In the Ottawa Mar 24-25, 2018 workshop, Master Chen Zhonghua re-emphasized the importance of creating a differential. He mentioned that steam would always rise up through an opening in a pot, and water would always run down a fall. These are examples of having a differential. We don’t force the steam up or push the water down. It is the property of steam or water given the situation. As long as the particular situation happens, the steam or water will simply behave that way. Steam and water are examples of a differential in position. There are also timing differential, power differential, length differential, movement differential, etc.
Master Chen’s comments:
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Practical Method was invited to participate in 2017 Martial Arts Festival in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Shaolin martial arts from China were the main attraction for the event. Many local martial arts school were also invited to showcase their talents. Kelvin Ho leading Bruce Robinson, Kevin Sun, Lucas Lu and Mark Hanley performed a yilu demonstration. A kids experience class was also conducted. A booth was set up to promote Practical Method. Eric Foo, Ken Fong, Louis Chan, Marianna Chan, Michele Chu helped with taking photos and videos, and looking after the booth. Thanks to everyone who came to support as well. |
We have always been told by Master Chen not to push, not to move the hand. If that is the case, what can we do?
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Thank you for Rachelle Bergeron and James Tam for organizing the Ottawa workshop and their hospitality. It was always great fun to attend the Ottawa workshop. A lot of important aspects of Practical Method was shown and covered by Master Chen Zhonghua.
What is Practical Method about?
Practical Method was based on a fight system from long time again. It is an exercise we do to pass along the tradition.
What is a Practical Method stretch?
It is something with a moving and non-moving part.
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Recently, I understand more about the statement:
“Rotation is the result of linear movements.”
Our actions are like on the tangent of a circle. The non-moving dot is the centre of the circle. Every linear action is very small. The direction changes all the time. The sequence of such actions along with non-moving dot cause the rotation. The actions are continued on top of each other, and they have a relationship with the non-moving dot. In the form, it is like dragging the flesh around some non-moving rod or dot. It is almost like someone pushes the arm on one side for elbow in, and someone else pushes the other side of the arm for hand out. This is related to the stretch that Master Chen Zhonghua showed on the inside or outside of the forearm. Another example is that if someone touches me in the front, I don’t move the front, but I stretch the back over or around that non-moving front.
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Yi (intent) is not just a thought. In my current understanding, yi describes an ability for your body to do a precise action as you command it to do. In other words, your body listens to your brain. It takes training to get to that state. Master Chen Zhonghua has said before, “the real intent is no intent”. Think about riding a bike as an example. After you have learned how to ride a bike, you don’t think about how to coordinate your hands and feet, how to balance, you only think about where to want to go. You appear to be able to do it with ease. For taijiquan, we need to train long enough to make an action habitual, so that we don’t think about it when we need it, and it just comes out.
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Related Article: http://practicalmethod.com/2014/07/triangle_double_lock_single_lock/
This video describes in taiji what we do is equal and opposite to the result we desire.
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Fist covering hand downwards and Forward double push hands- Toronto North York Taiji Class on August 10, 2017 i
Fist covering hand downwards
Stretch right hand from elbow – straight forward, pull back towards left. Left hand covers the right arm, circle the elbow, stretch right arm while placing left hand middle of chest(thumb near chest), rotate the hip towards left stretching all the way while locking right elbow and shoulder.
Drop both hands on the side.
Double negative circle- right hand near the face -left hand straight-left hand palm up drop just above right knee making fist- right hand make a fist- stretch downwards just above right knee – make a fist left hand and stretch opposite side opening the Kua towards the left. All one move
The lock is on right side and the stretch from the hip is towards the left.
Forward double push hands
Right hand positive circle start with elbow in out with hand 2nd positive circle elbow in touch the elbow to right side, lock and rotate torso to left as much as possible
Open left foot using the heel, lock the left side
Step forward pulling right foot ret on toes
Right hand forward, palm up, slightly bend the elbow, left hand palm up and beside the elbow
Step the right foot out 90 degrees lock right side, pull the left foot and place it beside right foot hands placed in front of the body… double push hands, palm facing downwards, chest height.
Fist Draping Over Body (Pi Shen Chui) and Lean with Back (Bei Zhe Kao) Toronto North York Taiji Class on July 13, 2017 i
Fist Draping Over Body (Pi Shen Chui) and Lean with Back (Bei Zhe Kao)
Double negative circle: Left hand negative circle, right hand elbow in place hand in punch form just above the left knee, right hand negative elbow in place hand in punch form just above the left knee. Repeat twice.
Right arm turn clockwise and raise the arm to crown. Hand in punch form. Left hand rests on the Kua and stretch open. The line and the stretches should be from left heel to right
Cross Hands (Shi Zi Shou)
Double negative circle, left arm stretched on left side and right arm stretched on the right side higher than left arm, Continue the negative brining arms in a cross position, right above the left, hands in punch form, opposite to the chest, elbows tucked and facing the ground, same time slide right foot heel first to the right and land.
Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) Toronto North York Taiji Class on April 20, 2017 i
Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) Toronto North York Taiji Class on April 20, 2017
Right turn palm motor. Positive and negative circle at the same time. Close left feet. Finish with left turn palm motor
Wade Forward in Twist Steps (Qian Tang Ao Bu) Toronto North York Taiji Class on April 13, 2017
Open left leg stretch arms open as if going through a canal. Left arm cross the right arm while left leg pull up.
Lean left leg on toes and rest ->
Land left leg on the heel with toes up. Rotate the left fixed knee-heel-toes triangle on the heel to land the toes.