News
News and other exciting events happening in the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method system in the world.
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Today we completed a set of Foundations led by Kelvin Ho. Master Chen provided instructions on Double Negative Circle (symmetric, and alternating) as well as Turning Flowers and Playing with Sleeves from Erlu.
– We have to ignore the details and do the Taiji we want to do. To copy without any technical things. Then add the details.
– When we add the details, we tend to forget the overall thing.
– This is the same as forgetting where we are in the form when instructing. We need to be more fluent with the whole thing.
“The movements of the body are in the Dantian and nothing leaves the dantian. Only power gets out of the Dantian.”
The quote above from Master Chen Zhonghua and his assigning me to write on the dantian sent me on a journey of understanding…and to be forthright, I got stuck. I over thought things and I had difficulties “getting the ball rolling” or rather the dantian article. So being an educated person, I did what students do, and gathered up my information from the online lecture and from past videos from Master Chen Zhonghua.
Beauty is a chrysanthemum bud opening up until it reaches it’s maximum, then withers away. If it gets disrupted, it withers away prematurely. Beauty in taiji is being fully expressed. We can’t be deficient, not reaching our maximum; nor can we be over extended…
The Central Vertical Line
The central vertical line (CVL) is an internal stretch that exists between the bau hui to the hui yin. I have heard Master Chen refer to this as a “rod” in the body. It should be present whether we’re doing foundations, form or push hands.
When I’m starting with students that need to strengthen the CVL, I have them do a guided imagery drill. The guided imagery was taught to me by Richard Johnson when I attended a week long workshop with Master Chen in 2011. I adopted the guided imagery and added a partner component as a means of enhancing the physical understanding and strengthening the central vertical line.
Today Master Chen covered the Double Positive Circle and 29. Upper Cloud Hands in Yilu.
Double Positive Circle Read more
In learning Taiji, Master Chen would often say that we create power with size and restriction. He would also say that we must develop the ability to separate every single part of our body. This includes left and right, top and bottom, front and back, and inside and outside. Read more
I entered into class late and saw everyone doing double positive circles. He instructed us to do it in a higher stance with our elbows attached to our waist. Read more
Today Master Chen covered the Double Positive Circle.
This was a busy week:
- Wednesday
- Private session with Master Chen
- Advanced foundations and Yilu class with Master Allan
- Thursday
- Jian foundations and form class with Master Allan
- Friday
- Private session with Master Allan
- Basic foundations and Yilu class with Master Allan
Key notes in no particular order:
- Your body may be tired and sore from the previous day(s), and you will ask yourself if a day of rest would be better than going to train. Go to class! Once you start moving, blood will flow, and that soreness will go away. Every class has multiple gems, but they’re only available in the moment and in the context of what is being taught. If you miss it, you miss it, which I find to be more painful than the discomfort of tired muscles.
- Move with power: This is a martial art, not a dance. Every move must come from a place of power. Visualise your opponent and make sure you are affecting their body with each movement.
- Our arms are not part of the movement; they are only along for the ride. EVERYTHING comes from the kua and rotation.
- When Master Chen demonstrates a specific point, only look at that point. He could be sacrificing his form elsewhere in the body to emphasise something very specific. If you’re watching other things, you could be learning something wrong.
- When Master Chen is demonstrating a movement, he is not teaching anything theoretical. He is showing you EXACTLY what he is expecting you to do. Do not try to analyse it. Mirror it to the best of your ability.
- Training should not be comfortable. Always grind your joints that little bit further than they want to go, so they will continue to open up.
- We all make the same mistakes! This was evident after Wednesday with Master Chen present for Master Allan’s class. Everyone felt personally targeted by the new elbow exercise video the following day: http://practicalmethod.com/2020/09/elbow-exercise-20200917/
- It isn’t easy in the time of covid, but if possible train with a partner. The difference in someone physically stopping your shoulder from moving back, or locking your knee so it doesn’t follow, makes a big difference! (Please be safe! I’m lucky to get to train with family)
- Practice your form without moving.
- As always: Don’t move, only rotate!
I know I am missing so much, but it was a week of brain overload. I’m very happy with the progress I felt in my body. I was a little concerned on Wednesday as I felt a pop in my right kua. Thankfully it was a good pop. My right side has opened up a lot!
I’m looking forward to seeing the video from Wednesday’s private session. We worked through section 3, which I’m just trying to get my head wrapped around the choreography. If you’re looking for some great detail on that section, I’m sure between my session and Anton’s you’ll get great material. If you’re looking for a great taiji comedy, I’m fairly certain I played the part of the uncoordinated court jester to a T 😀
While observing my training, Master Chen explained that I had slack in my foundation exercise. He went on to clarify that when I was in a posture and started the transition to another posture the tension/stretch was lost. This stretch must be maintained even if one is letting a joint adjust. Master Chen used the example of the elbow, the section below the elbow must be like a stick, and the section above the elbow must also not be slack. To elaborate, Master Chen said to think of a car. Even though the gears rotate, the physical structure of the car is solid. He said that this concept of removing the slack must be used on all parts of the body so that in push hands you will not collapse under the push of your opponent.
Next, Master Chen spoke on posture. He was pointing out the delicate balance of where the knee placement was relative to foot on the front leg. During this demonstration I made a learning error which I will share for the benefit of readers:
Master Chen was showing me specifically the placement of the front leg, pointing to the front leg to make that clear. After I was convinced that I had an image of how his leg was positioned, I moved around to get another perspective of the overall posture, this is a mistake. Master Chen pointed out that he was specifically making sure that the front leg was correct so that we could learn from the placement. He went on to say that he may even sacrifice some other aspects of his posture to make sure the single point is demonstrated as accurately as possible, so if we as observers look elsewhere we may be copying an incorrect body position.
Specific to the posture, Master Chen demonstrated when the knee was too far back how there was an inability to get full power out of the front lower leg muscles (Tibialis anterior, and Extensor digitorum longus from what I felt). When the knee was bent too far forward, Master Chen demonstrated the inability to get a bite (also resulting on the muscles not engaging). Once the position was correct, he demonstrated that a bite could be obtained, and this could be felt through the Master Chen’s leg muscles.
Participating in the European Practical Method Meet-Up 2020 in Żywiec in Poland was a great joy for me. Read more
Today, Master Chen covered Foundations and provided corrections on Twisting the Towel.
Sooyeon Zachrias discipleship Group 2020.09.13
On Sept. 13, 2020, Sooyeon Zacharias became Master Chen Zhonghua’s 372nd disciple in the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method lineage..
Sooyeon Zachrias discipleship Sitting 2020.09.13
Because of various reason including Covid-19, her discipleship ceremony was postponed several times. Finally on Sept. 12, she drove 14 hours from Litton, BC. to Edmonton, Alberta. The next day, she was inducted as Master Chen Zhonghua’s 372nd disciple in a simple ceremony in Master Chen Zhonghua’s Headquater in Edmonton.
Sooyeon Zachrias discipleship Certificate 2020.09.13
Sooyeon started learning the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method system in 2018, joining the Maple Ridge practice group. She has not missed one single workshop since then. In 2019, she participated at the 7th Annual Daqingshan International Taiji Competition.
Due to Covid-19, cities are locked down and travel is restricted. Practical Method workshops by Master Chen Zhonghua have been cancelled sihce Mar 2020. When there are new problems, there are new solutions. Master Chen Zhonghua is now offering Zoom online classes, which fill a large part of the gap when workshops are not possible. In fact, I would say that we get to interact with and learn from him more often than ever. Read more
Wed Sept 9, Edmonton, Alberta; approx 8 PM local time
Impromptu training with GM…how to move…
Master Chen demonstrated the Positive Circle today.
Six Sealing Four Closing Notes – Master Chen Zhonghua Online Zoom Lesson – 27 Aug 2020 – Brian Chung i
Master and Kelvin Ho provided instructions and corrections on Six Sealing Four Closing today.
Six Sealing Four Closing – Kelvin Ho
– Hand does not move. Dantian initiates the action. Kua lines up with elbow. Rotate the dantian to push the kua out.
– To connect the rear leg through the kua to the front arm. We don’t want the upper body there.
– Create a line from the front arm to the rear foot.
倒手 Dao Shou
Master and Kelvin Ho explained, demonstrated and gave examples of Dao Shou.
Read more
Double Negative Circle Notes – Master Chen Zhonghua Online Zoom Lesson – 21 Aug 2020 – Brian Chung i
Master and Kelvin Ho provided instructions and corrections on the double negative circle. (1) Fist draping over body (2) Double push down.
Master gave a physical example: hold a stick to cross a door that is 3 feet wide and 6 feet tall.
Read more
Master Chen Zhonghua’s Toronto Workshop March 2020-3
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 9 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:2/5 At: Toronto, Canada
Movement is yin, and structure is yang. Master Chen demonstrated what that meant in this video. There were also other discussions on yin-yang theory, which requires constant practice and understanding.
These are my notes from the 2 hour lesson Master Chen did on twist towel. I missed the beginning of the lesson, so if anyone could fill in the gaps I would appreciate it.
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Redirect lightning through you to the ground
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When doing twist towel, lock the 2 ends, move the middle.
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We can’t actually not move the head, we are not open enough, but we try to move the head only 1 unit; the kua moves 3 units. (Something moves 2 units. I missed this.)
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the kua moves the hands. Like moving a book on the table. The book doesn’t move by itself.
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Our body has a tendency that every body part likes to follow the other body parts, but it’s just tossing
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You need to have independent moves
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When you hammer a nail, the swing is a swing, the straight line is a straight line. The hammer swings, the nail goes in straight.
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E.g. a kid jumping to reach a basketball net. They run fast, then stop under the net and jump up to reach it. They don’t use the run and convert it into a vertical jump
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Thrust is still there. Convert your run to the movement forward
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The vertical move is designed to power your arm
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First we try with bending at the waist forward and backward, but actually, it’s a vertical move
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The shoulder goes down, the heel pumps to move the kua up towards the shoulder
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We all need to re-calibrate. We think we are doing everything with the kua. Actually we are doing very little.
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Your hand is tied to your opponent
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Your kua needs to go to your elbow, not your shoulder
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This is a characteristic of our system. There are 3 parts to each move so it can apply to any body part
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Power comes from the kua, there are no individual moves
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Zhuo. Connect between kua and elbow. It means clutch. Or to adhere.
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First we train to isolate body parts so that they don’t affect each other. Then they must be able to engage and disengage
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it is exactly gears
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The centre cannot move, you can’t reach out, you only extend
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This is the connection we want: the opponent is on your foot
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Kua very big, shoulder is zero
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During training; foot to kua to elbow to hand, this is the alignment
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During Push hands, when you touch your opponent; hand to elbow to kua to floor. Your opponent feels it on their foot.
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This was a characteristic when you touch grandmaster Hong. You touch him and you immediately feel like you’re floating, or something is wrong with your shoes
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Energy alignment (? I missed this)
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Application is 用法
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打法 is free fighting
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The kua is the semi opposite of the hand. The foot is the complete opposite of the hand
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At first, when you begin learning, you use your kua to mirror the opponent’s hand.
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Then as you get better, use your foot to mirror your opponent’s hand. You mirror from below, so your movement is much bigger than your opponent’s move
Negative Circle Procedure Notes – Master Chen Zhonghua Online Zoom Lesson – 18 Aug 2020 – Brian Chung 1
Master Chen and Kelvin Ho provided instructions and corrections on the following Negative Circle procedure.
Edmonton Practical Method Taiji Academy Customized Sword Sales
Our Edmonton Studio has another function other than teaching Taiji and Qigong – we do sword sales, but more importantly we do customizations so the sword you buy from us is unique. The sword shown here is the latest completed Damascus Jian. Because of having to limit the number of students during Covid-19, we now need to boost our sword sales in order to ensure our Studio stays open.
All our swords are made in Longquan, China Read more
It’s the fourth year since we started the European Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Meet-Up Series. It continues this year close to Żywiec, Poland on September 12/13th. This years host is Damian Jagosz, who is a very dedicated student of our style.
4th European Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Meetup. This year in Żywiec, Poland.
Read more
When we started our enrollment three years ago, our students were from a pool of students who ranked below 2400 in our county. This means none of them were university bound. Through three years of hard work between our students and staff, we achieved amazing results at this years national university exam. Read more
Qingshan School 2017.08.28
Rizhao Qingshan School is the only University Entrance Exam Preparation School in the city of Rizhao with official permission from the Rizhao Municipal Education Commission. The mandate of the school is Safety of the Students and Quality of Education. The school aims at catering to the needs of the parents and acceptance of the society. The school charter of the school is to foster students special interest and abilities for university entrance. Read more
Review October 26, 2019 Day 1 Training Chen Style Taijiquan Seminar Practical Method Basics & Sabre i
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. Read more
Hi Master Chen Zhonghua,
Is it possible to contact Shen Xinpei: Shen Guanglong Sword Maker directly? I would be honored to order a sword with specifications. Moreover, if you are in contact with him I would appreciate your help. Read more
