1) sequence of learning- learn Form (overall structure), stretch (no fight),  and how to stretch

2) step in on moving positive circle.  Elbow comes in, leg goes out in same direction no deviation

3) bypass/ turning over – there is no direct connection of 2 body parts as if there is you can not connect to ground , can not bypass,

Dear Tai Chi – enthusiasts and those interested!
Please use this link to register: www.practicalmethod.at/vienna-2020
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Details coming soon!

www.practicalmethod.pl/en

October 26, 2019 Day 1 Training

Chen Style Taijiquan Seminar

Practical Method Basics & Sabre

Notes prepared by Chan Jadoonath

Introduction

Learning from Master Chen is a unique experience. One of the most striking things he said during our first day was I give you instructions and you don’t follow it. I didn’t take notes. I made no recording. I took no photos. I cannot describe the form or the details of the foundation drills that we practised. Would I remember anything from the workshop far less follow it? At the end as we were saying goodbye I asked his advice. He said write about the workshop.

 I am a complete beginner. I know nothing about tai chi, the culture, the history … so attempting to write is difficult. Whatever I say will be my memory, my interpretation and may not be what Master Chen actually taught. But he knew all that when he said it. Even if writing felt illogical and impractical to me I decided to still follow his suggestion. There is no point asking for advice and not following it.

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I’ve just spoken to Shifu and I‘m happy to announce, that there will be discounts on the 8 European workshops this year (2020). It’s simple:

First workshop: Full price
Second workshop: 25% off
Third workshop: 30% off
Fourth and further workshops: FREE
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Yilu — by Bogna Golenko

Invisible Force

Secret Movement Inside Out

Balanced Opposites

Shifu James Strider demonstrating the 1st 13 moves from the Practical Method Yilu during his 18 month full time sabbatical on Daqingshan, Wulian, Shandong Province, China – September 2019

This is purely a video of reference material. If you wish to learn from the International Standard Bearer Master Chen Zhonghua, go to his extensive library of online training materials and click here for further information on our Full-Time training program.

International Liaison Officer and International Instructor Sifu James Strider teaches Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method classes and workshops at various locations across Australia and on Daqingshan, Wulian, Shandong Province, China.

Email: james@practicalmethod.com.au

www.practicalmethod.com.au

Hello, my name is Adarsh Khalsa, a 67-year-old woman retired almost two years now. I began studying PM (Practical Method) with Ping Wei at the beginning of 2019 and this was my first workshop (December 2019). One of the main things for me was how it exponentially increased my understanding of what this practice is really about. I found that it is harder to “not move” than it is to move; even becoming aware that you’re moving a part that shouldn’t be moving is a huge learning process.

Master Chen instructed me to use a wider stance, which I have started working on.

I had the opportunity to talk with almost everyone at the workshop, which I found very helpful. Thanks to 3 gentlemen and Master Chen, I was able to experience a taste of what push hands is about; in the correct position by rotating my arm just a tiny bit and moving my hip, my “attacker” fell over.

Very helpful was the instruction to read your notes out loud; also the idea to make use of devices, such as sticks and walls to train is good too.

There were many details, nicely noted elsewhere by Edward.

Thank you to all my fellow attendees and especially Master Chen for being so accessible.

New Year’s Day Tai Chi and Brunch Hosted by Ping Wei

Practical Method Phoenix

8:30-9:30am Tai Chi at North Mountain Park (7th Street/Peoria).

9:30-, Brunch at Ping and Ross’ home, 10622 N. 8th Street, Phoenix.

RSVP by text to Ping @ 602-373-3457, or email: peace_defender2003@yahoo.com

Video Pt1 – James Strider – Private Session – Jose Lobato – Perth Dec 2019

On the 4th of December I had the privilege of meeting up with Jose Lobato from East Timor whom I had met just recently at the Bali workshop. We had a great time, despite the unexpected Marsh Flies and various bugs trying to eat us!

Due to his work, Jose is in Perth every month and we found time to meet up in beautiful King’s Park for a 2hr session before 2019 comes to an end, covering the Basic Foundations and general Theory.

From this I have made a series of 6 reference videos which I thought may be of interest…

These videos and more will be available at www.practicalmethod.com.au.

If you want to learn from more in depth materials, please look into the incredible database of Master Chen’s online videos here at www.practicalmethod.com.

As always, feedback is welcome…enjoy!

During her 7 day stay on Daqingshan during July, 2019, Disciple Applicant Yu Xin gave this 8minute interview with International Liaison Officer and Instructor James Strider. In it they discuss meeting Master Chen and the daily regime you will find on Daqingshan when you come to stay….

International Liaison Officer and Instructor Shifu James Strider on Daqingshan Mountain 2019

This time the 7th practical method workshop in Indonesia was held in Bali.  Master Chen Zhonghua together with a team of trainers i.e: Wang Kai, Ling Ziming, Ling Zili, Song Zhenhua and participants from China arrived in Bali on November 19, 2019 at midnight. James Strider arrived at the 21st of November. The next day the lesson has begun and is followed by students who arrive earlier.  This workshop was very special because the day before the workshop which was November 22, 2019 was also held for the first time the push hands practical method match for the Southeast Asia and Oceania region.
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In the weekend of 9 & 10 November Carlotta and Sven from Berlin came to Utrecht in the Netherlands for the Open Dutch Championship and a workshop.

Sven led the workshop and Carlotta the execution of the yilu 13 section. Two of my students in Holland, Lucas and Ester took part in it, together five of us. Read more

Pulling instead of pushing … The first time I heard that statement, it made absolutely no sense at all to me. The tenth time I heard that statement, it still made no sense. I remember doing two person floor drills at Master Chen’s workshops where we were supposed to move the drill partner backwards by ‘pulling’, rather than ‘pushing’ them backwards. The only way that I could move them backwards was to push from my back foot.
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  By Ong, Wen Ming.
Master Chen Zhonghua’s disciple from Bali Island, Indonesia.

On 27, 28 and 29 September 2019, I was honored to teach the chen style taijiquan practical method to a delegations of a multi-national company based in Russia who were holding their annual meeting on the island of Bali, Indonesia.  The delegation numbered more than 100 people but there were only about 20 people who participated in taijiquan practice. Taijiquan training in the morning was only a choice of sports activities offered by the event organizer for the delegation members during stay in the hotel.
The training started at 7 in the morning and finished around 8:30 in the morning. I started the exercises with body stretching, practical method foundations, footworks and the 4 initial steps or forms in Yilu. Most participants who took part in the training were from China, southeast asian countries, Russia and Africa. They really liked the practical method of master Chen Zhonghua. I hope they will go further to find and come to the nearest Taijiquan practical method Club in their respective countries or come directly to Daqingshan to practice there. I am very grateful to Master Chen Zhonghua for all his kindness in showing me the way, teaching and instruction in the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method.

PM workshop Dec 2019

A few of the Disciples of Sydney ,Australia came together to represent the Chen Style Practical Method to do a Demo at the yearly event host by the Tai Chi Association of Australia to celebrate the Tai Chi Cultural 2019 Moon Festival at the Redfern Townhall on the 15 Sept 2019, Sunday,starting from 9.00AM to Read more

The surface of all the joints is equal to the size of the body. The body has three dimensions: side to side, front to back, and top to bottom. If the body has a volume of 100 units, it is made up of joints whose surface is also equal to 100 when fully utilized. A rotation without movement will translate all 100 units of the body’s power.
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In taiji we are always anticipating strikes. We curve to avoid strikes, but too much curve means a loss of power.

The problem with taiji is we have too much theory and not enough physical practice. The problem with other martial arts is too much physical practice and not enough theory. Great martial artists are great thinkers.
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Last week, I joined the 3rd European Meetup in Toulouse to experience Chen style Taijiquan Practical Method for the first time in my life. The experience was mindblowing.

I initially discovered Practical Method a month ago via Youtube videos and I was impressed by the “scientificness” of the explanations regarding how to train our bodies to achieve Taiji movements. I have been practicing Chen style Taiji for roughly two years, but I never had the opportunity to get some in-depth understanding of the mechanics at stake in terms of physics (lines, rotations, revolution, levers etc.). So, after a little week of learning the choregraphy (13 moves) et trying to do the circles, I was on my way to Toulouse for my first immersion in Practical Method Taiji.
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During a meal at the latest Iowa training camp, I was speaking to Mater Chen about an event that happened a couple years ago at a workshop in Phoenix. That chat prompted me to retell the anecdote now.

Master Chen was demonstrating a Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method counter-attack from a right strike/right foot forward. I asked him how he would counter a right cross strike (with the left foot forward). As I would find out later, he wasn’t familiar with the term “right cross” so he simply asked me to execute one at him.

With my left fist protecting my chin, I began to throw the right. Before I was able to issue the punch, Master Chen was inches away from me, the fingers of his left hand grabbing my throat and his right hand had my left in a joint lock. I was tapping-out, as the pain from the joint lock was debilitating.

I did not telegraph the strike, did not blink and did it at full speed. I could not understand how a moment of time was seemingly lost – between me initiating and him arriving. It wasn’t just speed: I’ve sparred with professional fighters and know even very fast movements can be tracked with the eye.

Having thought about this event many times since, a video with Master Chen discussing “indirect movements” caught my attention. He said Practical Method indirect movements cannot be easily detected by an opponent. It’s all in the training: do not move.

How to engage the waist
1) Move the waist first.
a. What it looks like: Have it move broadly right or left prior any movements with the arms or hands. This creates a ‘foundation’ for the move to base itself off of.
b. Result: Less movement of the arms. More solid arm movement. Starting to anchor upper body movement from the waist.
2) Make sure your move is represented on the bottom.
a. What it looks like: When your upper body moves, there is expansion in the bottom. Typically both knees expanding outwards.
b. Result: Body becomes more even, action is created from the waist (and lower) rather than entirely from the top.
3) Lock one kua, in order to turn the joint. Continuing to open through multiple movements. Creates an ‘S’ curve.
a. What it looks like: The kua acts exactly like the shoulder joint, it starts to turn then locks so the other can move.
b. Result: All movement starts from the waist, and is proportionally represented on the top and bottom.

https://youtu.be/vB2QsN-zZkU