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“Chris Martinez-Yilu Corrections-Toronto 2024 Practical Method Workshop” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2024/07/01

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 6 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Toronto, Canada

Toronto 2024 Practical Method Workshop.

If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase Yilu Corrections Video Package 3
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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 Photos May 27, 2024 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2024/05/27

Early Morning Training Photos on Daqingshan 20240523 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2024/05/23

Early Morning Training Photos on Daqingshan 20240523. Read more

My Experience at the DaQingShan Push Hands Competition 2024 i

by Franklin Chuah on 2024/05/23

DaQingShan is a place I have fond memories of. Previously, I had visited in May 2016 and Apr 2018, and each time I returned home with a bountiful harvest. Firstly, the training intensity is on another level compared to our local training in Singapore. We train four times a day starting from 6am in the morning and ending at 9.30pm in the evening, with meals and rest in between. Secondly, the environment is extremely conducive for training; the weather is cool and dry, and the air is fresh and fragrant from all the natural flowers and vegetation. Thirdly, there are many like-minded students with various different backgrounds passionate about learning and sharing the Practical Method system. Lastly, food and lodging are provided at a very affordable rate. To me, these are the ideal conditions for training and improving one’s skill.

Ever since COVID-19, it became near impossible for International students to travel to DaQingShan. But finally in 2024, DaQingShan is once again reopened for the International students. I took the opportunity to travel here from 3rd to 12th May 2024, along with two other Singaporean students who also wanted to experience the life here. During this period, a workshop was held from 1st to 7th May, followed by the 2024 China Wulian 8th Fucai Cup Daqingshan Taijiquan Invitational Competition from 9th to 11th May. The competition comprises of various events: moving step push hands, fixed step push hands on wooden piles, group and individual performance. Of course, I registered for every single one of them other than the group performance event.

The mood on the day before the competition was incredibly tense and exhilarating. Starting from the afternoon, competitors around China began streaming in one by one, greeting one another like old friends. When it came to the time of measuring our body weights, these competitors stripped down to their underwear, and that’s when I really noticed how lean and muscular they were. I could tell each of them had put in a lot of time and effort into their training, and they even kept their weight as high as possible within the weight category they are fighting in.

My objective for joining the push hands competition was simple: to pressure test myself against other competitors to see how I would fare, so I could identify the areas to improve on. The competition uses a double elimination bracket system, which meant participants need to lose twice before they are eliminated. This was great news to me, as I believed I would be able to acquire more experience from this competition regardless of winning or losing. Unfortunately, during my first match, I accidentally pulled my left shoulder and right thigh muscles, and was unable to compete in the subsequent push hands matches… Nevertheless, I’ve gained plenty through that one round.

Set Your Own Tempo
During my match, my opponent came in strong and fast, and my body reacted to it subconsciously. I tried several times to regain back my control, but kept reverting back soon after due to the intensity of my opponent. And as expected, once I played into his game, I was not able to beat him in terms of his physical abilities. Setting my own tempo is something that I haven’t quite comprehend yet, but I believe I’ll have to accumulate even more push hands experience to truly appreciate.

Continue Working on Foundations
During the match, I was still unable to execute my moves properly. When I watched the video recordings of my match, I noticed that my body was disconnected and I was trying to rotate with the top half of my body. Furthermore, the stability in my lower body was still lacking. After seeking some advice from my senior brothers and sisters, I realised I was not focusing on the right areas when doing some of the basic foundations, which telltale signs are shown during the match. This is something that I’m currently working on every day since returning back to Singapore.

The Opponent is a Tree
Outside of the competition, one of the biggest takeaway I got from shifu Chen Zhonghua during the workshop is to imagine myself as a monkey and my opponent as a tree. A monkey does not try to push or pull the tree, but rather swing around its branches and manoeuvre around it. It does not seek to break, but to utilise the branches to its advantage. This mindset is fascinating to me, and I’m looking forward to incorporate it into my future push hands training as well.

Overall, the three of us from Singapore really enjoyed the trip, and would have loved to stay longer had it not been for work commitments. We trained a lot, ate a lot, and made many new friends along the way. We look forward to the next time we meet again!

“13 Moves Corrections 3-Maple Ridge Practical Method Workshop 20240120” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2024/05/19

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 11 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Edmonton, Canada

Maple Ridge Practical Method Workshop 20240120.

If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase Foundations Corrections Video Package 1
Purchase Greater Vancouver Workshop in Maple Ridge Video Package 3 20240120
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.

“13 Moves Corrections 2-Maple Ridge Practical Method Workshop 20240120” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2024/05/18

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.

“13 Moves Corrections 1-Maple Ridge Practical Method Workshop 20240120” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2024/05/17

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Edmonton, Canada

Maple Ridge Practical Method Workshop 20240120.

If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase Foundations Corrections Video Package 1
Purchase Greater Vancouver Workshop in Maple Ridge Video Package 3 20240120
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.

“6-Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 20240106” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2024/05/16

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 9 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Edmonton, Canada

Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 20240106

If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase 202401 Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 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.

Trailer5-Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 20240106 i

by Shopmaster on 2024/05/15

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 1 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Edmonton, Canada

Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 20240106

If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase 202401 Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 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.

Daqingshan in the Clouds on April 13, 2024 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2024/04/15

Daqingshan in the Clouds on April 13, 2024.

Daqingshan Photos on April 11, 2024 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2024/04/14

Daqingshan Photos on April 11, 2024.

Trailer4-Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 20240106 i

by Shopmaster on 2024/04/14

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.

Inaugural Tianjin Practical Method Seminar Photos 20240316 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2024/04/04

Inaugural Tianjin Practical Method Seminar Photos 20240316.

2024 Daqingshan Scenic Photos i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2024/04/04

2024 Daqingshan Scenic Photos.

“Trailer3-Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 20240106” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2024/03/13

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.

Notes for Sydney Workshop Feb 17-18, 2024 by Brian Chung 1

by Brian Chung on 2024/02/24

2024.02.17 Sydney Practical Method Workshop Day 1 Notes 澳洲悉尼实用拳法讲座笔记锺百豪 (英文)

Trailer2-Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 20240106 i

by Shopmaster on 2024/02/12

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 2 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Edmonton, Canada

Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 20240106

If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase 202401 Edmonton Practical Method Workshop 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.

Daqingshan in the Snow 20240120 i

by Shopmaster on 2024/01/25

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 1 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Daqingshan, Shandong, China

Daqingshan in the Snow 20240120.

Trailer-Toronto 2024 Practical Method Workshop i

by Shopmaster on 2024/01/17

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 3 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Toronto, Canada

Toronto 2024 Practical Method Workshop.

If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase 202401 Toronto Practical Method Workshop 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.

“Bie-Toronto 2024 Practical Method Workshop” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2024/01/17

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 5 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 2024 Location: Toronto, Canada

Toronto 2024 Practical Method Workshop.

If you like this video, there is an even greater value in purchasing one of the packages below.
Purchase 202401 Toronto Practical Method Workshop 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.

Notes for Toronto Workshop Jan 11-14, 2024 – Kelvin Ho 1

by Kelvin Ho on 2024/01/15

Single Whip
The right hand beak must be strong.
Line up the beak with the left shoulder.
As the left shoulder goes backward, it drives into the right peak.
Once it is connected, we can further use the left elbow to drive into the right beak.
Read more

Fighting the Urge to Fight 2

by Franklin Chuah on 2024/01/06

It’s been seven years since I started the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method in 2016, but it was only over the past two years of practice that I’ve really gained better understanding and appreciation of the system. Part of the reason why I was so interested in Practical Method is its practical aspects aka push hands, which seemed very unconventional compared to other martial arts.

My first push hands experience was in Dec 2017, when I participated in Singapore’s K Shanmugam Cup Push Hands Competition. I was able to clenched 3rd place for my weight category, but I knew what I did was not Taiji. Back then, I was still active in the military and was at the peak of my physical fitness. I was able to power my way through using brute force and stamina, beating opponents who were lighter and weaker than me. However, this was not what I was looking for, otherwise I wouldn’t have picked up Practical Method.

Observing the way shifu Chen Zhonghua and Chen Xu pushed with others as well as experiencing it myself, I knew I was still lacking in many ways. If I have to use a word to describe their moves, it was “precise”. A precision that could only be acquired through countless hours of practicing and honing their skills. They are able to end the fight the moment you touch hands, instead of the typical drawn out struggle we usually see between two competitors.

In the past two years, I’ve attended the weekly push hands zoom classes of both shifu and Chen Xu to continue working on my fundamentals and identify my weaker areas. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical of its effectiveness at first since the lessons were conducted online through zoom, but it turned out to be the best decision I made. From the lessons, I’ve practiced many useful and interesting exercises which I would have never known. Through observing all the zoom participants including myself perform the moves and listening to the feedback from shifu and Chen Xu, I’m better able to recognize whether a move is done correctly according to our principles.

In end Nov 2023, I went to Bogor, Indonesia and took part in the South East Asia Elimination DaQingShan Push Hand Competition. It’s been a long time since I last participated in a push hands competition, and I was pretty nervous and excited about it knowing that Indonesia is much more competitive in push hands as compared to Singapore. Most importantly, I wanted to know what my current Taiji ability is. In summary, I was delightfully surprised at the results. It was not about getting 2nd place, but rather the changes I felt compared to before. These past few years of consistent practice have finally sprouted a Taiji seedling in my body that changed the way my body moves!

You are Your Biggest Enemy

As cliché as it may sound, I have always been my biggest obstacle. Whenever I come into contact with an opponent, my first instinct is always to fight back. The bigger the opponent, the harder I push. Otherwise, I’ll definitely lose if I can’t resist him, right? That was my mentality when I was younger. Of course, the result is I ended up exhausted and was still unable to do anything against my opponent. During the Bogor competition, the biggest change I felt this time was a shift in my mindset: I’m not going to resist and simply accept whatever the opponent is going to do to me, what matters is whether I can get in close to him and execute my move. What a world of difference it made!

Trust in the Process
Strangely, everything changed once I stopped resisting. The opponent who was aggressively attacking suddenly started to back away from me. And in turn, that made me feel more confident to get close. I could feel the moves the opponent made were not as effective and he was getting more and more tired as the match continues. And finally I was able to take advantage of a moment when he was trying to execute a move to execute mine and scored a point. Shifu has demonstrated this many times, that he is able to get in close to his opponent effortlessly. He has always reminded not to power up, but somehow it has always felt very counterintuitive for me before. I had tried not to power up but there was always some hesitation within me in the past. It is at this stage of training where I fully trust in the system that I appreciate his words. What appeared to look weak turned out to be really strong!

Just Keep Practicing
I realized the only way to truly trust in the process and remove all doubt and hesitation is through consistent practice. Even if you do not feel it now, all the practice will slowly accumulate over time and bear fruit eventually. In the past, I was not able to feel the effectiveness of the system and thus was not confident enough to rely on it, so I always end up falling back to my physical strength. But through all the practice, I began to become more aware of the various connections within my body and am now able to execute moves that my body was not capable of in the past. This year, I’m finally able to feel my lower body’s connection to the ground, which in turn strengthen my mindset that no matter how hard the opponent pushes, I’m confident that I will not fall so easily. So at the end of the day, it was the practice that brought about the change in mindset. So practice, practice, practice!

Brisbane Workshop February 25th-26th 2024 2

by Brian Chung on 2024/01/02

Register:https://bit.ly/PM2024Brisbane

Workshop:	The 1st Brisbane Workshop
Teacher:	Master Chen Zhonghua
Date:	Saturday 24th Feb 2024 – 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 5pm. Sunday 25th Feb 2024 – 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 5pm.
Location:	Goodlife Gym, Springwood Hometown, Lexington Road, Underwood QLD 4119
Topics:	Theory, Foundations, form (Yilu), applications and push hands
Fee:	$200 per day. Early bird discount $150 per day.
Register:	https://bit.ly/PM2024Brisbane
Contact:	Rory Trend +61410477900 rorytrend@gmail.com

Suggested preparation for first-timers, get yourself familiar with the following: Positive and Negative Circles: Two Circles of Taiji Yilu First 13 Moves: Chen Style Yilu 13 Moves

Toronto Workshop Jan 11-14, 2024 2

by Kelvin Ho on 2024/01/02

The Toronto Practical Method workshop will be back on Jan 11 to 14, 2024. 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

Sydney Workshop, February 17th-18th 2024 i

by Brian Chung on 2023/12/21

The Sydney Practical Method workshop will be back on Feb 17th to 18th, 2024. Discover Master Chen’s incredible Taiji skills and gain insightful guidance in your taiji journey. He has the missing piece that many people are looking for. New to the workshop? Prepare to be amazed. Returning participant? We look forward to training with you again.

Register:https://bit.ly/PM2024Sydney
Payment:https://square.link/u/ZVQK8DRZ

Workshop:	The 10th Sydney Workshop
Teacher:	Master Chen Zhonghua
Date:	Saturday 17th Feb 2024 – 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 5pm. Sunday 18th Feb 2024 – 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 5pm.
Location:	Day 1: Fuller Hall, Crows Nest Centre. 2 Ernest Pl, Crows Nest NSW 2065 Day 2: Studio 2, Evolution Performance Centre. Level 1, 11-15 Falcon Street, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Topics:	Theory, Foundations, form (Yilu), applications and push hands
Fee:	$380 for 2 days, $220 for 1 day. $20 Early bird discount before 25th January 2024.
Register:	https://bit.ly/PM2024Sydney
Payment:	https://square.link/u/ZVQK8DRZ
Private Sessions:	By Interest: Friday 16th Feb By Interest: Monday 19th Feb
Parking:	See link for details Nicholson St Car Park. Free on Sunday. Wilson Parking 40 Oxley Street. $5 flat rate Sat & Sun. Wilson Parking St Leonards Square. $8 flat rate Sat & Sun.
Public Transport:	15 minute walk from St Leonards train station.
Accommodation:	Quest St Leonards \| Quest Chatswood
Organiser:	Sydney Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
Contact:	Brian Chung practicalmethodau@gmail.com +61 423 035 857Local Class: https://practicalmethod.com/2019/01/sydney-classes/

Suggested preparation for first-timers, get yourself familiar with the following: Positive and Negative Circles: Two Circles of Taiji Yilu First 13 Moves: Chen Style Yilu 13 Moves

Breakthrough: Throwing the kua and find the stick behind it i

by Kelvin Ho on 2023/12/21

Today after practicing 5 yilus with John Upshaw, we trained throwing the rubber band around the waist. Then John mentioned that he was looking for the back of the knee going into the line between the kua and the heel. This reminded me to do the same, and use that to drive the waist. Stepping on the right heel was supposed to cause the waist to turn left, and vice versa. I used this method instead of the previous method of throwing the waist around to cause the rubber band to fly. This allowed my vertical central rod to be more stable. I looked like I was just walking when throwing the rubber band around. Later, we tried putting the rubber band on the side to throw it forward. I was able to throw it forward and upward. Then I realized how I could throw my waist by digging downwards and then upwards, and at the end stretch the knee backwards and stepping the heel down to find the stick to support the kua.

A Hike on Daqingshan on October 21, 2023 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2023/10/21

A Hike on Daqingshan on October 21, 2023. 大青山涉足20231021-1

1-day-autumn-workshop in Berlin i

by Sven Carl Gusowski on 2023/10/17

Daqingshan Mountain Taiji Resort Photos October 2023 1

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2023/10/07

Daqingshan Mountain Taiji Resort Photos October 2023.

Daqingshan Mountain Taiji Resort Photos September 2023 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2023/09/30

Daqingshan Mountain Taiji Resort Photos September 2023.

Daqingshan Standard Group Buffet Photos 20230830 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2023/08/30

Daqingshan Standard Group Buffet Photos 20230830. This is a USD$5.00 meal.

大青山标准团队餐20230830.

The Iowa Workshop Experience – Takeaways from a Newbie – part 2 i

by David Liu on 2023/07/20

This article is to summarize my technique takeaways. So many!

In twisting the towel (day 1 or 2)

The body is like a Mercedes Benz symbol (legs and torso/head). Practice with your head fixed in the ceiling in a spot, so the torso can’t move off a central line or move up & down. I tried it with 2 folks holding a staff and it definitely made it a very different experience
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
the foot of the side going forward drives the movement (without moving much).

Some principals ..

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.
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.
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 🙂
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!)
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.
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.
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.

My lesson with him – Foundations – Twist the towel

Feet facing mostly forward ( I was too turned out)
Pung, be more actively full. I need to work on this more and actively. It is not my instinct.
the push is not in the arms (we always say this!)
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.
Things must be so tight that there are no other possibilities. This was very interesting and I did feel it.
He pushes me and my qua is a gear, but my elbow must move in and screwdriver ever so slightly.
He slaps arm and qua redirects (note, shoulder also goes down as a consequence of the qua)
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.
Then there is a lock of the qua to the elbow. A spiral drilling from shoulder, elbow, wrist into the line
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.
He was pushing me. You get stuck … then push with the rear qua more … then split more (right/left) … then spiral in more

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

While practicing twisting the towel

Do not let the shoulder move. It wants to cause my spine to bend sideways. And also to rotate
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)
keep my hand on the line
many other things above (the bridge/arch of my qua/thighs / pung, etc.)

Push Hands – some things I got from various disciples (Brennon, Kelvin, Levi, etc. Thank you)

Method 1

in a position where I have a leg behind them and the same arm in front
push with arm to lock them
then just go down in to the pit

Method 2

lock their body with underhooks, hips facing them (probably any lock will do)
reach back with a leg
bring my opposite shoulder to that leg
somehow this squeezes them out

Method 3

lock a part of the person’s body
imagine the opponent has a fixed line going through them vertically
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)

Method 4

aim narrowly through them with my elbows and hands
make this line increasingly narrow
pretty soon their line is too small and they are squeezed out

Other random push hands comments (from Brennon)

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)
you can change your body, while keeping the direction, place & line of pressure the same
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

He taught Armwrestling in a Tai-Chi Style

push hard into the table, and power will shoot up against that push
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.
You can then pick up your opponent / go around behind them. I think this helped cause them to lose power
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
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.

Yilu corrections for me from Master Chen

Walk Diagonally and Twist Step:

the first step

aimed forward very directly, and the aim is also my body curled so that the curve of my spine also aims forward
elbows behind fists
body turned a little sideways, so my right shoulder is somewhat behind my left

when my right arm comes around to meet my left, my left doesn’t move in space, and my right comes forward to meet it

then my arms stay fixed in space, and I pull my lower body forward. This was difficult, because it feels like you will fall backwards, but you need to pull with your forward foot and shift the lower body and believe it is possible.

when expanding my arms

stretch more, just a little bit in front of the horizontal line, and often roughly shoulder level. This happened a few times

in fetch water

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

in the step to go low, keep the long pull I created in fetch water, and move it as if holding a staff

Then I mimicked him through the end of the 1st 13. The only correction was to stretch more in a few places, but being able to be behind him mimicking him was helpful. I tried to feel like I was wearing his body

Yilu corrections (mostly Master Chen, but also some classes others gave)

Buddah’s Warrior Pounds Mortar

keep my front hand fixed in space as I rotate. Rotation happens around the central line. The back arm hits backwards, but doesn’t move .. it is from the rotation along the central line.
Extend the leg by digging down and then having it pull me forward while the back also resists (from Spencer’s class)

Block touching Coat

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

six sealing four closing

back qua is fixed
left hand doesn’t move at all … usually it moves, causing the cut to be dramatically reduced

single whip

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’.

turn left to pound mortar

the same shock of single whip above carried through to the following movements. I am not at this level yet, but still amazing.

White Crane spreads it’s wings

My right hand was too high – eye level
he corrected someone that energy is in the back as well as the front – very interesting

Initial Closing

the right elbow comes in (not the hand – almost everyone was doing this wrong, certainly including me!)
then there is a small circle (from the dantien/qua) so that the right hand encircles the opponent’s hand

Walk diagonally & twist step (my corrections above)

second closing (my corrections above)

lean with back

lock left leg more where it was when I grab my opponent

Flashing the back

the punches are elastic

PS – obviously too much for me to do well. Nonetheless, I will try to remember as much as I can and follow instructions as best I can in my practice. This has been a wonderful re-beginning.

The Iowa Workshop Experience – Experience from a Newbie – part 1 i

by David Liu on 2023/07/20

My background & early exposure

I saw videos of Master Chen on youtube and I was Very impressed. I watched them periodically until one day, 4 years later, I registered for a workshop with him in Toronto (after I was laid off, and had a bit of both time and money). It was clear that he had an amazing understanding of movement (and obviously, Practical Method Tai Chi Chuan).

One event that happened in that 1st workshop / exposure to him, which was an enlightenment, was that I touched his foot as he was doing “in with elbow”. And I understood that all movement was driven by his foot / qua / center system. And that after studying dance actively for 20 years, I didn’t know anything about how to use my legs or hips.

I started taking his online classes, and they were full of great exercises and insightful corrections. I hope I am improving there, but I think it is slow. But regardless, even if the body is improving slowly, there is no doubt that my eye / ability to understand is evolving, and that this is very valuable. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to study in these classes with him online.

I went to the Iowa workshop after taking that 1st workshop in Toronto, and then studying videos and online for about 7 months

A week in Iowa

After the first few days, I began to understand what “stretch” means. He had given me this correction a couple of times in the online classes, and I wanted to work on it – I thought it was an important thing for me to focus on, but I didn’t really know what to do. Now I begin to know what to do. This was very satisfying. My current understanding is that it is neither tensing the muscles in place, nor is it “limply” stretching, but rather an extreme extension which creates space in joints and charges up the facia/tendons/etc, in the desired direction.

There were also many pieces of instruction on different details that start to educate my eye … many more details later.

A private lesson with Master Chen

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.

I registered for a private lesson with him. You go to a workshop and having a little bit of hands on, on the topic that he feels is most important for you, really helps you be on a right path. I felt I had my first taste of what it is to feel what it is to do practical method. I remind myself to follow instructions, however, and not just go back to the feeling.

I think my capacity went up a notch in the first few days of the workshop, and another notch after my lesson with Master Chen. I started to better understand “gears” in the body, and the way you use a gear to indirectly create power … the movement is perpendicular or at a 45% angle, and I genuinely need to not let my body try to drive the wanted result, but just do the technique. Not “end game”. So hard.

People

Many wonderful people – helpful & generous, but also very interesting, and with their own unique insights into life in general. Lou mentioned to me in the Toronto workshop that it was a great group of people, but I didn’t understand. Let me say in writing, Lou – you were right, so many great people 🙂

I would come without the community, because Master Chen and his teachings are so profound, but the community definitely makes it more fun 🙂

Psychology & Science. Thinking

Master Chen also shares many stories which are educational. He’ll talk about science and make analogies with Tai Chi. I majored in physics in college, and most people who talk about physics but don’t know it are spouting garbage. Master Chen is not – what he says is profound, relevant, and such a completely different perspective. It is very interesting.

And there are periodic stories about how we should think as students to progress, to not be in our own way. He said, and I am sure he is right, that each of these funny stories about other people is also a story about us. That the story he was telling about someone else where the other person was being so wrong-headed, is actually a story about me / each of us (just more subtle). I need to be careful of being too wrongheaded, of not listening enough. Of not believing enough. Of interpreting too much through a personal lens.

One example is often when people ask questions that are not on the topic he is teaching, he’ll make it clear that it isn’t a good question. This really isn’t the typical American way, but it is clear he is correct … better to focus 100% on what he is saying and talking about, so you have more hope of learning it. Having a distracted mind can only make something that is already difficult even harder!

There are many ways that my thinking is too opinionated, I think. But at the same time, I do know he is such a master of this, and I need to not just listen, but hopefully learn to think more like he thinks. I appreciate that he doesn’t just work to teach us Tai Chi, but also works to teach us how to think and learn. Kelvin & Winston also had a great conversation on this same topic with a couple of folks late one night – thank you both for your help in this workshop!

I think I also am getting a better appreciation for the use of physical props, and to practice in the right way. Every time I used a prop I realized how I wasn’t as accurate as I thought.

Realizing there is hope

I had a large part of me that believed I would never “get” it. That there was too much to the practical method. The more I learn, the more nuanced, subtle & difficult it gets.

I studied for the 8 months after my 1st workshop online, and honestly, I didn’t think I would develop any skill. If studying Practical Method was climbing Mt Everest, I thought I would start hiking, and not even be able to make it to base camp. With such a bleak view of my future progress, why did I stick to it? The answer is that I thought I would learn amazing amounts along my journey, even if I didn’t get very far. It had already had dramatic changes in my dancing and movement. With rewards so high, and the luck of such an opportunity to study with him, how could I not?

However … in this workshop, I realized that with hard work and time … I could learn! I could start to climb Everest. Realistically, I’ll never reach the summit. I will never be even close to as good as Master Chen. But there is hope now … I see that I can make real progress, and begin the ascent. Somehow knowing that I can make real progress is very encouraging. The impossible has now become possible.

Gdynia Workshop 2023 Impressions i

by Tomasz Raganowicz on 2023/04/15

You can also see a few pictures here.

Master Chen Zhonghua’s sixth workshop in Gdynia, April 1-2, 2023 i

by Tomasz Raganowicz on 2023/02/18

Detailed information and registration here.

Welcome to Gdynia!

See also impressions of 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 workshops in Poland.

Last Snowfall on Daqingshan 20230213 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2023/02/13

Last Snowfall on Daqingshan 20230213. In this area in China, snow like this is rare.

Toronto Push Hands Workshop on Dec 11, 2022 i

by Kelvin Ho on 2022/11/26

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。

STN Taijiquan Jubilee Festival & Open Dutch Championships 2022 i

by Sven Carl Gusowski on 2022/11/21

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 Yilu Correction Online Class starting on Nov 1, 2022 i

by Practical Method on 2022/10/27

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.