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Class information of Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method. More details at chinese site
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Daqingshan Mountain Taiji Resort Photos October 2023.
Daqingshan Mountain Taiji Resort Photos September 2023.
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The elbow rubs against the side of the body. He had us practice that and pay attention to it. I don’t yet know why it is important, but I will work to remember to do it this way
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the foot of the side going forward drives the movement (without moving much).
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The body or parts of the body are often very fixed and you don’t move in space at all, and by using that constraint, then create pressure and the pressure goes through your body more. When you let the body part move, then the power leaks out. I need to not let my body move so that when I apply power, it goes through my body in the desired path, rather than leaking out near the parts that move. He did a vastly more subtle version where it was almost more energetic, and as if he had 2 layers in his body, an outside and an inside. I don’t understand it at all and I don’t think it is where I am yet. He also showed what it was to be equally full everywhere, and to keep that even as moving. These were super cool, very enlightened things. Maybe after many years of hard work I can start to work on these.
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Often there is a body part that doesn’t move at all (and more, keeps the same pressure and direction of pressure, if I am in contact with someone), and then other parts move. I saw this illustrated in a place where we stepped forward with our qua hinging down below someone as our hand stayed fixed against them. Another example in a moving step positive circle … I come in on them in the part where the arm comes in, and then extend the arm after I step.
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Direction – I still need to work on better aim (a lot). However, sometimes I get it pretty well (I think). Easier for me when the person is directly in front of me (but I still vary up/down, even then). But the idea of aiming through a spot was helpful for me. This was similar to a pole exercise Kelvin did, where you both pushed on the pull in a push-a-war (instead of tug a war). By aiming through their hand, the power transmitted beautifully. There was also spiraling the power in, which I can do a little bit of, but I don’t understand why it works at all, only that it does 🙂
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Pung. The sense of stretching in all directions. You can also stretch inwards, and I believe (not sure) that there is often a sense of compression and expansion which sometimes alternate. I should pay more attention to see when it is one or the other so that I am clear. Another example is The arch of the legs & the exercise to pull the Qua away from each other … actively pull the qua away from each other or from one or the other if it is a fixed point. I think stretching is something I need to pay more attention to … he’s mentioned it to me twice in the zoom class, and also has mentioned that my body is too loose. This is probably one of the bigger takeaways for me. (Although there are so many!)
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In my own body and when watching him …. do I know what the fixed point is? He made the comment in six sealing four closing that the fixed point could be the back qua (or the front, but he showed mostly with the back qua fixed). I believe the qua is fixed and the muscles move around it, enabling extra motion.
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in opening the qua … I need to be more strict in my standards. Don’t let my centerline give at all, and my qua doesn’t move much. Then stretch more to get a little extra movement. And look at my shoulders … have they moved forward relative to my qua at all? If so, then I was not strong enough. This also makes me more aware of the facing of the hips .. because then that is also the facing of the torso … I let my waist turn a small amount many times … I need to use my qua, and also sometimes my foot placement. For example, before I would step straight forward more often, and I see now that the feet are typically not straight forward on a line, with the hips completely facing that line.
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1 cannot see 3. The upper body relates to the qua/dantien and they relate to the feet. But if the upper body relates to the feet, you lose power. Similarly the shoulder relates to the elbow to the hand.
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Feet facing mostly forward ( I was too turned out)
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Pung, be more actively full. I need to work on this more and actively. It is not my instinct.
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the push is not in the arms (we always say this!)
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My line / Point … wants to veer left. Then right. Then up. Then gets stuck in the wrist … go through the fingers. I think I need to practice with a stick.
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Things must be so tight that there are no other possibilities. This was very interesting and I did feel it.
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He pushes me and my qua is a gear, but my elbow must move in and screwdriver ever so slightly.
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He slaps arm and qua redirects (note, shoulder also goes down as a consequence of the qua)
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Push from the qua … but there is no push!! It is the rotation of the gear, in response to a different imaginary gear. This is the tai chi symbol. It feels like this is the beginning of a big idea.
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Then there is a lock of the qua to the elbow. A spiral drilling from shoulder, elbow, wrist into the line
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In passing – Curve spine … huge curve, Head down like curve, then pull hea duplicate and find vertical. Everything is always extreme. I don’t think this was as important for me as some of the others, but something to remember.
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He was pushing me. You get stuck … then push with the rear qua more … then split more (right/left) … then spiral in more
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The Rotation / Spiral in the elbow was the same in other places … there was a place where we were pushing our opponent away, and the elbow spiraled in, in a similar way
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Do not let the shoulder move. It wants to cause my spine to bend sideways. And also to rotate
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My qua doesn’t have that much mobility. Don’t let myself over-rotate in either my qua or my shoulders (but do work on getting a bit more through stretch)
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keep my hand on the line
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many other things above (the bridge/arch of my qua/thighs / pung, etc.)
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Method 1
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in a position where I have a leg behind them and the same arm in front
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push with arm to lock them
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then just go down in to the pit
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lock their body with underhooks, hips facing them (probably any lock will do)
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reach back with a leg
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bring my opposite shoulder to that leg
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somehow this squeezes them out
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lock a part of the person’s body
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imagine the opponent has a fixed line going through them vertically
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work around that fixed line (for example, left hand locking their body and pushing up and over their back, while right hand locks torso and pulls down and to my back)
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aim narrowly through them with my elbows and hands
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make this line increasingly narrow
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pretty soon their line is too small and they are squeezed out
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you can change the battle by keeping the pressure but changing the spot that has the pressure (their left hand to your right, for example)
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you can change your body, while keeping the direction, place & line of pressure the same
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if they are pushing you, you can dissipate things by keeping them on the same line and moving ever so slightly back on that line
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push hard into the table, and power will shoot up against that push
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Stretch through your body, past the opponent’s body (perhaps with some curl in your spine & reach through your arm / forearm / hand). Pointing past him in the line helps.
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You can then pick up your opponent / go around behind them. I think this helped cause them to lose power
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Then crank, but not from your shoulder – keep your hand / front shoulder / back shoulder locked as one unit, and crank from below. I think also keep your shoulder connected to your qua
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He also mentioned that he would make the lever even longer by orienting it behind him … I saw him do it and my eyes saw it, but I don’t understand at all how to do it.
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Walk Diagonally and Twist Step:
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the first step
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aimed forward very directly, and the aim is also my body curled so that the curve of my spine also aims forward
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elbows behind fists
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body turned a little sideways, so my right shoulder is somewhat behind my left
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stretch more, just a little bit in front of the horizontal line, and often roughly shoulder level. This happened a few times
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I was rising up … I didn’t understand one of his earlier instructions. It should be “as if” I was rising up, without rising up
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Buddah’s Warrior Pounds Mortar
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Extend the leg by digging down and then having it pull me forward while the back also resists (from Spencer’s class)
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wrist is strong, and as hands go up, the body goes down & upper back curls a little. I was curling my wrist to get up and that isn’t it. It is about the down of the body changing things
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back qua is fixed
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left hand doesn’t move at all … usually it moves, causing the cut to be dramatically reduced
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there was a correction for spencer where the 2 sides where long and the impact on the beak hand caused the other hand to shoot out energy. Then even more amazing, the open hand shot energy to the beak. It was amazing and I bet this is just another example of “it’s always like that”. Probably every correction is just an example of “it’s always like that’.
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the same shock of single whip above carried through to the following movements. I am not at this level yet, but still amazing.
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My right hand was too high – eye level
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he corrected someone that energy is in the back as well as the front – very interesting
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the right elbow comes in (not the hand – almost everyone was doing this wrong, certainly including me!)
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then there is a small circle (from the dantien/qua) so that the right hand encircles the opponent’s hand
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lock left leg more where it was when I grab my opponent
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the punches are elastic
I am so lucky that I have access to a master who is a great practitioner, a great teacher, very open with information & willingness to let you feel him do things, and who speaks English and is in North America.
You can also see a few pictures here.
Last Snowfall on Daqingshan 20230213. In this area in China, snow like this is rare.
Push hands is an exercise that examines your understanding of the Taiji principle: Separation of Yin and Yang. While form training transforms your body, push hands provides an opportunity for you to apply your Taiji knowledge and skill. It has also become a popular sporting event both in China and abroad. This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as people at different levels of their training. If you have never tried it before, this is a great opportunity for you to do it in a friendly and safe environment.
推手是一种让人检查对太极原理(分阴阳)理解的练习。 套路训练可以改变人的身体结构,而推手则提供了运用太极拳知识和技能的机会。 它已成为国内外流行的体育赛事。 这训练班适合推手初学者及不同程度培训的太极爱好者。 如果您以前从未尝试过推手,那么这是个让你在友好与安全的环境中初次尝试的绝佳机会。
On 12/13 November, Carlotta Viviani and me met Vincent Den Hengst and some of his students and friends in the picturesque, centuries-old university town of Utrecht. All three of us signed up to participate in the Championships of the STN Taijiquan Nederland.
The STN (Stichting Taijiquan Nederland) takes place every November. It was founded in 1982, and this year it’s been the 40-years anniversary. We were happy to score in these categories:
– Fixed Step Push Hands – Carlotta: 3rd place
– Fixed Step POush Hands – Vincent: 3rd place
– Individual Form, Chen Style – Carlotta: 2nd place
– Group Form: Carlotta, Vincent, Sven: 3rd place
Thanks to the STN Taijiquan Nederland for inviting us, and to Vincent and his friends, especially Lucas, for the wonderful hospitality!
Kelvin Ho will be running a yilu correction online class starting on Nov. 1, 2022. He has practiced yilu over 38000 times and counting, and has set a record of completing 200 yilus on a single day. He has been awarded by Master Chen Zhonghua the title of Qingshan Instructor since 2019. In this class, he will correct the students’ form in detail by integrating the principle into the form, and providing focused drills to hone the required skill. This class will be meeting twice a week, and is included as part of the yearly program. This class is suitable for people who are able to perform yilu by oneself, and are looking for ways to breakthrough the current plateau and/or to improve his/her yilu overall.
Schedule:
Monday: 2 pm Edmonton Time
Tuesday: 7 am Edmonton Time
To purchase this class, please go to: https://en.zhenbudong.cn/product/202211-kelvin-ho-yilu-correction-online-classes-and-videos-mon-and-tues-only/.
For more information about this class, please see:
https://practicalmethod.com/2020/01/practical-method-yilu-class/

Ben Phillips of Toronto became Chen Zhonghua’s 379th disciple in a brief ceremony at the Annual Toronto Practical Method Seminar
This is the first Toronto Practical Method workshop by Master Chen Zhonghua since covid-19 started. We had a very good turnout, 25 people attended over the 4 days of the workshop. Participants came from Toronto, Markham, Aurora, Newmarket, Oakville, Georgetown, Ottawa, Michigan, Iowa, Arizona, California. One of the participants commented:
“Everyone here expressed and interacted freely and deeply, just like a big family.”
In this workshop, we focussed on training with drills, solo and partnered. The drills allowed us to develop gong, and techniques that would be useful in push hands. Many of the drills were video-recorded and will be available for purchase. We also included one lesson of Hunyuan Qi Gong, and Master Chen said he would begin to integrate more energy work into Practical Method through some Hunyuan Qi Gong training.
The following were intended to remind myself of what happened at the workshop, and they were not to be instructional. However, if you have any questions and need clarification for any part, please feel free to make a comment below.
Day 0
Power or No power? Read more

The Toronto Practical Method workshop will be back on Oct 8 to 11, 2022. If you have not yet attended one, you will be amazed by the magical taiji skills of Master Chen Zhonghua, and his insightful guidance in your taiji journey. He has the missing piece that many people are looking for. If you have been here before, we are looking forward to training with you again.
Read more
Kelvin Ho is organizing a free Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method online (zoom) introductory class (1 session/week for 4 weeks) in July 2022. If you are interested in finding out what Practical Method is about and would like to give this a try. To register, please send an email to kelvin.ho@practicalmethod.ca or wechat to kelvinkwho with your practicalmethod.com account.
Dates:
- Saturday, July 2, 2022 Toronto Time 9 am – 10 am Done
- Saturday, July 9, 2022 Toronto Time 9 am – 10 am Done
- Saturday, July 23, 2022 Toronto Time 9 am – 10 am Done
- Saturday, July 30, 2022 Toronto Time 9 am – 10 am Done
To join the zoom class, click the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87304810317?pwd=CNcC1IsbFges4zthZtT0z3b8eTA1gO.1
The following video is a sample of how a Practical Method online class is like.
Today we did an exercise to rotate the torso horizontally from left to right (first gear), while the arm with the elbow straight as a stick rotated in Ni Chan (second gear). The second gear’s rotation was driven by the first gear. The result was like how the train wheel turned, and the rod attached to the wheels moved along the rotation without changing direction.
Read more
If you are interested in joining this class, please purchase the June package at:
Push hands is an exercise that examines your understanding of the Taiji principle: Separation of Yin and Yang. While form training transforms your body, push hands provides an opportunity for you to apply your Taiji knowledge and skill. It has also become a popular sporting event both in China and abroad. This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as people at different levels of their training. If you have never tried it before, this is a great opportunity for you to do it in a friendly and safe environment.
推手是一种让人检查对太极原理(分阴阳)理解的练习。 套路训练可以改变人的身体结构,而推手则提供了运用太极拳知识和技能的机会。 它已成为国内外流行的体育赛事。 这训练班适合推手初学者及不同程度培训的太极爱好者。 如果您以前从未尝试过推手,那么这是个让你在友好与安全的环境中初次尝试的绝佳机会。
This video package contains videos from Toronto Push Hands Workshop on April 24, 2022.
In this workshop, we trained foundations, line drills, 2-person drils, and free push hands. Detailed videos on the 2-person drills are included in this video package as listed below.
This package includes the following 5 videos (total value of $8):
"Redirect the incoming force to the rear foot 20220424"Online Video
"Open the armpit 20220424"Online Video
"Getting In 20220424" Online Video
"Sink the waist, press the elbow 20220424" Online Video
"White Crane Spreads Its Wings 20220424" Online Video
NOTE:
- Video packages are designed for the convenience of students.
- Some packages are in fact classifications of videos.
- Some videos in packages might have been published and purchased by you individually.
- Average prices of videos in packages are considerably lower than individual videos. The number of videos in the package will increase until the sum of all individual video prices equal to two times or more of the package price.
- In view of this, if you have purchased a video that are also included in a package your have purchased, or vice versa, we will not give refunds or equivalents.
- All videos in packages are paid videos. They are restricted to your personal viewing and other usage. You do not have copyright of the videos and therefore you do not have permission to give/share with others.
- Please note that as a customer/user of the website and/or student of Chen Zhonghua, you have given him and the companies/organizations he represents permission to use videos or photos with you, both personally and commercially.
- Making a paid purchase constitutes agreement to the above terms.
Daqingshan in the Clouds April 27, 2022. Read more
Push hands is an exercise that examines your understanding of the Taiji principle: Separation of Yin and Yang. While form training transforms your body, push hands provides an opportunity for you to apply your Taiji knowledge and skill. It has also become a popular sporting event both in China and abroad. This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as people at different levels of their training. If you have never tried it before, this is a great opportunity for you to do it in a friendly and safe environment.
推手是一种让人检查对太极原理(分阴阳)理解的练习。 套路训练可以改变人的身体结构,而推手则提供了运用太极拳知识和技能的机会。 它已成为国内外流行的体育赛事。 这训练班适合推手初学者及不同程度培训的太极爱好者。 如果您以前从未尝试过推手,那么这是个让你在友好与安全的环境中初次尝试的绝佳机会。
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 0 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English  
Year: 2019 Location: Edmonton Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase 2022 Full Year Online Class Video Package
Purchase 2022 English Instructor Class Video Package
NOTE:
- Video packages are designed for the convenience of students.
- Some packages are in fact classifications of videos.
- Some videos in packages might have been published and purchased by you individually.
- Average prices of videos in packages are considerably lower than individual videos. The number of videos in the package will increase until the sum of all individual video prices equal to two times or more of the package price.
- In view of this, if you have purchased a video that are also included in a package your have purchased, or vice versa, we will not give refunds or equivalents.
- All videos in packages are paid videos. They are restricted to your personal viewing and other usage. You do not have copyright of the videos and therefore you do not have permission to give/share with others.
- Please note that as a customer/user of the website and/or student of Chen Zhonghua, you have given him and the companies/organizations he represents permission to use videos or photos with you, both personally and commercially.
- Making a paid purchase constitutes agreement to the above terms.



Increase speed in the same direction.
Six Sealing Four Closing – First break the elbow, if that fails, yank the whole arm off the shoulder.
Machine gun exercise – Twisting the towel
Do first 13 with speed, one move at a time.
When you practice intensively, don’t go overboard. Take a break before continuing.
Daqingshan Photos 20211207
On 1 Dec 2021 during Master Chen Zhonghua’s Chinese Instructor 3 class we were asked to record a video of the first 13 moves of Yilu initiating all moves from the dantian and to ignore the upper body.
Reference: https://www.zhenbudong.cn/archives/148707
A training method we were instructed to emphasise this was to cross your arms and only to use the dantian and legs to complete the form.
ATNI (Aliansi Taijiquan Nasional Indonesia) Exclusive Interview with Master Chen Zhonghua – Youtube Playback Recording i
On 21 Nov 2021, ATNI for the very first time did an Exclusive Interview with Master Chen Zhong Hua.
The outcome was overwhelming…hit beyond 300 participants in this Live Zoom Session.
For those who are unable to view last Sunday Live Session, kindly click on below link.
Kindly see attached words of thanks from all participants, for making this event a Success!!
Chatline from Zoom Meeting 21 Nov 2021_211126_214843
Photos of the Daqingshan Castle by Chen Zheng-an on Nov. 18, 2021.
Zoom Webinar #3 with ATNI (Alliance Taijiquan National Indonesia) with main Guest Speakers – Alex & Gora of PM Indonesia i
Special thanks to Alex, Gora, James, ATNI members and all live zoom attendees for contributing and tuning into this Live Webinar on 14 Nov 2021. It was a great success!!
- On the last 5 mins prior to closing (in this recorded session), ATNI and James gave a sneak preview on the upcoming Sunday (21 Nov 2021) for an Exclusive Interview with Master Chen Zhong Hua (@7pm Jakarta Time +7 GMT = 5am Edmonton time).
Kindly mark this special event on your calendar!!
Playback recording for today’s session at link below:
Name: Jojo Juarsa 蔡学超
Location: Tangerang Warehouse, Indonesia
Date: 27 Oct 2021
Mission: Preparing for Yilu Challenge (Nov-Dec 2021)
情报站|绝美!日照五莲大青山日出东方,上演一场光与影的大戏
大众报业·齐鲁壹点 2021-08-19 09:54:41
“太阳初出光赫赫,千山万山如火发。”
8月19日,壹粉“刘玉平”向齐鲁晚报官方客户端齐鲁壹点情报站发来一组日照五莲大青山的日出美景图,太阳冉冉升起,光芒万丈,欣赏这如诗如画的美景,令人无不心旷神怡,流连忘返。
当缓缓升起的旭日,越过云层照射到山巅,照亮万物,便会不自觉地感到心中又一次充满希望。
远处的群山层峦叠嶂,在阳光的照耀下闪烁着如火的光芒。
您身边是否也有这精彩的景色?用镜头记录、捕捉身边的美好,把美丽传递, 一起来分享,欢迎上传至情报站哦~
齐鲁晚报·齐鲁壹点 互动编辑 牛耘
This is a new free community event to be hosted on the three selected Saturdays of July, August and September in 2021. It introduces tai chi as a morning exercise to start the day off. It also celebrates the re-opening of our cities in Ontario.
Read more
Starting on July 7, 2021 – 8 classes
Wednesdays: 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm
Saturdays: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: Near Markham Civic Centre
Content: Taiji foundations and the Practical Method 13-form
For more information, please see https://5lovehd.com/wap/hwtemp.asp?id=616