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Class information of Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method. More details at chinese site

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Edmonton Practical Method Taiji Academy reopens July 15 i

by Allan Belsheim on 2020/07/08

Edmonton Practical Method Taiji Academy is opening Wednesday, July 15 at 10am for regular classes. We will be following our regular scheduled classes from that time forward.
Covid-19 is not over and we must take stringent precautions to protect staff and students.

MASKS inside the Studio are mandated. If you have a respiratory problem a face visor must be used instead. We have disposable masks for sale at the Studio if required. A visor can be found at A-Mart on 9251- 34 ave. NW for $7+GST.( If you know other sources let me know.) Read more

“Chen Zhonghua Teaching Rhythm of Push Hands 2018″ Online Video Class 14

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/06/29

Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 27 min. In: Chinese Year: 2018 Difficulty:5/5

This video is in chinese.

This video is packed with action. Master Chen Zhonghua taught several instructors advanced push hands moves. The moves were executed at much faster pace compared to other instructional push hand videos, and it included a lot of different push hand techniques. They are very exciting to watch and learn from. For people who are interested in push hands, this is a video not to be missed.

Kelvin Ho will have a class for this video at 10 am ET on Saturday, July 4, 2020, and video guidance in English will be provided by that time. Please feel free to make comments and ask questions for this video in the comment section below.

Please join the class LIVE with webex at http://webex.practicalmethod.ca.

Class notes from Students in Phoenix, June i

by Ping Wei on 2020/06/19

Switching in the Positive Circle Online Video Class 1

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/04/05

In this video, Master Chen covered the 3 main axes in the body, and how we could switch among them without tossing in the positive circle, and the analogy of a lever with different pivots. We discussed about the shoulder last week at Shoulder Movements in Positive Circle, we will continue this week regarding switching with the lower half of the body.

See you at 10 am ET on Saturday, April 11, 2020 at http://practicalmethod.com/2014/06/switching-in-the-positive-circle-online-video-trailer/

The Magic of Taiji 5

by Bhargav on 2020/04/04

Ever wondered why Taiji is so magical especially at the hands of true masters?
I first experienced that magic when I met Master Zhonghua Chen in Daqingshan on a warm July evening of 2012. Ever since that moment I have developed a fixation of sort to figure out what is behind that magic – it is so ever present in everything Master Chen does, it is impossible to differentiate between the magic and the magician! Read more

Spring is here! What’s in a bounce? 9

by James Tam on 2020/03/22

Master Chen Zhonghua always amazes me, whether it is at the next workshop (there is always something new and amazing) or looking back — such as in this video captured during a workshop in Ottawa ten years ago… an easy, seemingly simple, and clean bounce:

What do you see in the video?

John Upshaw: Everything is on a line. He added the right leg to the line…left arm to right leg…

Lou Sacharske: Watch his right shoulder, as he adds the right leg, there is zero deviation to telegraph the execution.

James Tam: I believe the rotation axis is the one joining Shifu’s left shoulder and front foot. And, the stick (effective energy pathway) is from his back foot to Steve’s upper back.

Master Chen Workshop notes March 7-11 2020 1

by Mark Hanley on 2020/03/12

Summary

Basically, once again I will combine the 4-day seminar into a summary by grouping what I call related items. It was a great environment to get corrections from others or better understanding of push hand drills. Great bunch of people.
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John Saw – My journey from a hotelier, gambler and Qigong Master to a faithful and loyal disciple of Master Chen Zhonghua 6

by John Saw on 2020/03/07

John Saw at Sydney Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy – 8 March 2020

John Saw – My journey from a hotelier, gambler and Qigong Master to a faithful and loyal disciple of Master Chen Zhonghua.

I was born in Burma in 1935. I lived there till I was 29, had to leave everything behind as the country was taken over by the military. I swam across the Mekong river to Thailand in 1964. Started work at the Bangkok Hilton and after 6 years, decided to migrate to Australia.

In June 1970, I arrived Sydney with my wife and infant son and started work in a motel. In no time I got involved in gambling. Life was easy and had so much fun that by the time I was 60, I suffered a stroke due to smoking, bad diet and not enough sleep. My left side of the body was affected, my speech was slurred and I lost my balance. Through Qigong, I gained back my health, and I recovered fully after years of hard work.

After 20 years traveling around the world spreading our Qigong system, I felt restless, something missing. Even though I was an International Master of Lohan Qigong, I just couldn’t figure out what’s missing in my life.

Throughout my travels, I’ve met many great Masters and practitioners in Qigong and Taiji, and became friends but nothing really impressed me.

Then in December 2014, I was invited to attend a lecture by Taiji Master Chen Zhonghua at the UTS. I went along as I was free at that time and also curious as to what’s there for me to see. The first time I saw Master Chen, I was impressed by his demeanor, he was a humble man with twinkling eyes. When he started talking about his style called Chen Style Taiji Practical Method, I was a bit hesitant. I thought another Master promoting their style. The minute he explained the technique and showed us why it’s called Practical Method, I was blown away.

Mind you, I’ve travelled a fair bit and met many skillful Masters, but what Master Chen did with one slight movement of his body was incredible, seeing is believing I should say. He let people touch him and let them feel that he didn’t move his muscle. I was very impressed and decided to join his workshop that weekend. There again, I was amazed with his skill but most importantly, it’s his willingness to share his knowledge without withholding anything, thats got me hooked.

Since then, I’ve been to Daqingshan many times and attended his seminars yearly without fail.

I was accepted as a disciple in 2017 and my number is 257.

I went to Bali last Nov 2019 to join his workshop and again in February 2020 in Sydney. Master Chen never stop to amaze me with his willingness to share and spread this wonderful system.

The last day of the workshop in Sydney was my 85th birthday. Master Chen was kind enough to join my family and friends with some disciples to celebrate this special occasion with me.

Thank you Shifu.

Your disciple,

John Saw #257

John Saw – Burma Days

John Saw – Gambling Days

John Saw – Qigong Days

John Saw with Master Chen Zhonghua at Daqingshan

John Saw with Master Chen Zhonghua at Zhenbudong Rizhao Taiji Acacdemy

John Saw Discipleship Photo in Sydney with Master Chen Zhonghua

Daqingshan Taiji Flame Torch Bearer 2018

Chen Zhonghua Practical Method Workshop Sydney 2020 February

Notes for Sydney Workshop Feb 12-16, 2020 by Brian Chung 2

by Brian Chung on 2020/02/17

2020.02.12 悉尼笔记锺百豪 (英文) Sydney Notes by Brian Chung (English)

Master Chen Zhonghua’s sixth workshop in Poland. Gdynia, March 28-29, 2020 (Cancelled) i

by Tomasz Raganowicz on 2020/02/15

Detailed information and registration here.

Welcome to Gdynia!

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

Energy Alignment 2

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/01/13

Energy path is the pathway that energy travels on. There are both a physical path and a virtual path for a given setup. For any three points in the body, they can form a triangle (unless they all fall into one straight line). For this discussion, let’s use right hand, left kua and left foot as the three points. As similarly discussed in this previous article, while the right hand and left kua form one physical (solid) line, and the left kua and left foot form another physical (solid) line, the right hand and left foot form a virtual (invisible) line. While the actual energy travels along the two physical lines, it can be viewed as if it travels on the virtual line.
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Kelvin Ho Yilu on Jan 5, 2020 i

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/01/06

Kelvin Ho’s 2019 Review and 2020 Goals i

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/01/04

Toronto Practical Method Experience Class i

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/01/04

A number of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and patients attended Practical Method experience class on Dec. 20, 2019, and some of them tried taiji for the very first time. Among the participants, there was Rachel Yi, who started studying Practical Method in 2016 in China. She is now attending university in Canada, and is continuing to study PM under my taiji brother Si Chan in Winnipeg. We covered some foundation exercises, the first 13 moves of yilu, and some demonstration of applications.

Angelo Gee’s Foundation Correction Purchase 3

by Shopmaster on 2019/12/25

Instructor: Kelvin Ho Length: 23 min Language: English Year: 2019 Difficulty: 1/5 At: Toronto

This video covers:
Twisting the Towel
Fetch Water
Positive Circle
Negative Circle

AngeloGeePositiveCircleCorrection

Practical Method at Roadrunner Park in Phoenix, Arizona 1

by Ping Wei on 2019/12/25

Practical Method Phoenix, Ping Wei

Regular classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, from 7:30 to 8:30am at Roadrunner Park.

Foundations, Yilu, Erlu, and sword.

Call (602-373-3457) or email (peace_defender2003@yahoo.com) for details.

Chen Style Taiji Experience Class 陈式太极体验班 i

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/12/20

ChenStyleTaijiPracticalMethodBannerWithRedLogo

Do you have a New Year resolution to become healthier in 2020? Taiji may be your answer. On Dec. 29, 2019 at 10 am, you will have a chance to experience what taiji is like and what health benefits it may bring you at the Chen Style Taiji Experience Class to be held at Channels of Wellness Centre. Come try it out for free!

December 2019 Phoenix Workshop notes – Edward Liaw 2

by Edward Liaw on 2019/12/14

Day 1

Double negative has to be more vertical – open below, closes up top.
Buttocks cannot protrude. Kua is not open enough. It will hurt.

Taiji Push Hands Workshop in Toronto on Dec. 8, 2019 1

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/12/14

Push Hands Only Version

Full Version

On Dec. 8, 2019, a Practical Method Taiji Push Hands Workshop was held in Toronto. We had 10 participants, and 4 of them were new to Practical Method. Bert Desjardins drove 4.5 hours from Windsor to Toronto to attended this workshop. We also had the pleasure of having Master Liu Xuwei, who teaches Chen Style Taijiquan Small Frame, in attendance. We covered foundations:

Twisting the Towel – Don’t move the hand, and only use the foot the squeeze out the hand.
Fetch Water – Don’t move anything, only focus on opening the kua
Six Sealing Four Closing – Lock the front hand and rear shoulder, push the front shoulder into the line formed by the front hand and rear shoulder.
Positive Circle – In with elbow, turn with waist, out with hand. No other body part should be moving except the specific leader.
Negative Circle – In with elbow, drop the hand on the outside, out with hand.

Sydney Australia Workshops and Classes i

by Brian Chung on 2019/12/04

Practical Method Sydney 澳洲悉尼實用拳法

Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method 陈式太极拳实用拳法

The Sydney Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy, also known as Practical Method Sydney, was officially established in 2012. Paul Janssens traveled to China to attend Master Chen Zhonghua’s three month full time training course on Daqingshan, after which he invited Master Chen to conduct workshops in Sydney and Canberra in 2012. Since then, Master Chen has conducted regular two day workshops in Sydney. These workshops have attracted many people from around Australia to learn from Master Chen.

Each workshop typically covers theory, foundations, Yilu (the first Taiji barehand form), applications and push hands. Practical Method is a system based on separation of yin and yang. The main concept is indirect power. The primary actions are in with elbow no hand, out with hand no elbow.

The Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy headquarters is located in Daqingshan, Wulian, Shandong Province, China. International students train year-round on Daqingshan. Daqingshan holds one of the largest Taiji competitions in China annually.

Brian Chung, Master Chen Zhonghua’s 256th disciple, is an instructor for Practical Method Sydney. He has been teaching and promoting the Practical Method system in Sydney since 2018. He has received numerous medals in various Taiji competitions in Australia & China. He has completed over 20,000 Yilus and will continue to further his learning.

Classes and Practice Sessions:
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Sydney Workshop, Feb 15-16, 2020 i

by Brian Chung on 2019/12/04

Instructors:	Master Chen Zhonghua
Date:	Feb 15-16, 2020
Time:	8:30am to 11:30am2:00pm to 5:00pm
Location:	DJKJ Kung Fu Academy 34 Rosebery Avenue, Rosebery NSW 2018
Topics:	Theory, Foundations, form (Yilu), applications and push hands
Fee:	$380 for 2 days, $220 for 1 day.
Register:	http://bit.ly/PM2020Sydney

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

For further information, contact:
Brian Chung
practicalmethodau@gmail.com
+61 423 035 857

2019 Fountain of Youth Qi Taiji Event on Nov. 23, 2019 i

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/12/01

I was invited along with a number of taiji teachers in Toronto to perform at the 2019 Fountain of Youth Qi Event on Nov. 23, 2019. Each teacher first performed a routine of his choice on stage. In the 2nd part of the event, each teacher demonstrated Cloud Hands, Single Whip and White Crane (Goose) Spread Its Wings of his style. Over generations of transmission, there are many variants of these moves. Many thanks to Sharon Liu, Founder of Fountain of Youth Qi for the invitation and organization of such event.

Official Page: http://www.dyysg123.com/206593211320581365232424739178236373103426371.html
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Toronto Taiji Push Hands Workshop on Dec. 8, 2019 i

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/11/25

ChenStyleTaijiPracticalMethodBannerWithRedLogo

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。

North American Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Training Camp 2020 (Cancelled) 21

by John Upshaw on 2019/11/24

We are pleased to have Master Chen Zhonghua back for the 4th annual training camp. Once again, the taijiquan training, lodging and dining will be at one location with one cost at the same location as last 3 years. This will be an intensive workshop focused Theory, Foundations, Yilu, Push Hands and Broadsword. Disciples will take part in the instructions.
Read more

Intent i

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/11/20

Today, there was a discussion among some of the North American disciples on intent. What is it? What does it mean?

The discussion allowed me to solidfy a couple of things.
In 2019 Iowa Camp, shifu mentioned:

Spencer’s notes:
The camp’s lessons this time were pervaded by the idea of “intention”. Intention in PM is what we call “to lead”. For example, in the positive circle, the elbow in is the “lead” Intention has no meaning in itself, but it changes everything. I am starting to realize this is one of the reasons Master Chen’s form looks so much different than mine and I can never figure out why. Your eyes can only see movement. The act of leading translates to intention, and when intention is used, the action is different. In with elbow, turn at waist, out with hand… You have to be clear about those intentions. Say them aloud! When the intention is clear, you produce a very thin line. From one large thing, you pull out one dot. This is the concept of silk reeling. Read more

Guitar String 1

by Rick Pietila on 2019/10/12

Master Chen showing Rick Pietila how to align the rear elbow with the front hand

Recently at a 2019 Toronto CA workshop hosted by Kevin Ho, Master Chen Zhonghua demonstrated and taught the participants a training drill that requires the starting position to have the rear heel off the floor and both hands in a double push position, chest high. While going over this drill and teaching to the finer more precise details, he offered that we students feel his back leg starting positions with our hands. One hand was to be placed on the ankle while the other on the inside thigh to feel the active tendons and muscles. He suggested that students pull or rake across these two areas to gain a better understanding of the physical requirements for the drill. When I took my turn, pulling across these areas, something registered with me to the feeling of the amount of tension in the leg as well as what precisely for this move was being used to generate such great power, and speed.
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Practical Method Popsockets i

by John Upshaw on 2019/10/01

Practical Method Popsockets for your smartphones are $12 plus shipping. As many of you are aware I teach a group of kids, which several have attended Iowa workshops taught by Master Chen. I was able to work out a fundraising deal with the company so 50% of all the sales will be applied towards tuition for my kid students that have financial need. So an awesome item + good price + great cause = excellent purchase!

For orders email me midwestpracticalmethodtaiji@gmail.com or message me on Facebook.

Thanks,

John Upshaw

Notes for Toronto Workshop Sep 7-10, 2019 – By Mark Hanley i

by Mark Hanley on 2019/09/30

Gears on either side of spine move in opposite direction

The gears twist on either side of the spine and your intention along with where you are looking can send power in any direction you want. You can also add better control by also changing the percentage of each lever. with straight spine hold with front left kua use right hand across. them Opening kua to right

Power comes from restrictions, stretch to point of rotation, Movement is muscle., no movement is a lever
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Notes for Toronto Workshop Sep 7-10, 2019 – Kelvin Ho 2

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/09/20

When practicing yilu:

Put myself inside a fixed sized box.
Pull against the sides of the box coming into dantian.
Push against the sides of the box going out of dantian.

My kua opened up at the Vienna Workshop 2019 i

by Pawel Mueller on 2019/09/16

Participants of the Vienna Workshop with Master Chen Zhonghua in 2019
So we were doing lots and lots of six sealings four closings exercises at the end of the Vienna Workshop. I was leading the group and counting. Then, at #476 something in my hip cracked open. A rush of pure energy run through my body and I felt like a conductor between heaven and earth, and then … Read more

Toronto Workshop Mar 7-10, 2020 i

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/09/12

20190909_Group1

Instructor:	Master Chen Zhonghua
Date:	Mar 7-10, 2020

Initial General Thoughts of PM 1

by Huy Huynh on 2019/09/08

I was asked to write a post about my overall experience with Practical Method up to this point, so I’ll try my best to put those experiences into words. My first live experience with Practical Method was during the Toronto seminar with Master Chen Zhonghua in March of 2019. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to train on and off with both Kelvin Ho and Hugo Cascoduro (depending on my work schedule), with most of this post addressing the live push hands and applications portion of the training.

What I learned at the 2019 Iowa Camp i

by Steve Doob on 2019/08/06

Probably the biggest thing had to do with the learning process: The questions that arise in my mind are usually off topic and I think their purpose is to distract me from paying full attention to what Master Chen is teaching at the moment. By asking them out loud I’m distracting everyone else too. My mind doesn’t want to give up control.
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Comments on the North American Practical Method Training Camp 2019 1

by Paul Carlson on 2019/08/06

Comments on 2019 North American Practical Method training camp

From my perspective, this year’s training camp was outstanding! I came with the thought that I had progressed a lot but after a short time I realized (as usual) I have so much to learn. I am basically a very beginner but I can see that each time I attend a function with Master Chen I can get a little better grasp of what he is teaching.
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DQS Review by Wendy Liang from Inner Mongolia 1

by Wendy Liang on 2019/08/05

I am an interpreter from Inner Mongolia, I continued to learn practical method for third time during the month of July .I felt honored to learn with Shabar from New York and Mike from France.
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