only notice the higher difficulty requirement if my body can perform it and can tell the difference when I do it correctly.
Rick and Wolf joined us from Victoria Island
We worked on separation at the shoulder. This is the first time I have a taste of how to do it, as I heard of this principle before but in the past my body can not do it, or just do it by accident, not in controller manner
The application of separation is not just moving the arm in a separate manner, but it is having two focus in the move. One is to keep opponent contact point steady, and one is to have the arm move not affecting the first focus.
It is unnatural because habitually only do one move with one focus at a time. Master Chen showed me the finer detail of this move, like having a stretch to compensate for the arm move.
I have a chance to clarify what Master Chen meant when he bring up the analogy of treating lumber by immersing it in water.
Our body has many pockets of energy that wants to go its own direction. This may be from previous training or habitual usage. In push hand these multiple energy does not work together, and it results in leak and blockage. Read more
Linlin came up from Eugene to join us. Master Chen bring up the importance of clear separation in out movement. Breaking down cloud hand into three steps.
Move as if the torso is being carried by the leg, don’t go up and down
This video illustrate that gears are not always round, as long as there is good connection between two rotating objects, then transfer of power will happen. Having good connection is the key of generating indirect power in the body for taijiquan purpose. Read more
Bruce from Denver, Mark from Chicago came to Vancouver for the workshop.
Practice on torso arm separation. The sequence is step in while hand is fixed, adjust so front kua is full, push hand while torso is stillMaster Chen has recorded same exercise while he was on Daqingshan. Video below Read more
In Vancouver June 2014 workshop, Master Chen explained a common error when students doing circle. During elbow in the elbow, shoulder, front kua have to come close together. During hand out hand and rear kua have to move apart.
The torso/leg has to facilitate a lever during a circle, it doesn’t reverse in the middle of the move. Common error is for the kuas to reverse then this is doing a circle only on the same side of the body.
Photos by Jay Smith
Ronnie taught us detailed Yilu moves, applications, and pattern push hand routine. Everyone learned a lot on the weekend
Read more
Reasons to make Daqingshan your 2014 vacation/training destination (details for 2014 on this page)
- Constant feedback, feedback in term of practicing with other students together.
- Daily class with Master Chen, if you have questions you can go directly to him for clarification.
- No distraction, only there to learn and practice.
- Motivation and direction for daily practice. This is something you will bring back from Daqingshan.
Having trained daily on the mountain, the body will get used to it and will want to continue after mountain training is over.
I have been there every year since 2010, so these points are all from my experience.
Master Chen has said in an interview that at certain stage he felt his overall strength get much better.
I asked him how was his training different after that stage. His reply is that the training progress to a different dimension. Each dimensions becoming less physical.
However student must complete the first level, Read more
This video illustrate Kelvin comments on using leg as piston to provide power.
Blake from Seattle, and KS from Malaysia came to the workshop. Master Chen went over the Yin Yang relation in the legs, where one leg has to be still which sound simple but I find it hard to keep the front leg to not move. (Photos by Jay Smith) Read more
Four days workshop: we worked on ensuring evenness of energy in circle and yilu. ‘ Carrying Weight while moving. No light moves! ‘
Stepping exercise to develop ligament strength. Circle shape consists of three segments, only one is moving at a time while maintaining the circular shape.
Dina made homemade treats for everyone
A challenger show up in Daqingshan to test the school. Watch closely, he sneaked an illegal move in, intending bodily harm.
Practiced with Fleming on Sunday. he started 6 months ago uses his upper body too much. I told him to do more moving foundation to get the feel of generating power from the leg. His legs are weaker proportionally, so this is something he has to work on, to even out his body power potential.
Generating power from the leg is an elusive feeling, especially when pushing another person. My light bulb moment happen when pushing the big fridge and realizing the mistakes I was doing
We did part horse mane stepping foundation, we just do these along a line. Master Chen said this move require rotation so the body move in a straight line and the arms movement need to keep elbow in.
Another moving foundation is synchronized double negative circle hand opening, during closing we turn the body 180 degree to face the other side, step, then open the arm again. Master Chen pointer is to not open the hand out until you have sure footing, you can not do action during stepping, need to be ’empty’. This is a common error when student step in during push hand, as the tendency is force oneself in. If the opponent feel force then he will immediately resist
Arriving in August, the sun is already up at 5 am, the temperature go up to 30 degree today, compared to 37 degree in Beijing where I stay a few days
morning lesson： sequence in push hand, ‘ding’, get in, push, if it doesn’t work, ‘zhuan guan’
I showed Beijing Rick last night that when being pushed, he has to learn to ‘ding’ instead of turning his body to neutralize. Master Chen often told me I was moving too much when doing it the wrong way.
‘ding’ is commonly used as 顶住 which mean withstand.
Around The Web
The Art Among the Clouds: Jonathan Bluestein experiences at DQS Link
Master Chen talked about warping as the basis of creating power from unmoving structure. I heard this several times before, only now starting to feel it in my body.
One of the activities for full time students at Daqingshan.
Did a lot of push hand this workshop. Master Chen gave us training tips to get ready for competition in May at Daqingshan. One thing I have to keep in mind is to be willing to fall down then try to get away or shove back. Always get in!
Master Chen went over in detail exercises for establishing an axis in push hand and in Yilu. The second requirement is to keep the axis not moving, only then rotation can happen. The arm moves because of axis rotation, opponent will feel power but there is no power on the arm. Photos by Jay Smith.
We are happy to have Carmen Farruggia of Sacremento, CA, USA join us again for this workshop.
A: We are doing push hand as a martial art and that requires special ways other than simple drills.
Photos by Jay Smith
Master Chen gave us detail correction of the circle, always more detail to discover in circle. We also did several push hand instruction session.
This time we are joined by Ernest from Holland, Kim from Florida, Bruce from Denver and Carmen from Sacramento. Master Chen cover many topics but focused on detail of Six Sealing Four Closing foundation action.
The unique feature of Practical Method is embodied in this move as it uses the grinding of two cylinders to generate power. Master Chen Read more
Every student got to show the circle and get corrections. I was rotating my wrist which feel natural but is wrong. I wouldn’t notice this mistake on my own without being pointed out and feeling the correct arm movement on Master Chen circle.
I heard that Master Chen has left the mountain to begin his journey home, stopping over Vancouver for a workshop.Lucky for the fulltime students there since Master Chen extended his stay by a few weeks to oversee the site development. As it has been posted here and in facebook group, Daqingshan is expanding its training facility as it become the center of taiji training for Wulian county. Read more
Master Chen is requesting clips of group doing yilu in landmark location of the local city as part of the Daqingshan Taijiquan festival in 2013.
The festival will be held in last week of May to inaugurate the new Taiji Square, and the plan is to present these clips on the big screen.
Also students coming to Daqingshan can be part of the festival by bringing their local traditional clothing.
