Like one drink sets an alcoholic back after 50 years of abstaining – so it is if we add a move (like move the hand)
Bigger from the kua
If you need to move the knee, fix the hip. If you need to move the hip, fix the knee.
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Two ends fixed, move the middle
Dinner at Mike’s (Disciple #3) in Abbotsford with Zhang YanPing who moved to Abbotsford from Jinan.
Three new student attended, so Master Chen went over foundation and application of Yilu first move.
Fetch water application is getting in for a strike with shoulder, that’s the purpose of moving the arm down.
After many corrections, I am starting to understand that power should not come from the shoulder, but treat shoulder as a pivot
We did a lot 13 Yilu repetition with counting. The idea is to be clear in each step of each move. Master Chen mentioned once student learn the choreography, it is helpful to break down each move to understand it better, then latter perform it together again.
This sequence of breaking and putting it back should be repeated several times as student progresses in practice.
More photos below Read more
All actions are rigid (yang); all adaptations are soft. (yin)
Qi gong and 3 levels of taiji progression: “The truth is naked”, People can’t take the truth because they are not naked. We are always covering up.
When all moves arise from the biting and catching of the gears, there will be proportionality.
Saturday:
1. Gear box / Bite: Don’t add extra moves. With twisting of towel you need to grind elbows on ribs. Everything is proportional and nothing is loose or it will break at higher speeds (like an engine). In this way, nothing leaks out.
2. A rock cannot have a relationship with itself; it needs to split and then one part can move around in relation to the other.
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Maple Ridge Workshop With Chen Zhonghua October15/16, 2016
It was windy and raining in Maple Ridge last weekend, but in our cozy hall, Master Chen was telling us once again what he has been telling us for sixteen years: elbow in, hand out, move one thing at a time, observe your opponent, where his energy is located, see his lines.
23. Brush the Knee Obliquely (Lou Xi Ao Bu)
24. Flash the Back (Shan Tong Bei )
Master Chen told me that I need to maintain axis in the arm hitting moves in the transition between 23 and 24. Observant viewer of this video might notice another detail in the transition
During last Vancouver workshop Master Chen explained that there needs to be adjustment between stretch. Stretching alone normally doesn’t have correct aim, and adjusting the body after a stretch allow the subsequent stretching to be deeper.
The picture depict that the aim is in a diagonal, but stretch only go to horizontal, so adjustment rotate the body so the stretch will go toward the goal.
Subsequent stretches are done with different body parts starting from contact point to the feet.
The hand on the stick is to show that the hand is being moved by the elbow.
Good workshop with students from Victoria and Seattle who made the trip. Worked on foundations and a drill to line up two dots on the body.
Camille from Port Alberni, and Phil from California joined us.
Four days focused on yilu correction. Master Chen went around while we did yilu and gave lessons based on our errors.
For me, this experience pushed my envelope of what is required from yilu, and I feel a difference on the last day, how my body is more stable in doing it. Master Chen reminded me to keep practicing correctly otherwise I will revert to my old habit.
Some points from my notes:
- keep the head not moving (this engages the core)
- keep the arm shoulder level, while adjusting below
I noticed this kind of motion before from Master Chen but only starting to feel the effect of it in my stability.
In a way Yilu is a progressive system, I only notice the higher difficulty requirement if my body can perform it and can tell the difference when I do it correctly.
Rick and Wolf joined us from Victoria Island
We worked on separation at the shoulder. This is the first time I have a taste of how to do it, as I heard of this principle before but in the past my body can not do it, or just do it by accident, not in controller manner
The application of separation is not just moving the arm in a separate manner, but it is having two focus in the move. One is to keep opponent contact point steady, and one is to have the arm move not affecting the first focus.
It is unnatural because habitually only do one move with one focus at a time. Master Chen showed me the finer detail of this move, like having a stretch to compensate for the arm move.
Linlin came up from Eugene to join us. Master Chen bring up the importance of clear separation in out movement. Breaking down cloud hand into three steps.
Move as if the torso is being carried by the leg, don’t go up and down
Bruce from Denver, Mark from Chicago came to Vancouver for the workshop.
Practice on torso arm separation. The sequence is step in while hand is fixed, adjust so front kua is full, push hand while torso is stillMaster Chen has recorded same exercise while he was on Daqingshan. Video below Read more
In Vancouver June 2014 workshop, Master Chen explained a common error when students doing circle. During elbow in the elbow, shoulder, front kua have to come close together. During hand out hand and rear kua have to move apart.
The torso/leg has to facilitate a lever during a circle, it doesn’t reverse in the middle of the move. Common error is for the kuas to reverse then this is doing a circle only on the same side of the body.
Photos by Jay Smith
Ronnie taught us detailed Yilu moves, applications, and pattern push hand routine. Everyone learned a lot on the weekend
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On Sunday, Master Chen demonstrated how to set up multiple lines on an opponent’s body when pushing hands. The goal was to set up enough lines that the opponent finally felt like they had to jump out to escape, or they were bounced, or squeezed out. Read more
Four days workshop: we worked on ensuring evenness of energy in circle and yilu. ‘ Carrying Weight while moving. No light moves! ‘
Stepping exercise to develop ligament strength. Circle shape consists of three segments, only one is moving at a time while maintaining the circular shape.
Dina made homemade treats for everyone
Did a lot of push hand this workshop. Master Chen gave us training tips to get ready for competition in May at Daqingshan. One thing I have to keep in mind is to be willing to fall down then try to get away or shove back. Always get in!
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This time a long time student of Master Chen James Chan from Philadelphia joined us. Lots of push hand on Sunday as four students from Seattle joined us. Topics covered:
1. Beginning. 2. movement vs tranquility. 3. bending vs stretching. 4. listening energy. 6. Don’t move your hand! Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 46 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:1/5 At:Maple Ridge, B.C. Canada
This is the first time I have attended a local four days workshop, the extra time let me have a deeper impression on what I learnt. Bruce from Denver, Lee from Saskatoon, and Linlin from New Hampshire attended, along with regulars from Seattle and Victoria island. We are planning to have the next four days workshop in Spring 2012. Please contact Master Chen if you are interested in attending. Read more
Collection of mini lessons.
Internal Connection, Maintain Line from Rear Foot, Push Along Every Joints, Hand Foot Connection, Pull Into a Wall, Gears Move in Opposite Direction, Conversion of Power, Hand Can Not Move Backward. Stretch to Pull,
Establish Center
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 35 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:3/5 At:Maple Ridge B.C.
[singlepic id=2991 w=200 h=150 float=left] As usual, lots of hand on teaching, the best way to learn taiji.
Master Chen corrected a few of my postures mistake. For me, that’s enough pointer of what I should be working on until I meet him again on the mountain in two weeks.
It was a great workshop with tons of push hands. Thanks very much for all the hard work!
It was a great workshop with tons of push hands. Thanks very much for all the hard work!
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A clip of demonstration common in Master Chen workshops.
http://practicalmethod.com/2011/01/maple-ridge-workshop-jan-15-2011-online-video-trailer/
- Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Yilu Applications 1-13.
- Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Push Hands Drills.
- Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Foundations.
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First comment Master Chen has for me is to make my stance larger when we started with circles.
We went over the details of twist towel foundation:
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