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There are some small details in stepping forward and finishing the form that I have been focusing while doing Yilu. I’d like to share here and hopefully generate some discussion.

In Practical Method, we first (1) shuffle one heel out when we step forward. Then (2) we move the knee forward and the body is shifted to center (roughly).

Some people would do (1) and (2) together, so it really looks like stepping and weight shifting are done at the same time. It’s partly due to the weak supporting leg. With more practicing and increased leg strength, it can be easily corrected.

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So I was wondering if anyone could let me know about the spine not moving, I am under the impression that if your feet do not move(not walking or stepping) then the spine from the bottom of the tail bone up to the top of the head stays in a straight line it. It may elevate through the bending and straightening of the legs, it may rotate through the turning of the waist, but it never ever moves. Is this the correct thought in all cases? Are there exceptions? of course it changes location when one steps but it does not bend? let me know what is what and thanks!!

Master Chen focus on different aspect of training depending on the students. In this series done in Jakarta, the focus is on correct body alignment and training for power.

“13-Posture 1”

“13-Posture  2”

“13-Posture  3”

“13-Posture  4”

I came across this video while surfing YouTube and was surprised to see that a lot of the concepts talked about are very similar to what I have heard Master Chen discuss, such as:

Don’t push at the contact point but don’t pull away either, use the elbow to pull/rotate around the contact point, use the center to move the body, apply power to the hand but not the arm, don’t engage or push into the opponent’s strength, …

Interested to hear other’s thoughts.

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In numerous occasions, Master Chen talked about how to train the body as a gear box. In energy alignment, he talked about the hand and foot connection. In push hand, he instructed us not to push. Instead, push the leg and by opening the “kua” so that the energy is transmitted from foot to hand. He talked about “fill the kua”, “push the shoulder down”, “fix the two dots and hit the middle”, “indirect force/power”, etc. The words Master Chen used most in every workshop are “DON’T MOVE.” Master Chen’s teachings are like puzzle pieces in a box. We need to put these puzzles pieces together in order to see the larger picture of Practical Method. Read more

A summary of our extended stay 2015

After beeing in Daqingshan, Shandong Province in China for 4 month we are on our way back to Berlin now. We, that is me, my wife Sarah and little son Lukas, 2 1/2 years old. The first time I have been on the mountain in 2010, in 2012 Sarah did join and in 2014 the three of us have been here already once all together.

So here´s my summary from this stay: Read more

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Step two in the learning process (following the observation) is “to copy”. Here on DQS the chinese guys nearly all do the positive circle like Chen Laoshi is doing them in his yilu from 2013. I was used to pull the elbow in as much as possible and changed that, after the observation, that they all are doing it differently. Some days ago, Chen Laoshi corrected my positive circle and I had to pull the elbow far more in.

The question for me is not, if the chinese guys are doing it right or wrong, because the outer appearance is variable uppon your level (as I understand), the question is HOW TO KNOW, WHAT TO COPY?

My conclusion is for now, not to copy anyone, except Chen Laoshi.

The problem is, that it was said, that we also have to learn from each other, but perhaps that is more related to pushand- and drillsituations.

What do you think?

It is said that you can obtain an idea of the skill level of an instructor by the quality of his/her students. Not only by how they move and fight, but also who they are. These are all things that are a direct reflection to the lineage of a martial art with a focused and true path.

Master Chen asked me, shortly before accepting me as one of his disciples, if there was one point, or a moment where I noticed improvement in my practice. While at the time I did not recall such a defining moment, and was unable to provide an answer, I now realize it.  For me, it was the moment I decided to trust.  Simple really.  I had trained martial arts for years in the past, with instructors of different philosophies, not all of which lead me toward my goals, in fact some personal derailment was a direct result of a particular lineages philosophies, others did me a world of good. For me, I needed a system that is consistent in its teachings, as well as consistent in its people.  A system with a proven history that could also offer hope of future goals if I just followed the procedure, and truly opened myself to it.
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