Chen Style Taijiquan and Hunyuan Taiji email: practicalmethod@qq.com
Taiji can certainly be considered a form of specialized technology, and like any specialized technology, this requires special language.
That language is something we have to be very careful of because, in many cases, a word with a ‘common’ meaning often has a special, more extensive, or more precise meaning than the one we would normally attribute to it.
Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method system produces power through many ways such as structure, angles and adherence. The result is that this type of power is perceived as real in the eyes of the opponent but not such in the eyes of the practitioner himself/herself. This type of power is called perceived power. Read more
This is the “ten character dictum” by Grandmaster Hong Junsheng. Read more
Don’t move! Don’t move your hands! Don’t move your torso! Don’t move your body! Don’t move your center! Don’t move your knee! Don’t move your feet! Read more
Sit the wrist is a special term used in Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method. It means that the wrist must be stretched open into a curved position and then locked into place. This is also part of the Tile Hand requirement.
The classic mention of this term is “understanding the three joints” (明三节）. Read more
Range of motion refers to the ability to move and the extent of movements in taijiquan. It is NOT the same as flexibility. Read more
There are two types of movements in Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method.
These are considered the five points of the outside of the body. Everything else is considered the inside of the body.
There are 5 stages of practice. We can also call them five stages of learning.
Note: This is not the 5 levels of gongfu in Taiji. This is just the chronological stages of learning.
We distinguish between movement, which is used for positioning, and action which facilitates rotation. Movement is horizontal in space, forward or backward, left or right. Rotation involves internal vertical adjustments and repositioning of inner space, actions required for directing power outwards, from a stable structure.
originally published on 2008/03/03
The shape and actions of the kua in Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method. Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 3 min. In: English Year: 2012 Difficulty:3/5 At:Maple Ridge, B.C. Canada
How to produce power in the body. Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 2 min. In: English Year: 2012 Difficulty:2/5 At:Maple Ridge, B.C. Canada
The shape of the hand in Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method. The hand and fingers are shaped like an ancient Chinese roof tile. This ensures that the base is tight and the fingers span out. Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 5 min. In: English Year: 2012 Difficulty:1/5 At:Maple Ridge, B.C. Canada
Weight shifting or weight switching is an important technical principle of the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method. Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 2 min. In: English Year: 2012 Difficulty:3/5 At:Maple Ridge, B.C. Canada
On the way from China to Vancouver workshop, Master Chen has a free day to talk and demonstrate basic principle often misunderstood in Taijiquan. Using “Six Sealing and Four Closing” to show how to split of yin and yang. Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 3 min. In: English Year: 2012 Difficulty:2/5 At:Stanley Park Vancouver, Canada
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Master Chen says that separation of yin and yang is rotation in today’s terms. He also mentions that stretching is an instance of separation of yin and yang. Today, I came to a realization that when the circle becomes infinitely small, rotation and stretching are really one and the same. The key is that the setup needs 3 points, and one action, which is the rotation, at the centre or the pivoting point or the fixed point. The rotation at the centre is the only thing I can do to ensure that the other 2 points are opposites but of the exact same size. For example, if I just move the hands in opposite directions, since there is no relationship between them (no 3rd point linking the two together), there is no guarantee that their actions are the same in size. At the beginning, I can visualize how the dantian acts the centre and modulates the other 2 points (hand and foot). Hopefully in the future, I can place the centre/fixed point anywhere inside or outside of the body as desired like Master Chen said.
In order to materialize this theory in practice, more training in foundation and yilu will be the way to go.
http://practicalmethod.com/2012/10/yin-yang-split-online-video-trailer/
In stepping, the weight must remain in the center. This ensures balance of the body. Move the body weight to one leg. This does not mean shifting weight as in physical shape. Press the body weight onto that leg until you feel that the weight is solidly on that leg. At the same time, the other leg is empty and is pushed out by the pressing leg. Anchor the leg that steps out. Pull your original leg close to the newly anchored leg. Read more
Twisting the towel is one of the basic foundation exercises of the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method system. it is also called the four-cardinal yin yang split.
Sometimes you move, sometimes you don’t. Some parts of the body should move while other parts must be tranquil. The correct application of these is taiji. Read more
Pulling energy is also called “Pull back”, or “Roll Back”. In general it is an energy pulling the opponent towards yourself. The key is that your pulling power must originate from your own dantian. It cannot originate from your hand. Here is a video clip to illustrate this point.
The energy on the body must sometimes be connected and other times disconnected. Here is a video example of how the energy can be connected.
The body must be trained to have multiple axis and they must be in multiple dimensions. One of them is the VERTICAL AXIS. Vertical axis acts exactly the same way as a door hinge. Read more
This term refers to the attempt to engage in rotation without the ability to maintain one’s center. This flaw results in destabilization of structure and balance, and loss of power as a consequence. In Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method “tossing” is considered one of the ills of the practice, a weakness to be overcome if progress is to occur.
http://practicalmethod.com/2010/11/tossing-online-video-trailer/
To adjust to or keep in proper measure or proportion, e.g. to modulate your force appropriately. Similar concepts include proportional movements, adjust while moving, etc.
Rotation with just enough pushing force. A good example of this type of energy or action is when screwing. The turning and the pushing that makes the screw go in is “grinding”. Otherwise there would be only turning, or pushing. This type of energy is highly stressed in the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method system.
In Chinese pinyin: Nian.
Sink down to grind out: It is a special term used in Chen Style Taijiquan. It was first used by Chen Xin in his “Illustrated Book of Chen Family Taijiquan.” Simply put, this is term that refers to the use of a vertical (upper and lower body) lever in taiji applications. Normally it refers to sinking the rear kua down while grinding the front hand out.
The case of having two or multiple centers of gravity at the same time, causing the body to lose balance. It is an ill in Taijiquan. To avoid the state of Double Heavy, one needs to learn to separate yin from yang.
Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method employs 5 dimensions in its actions. 5 dimensions will comprise a Chen Style Taijiquan Spiraled movement. The definition of a dimension is different from that of the scientific definition. The word dimension here is more like “plane” in English. The five dimensions are:
Direction: It refers to the body part alignment direction and the force direction. It is an important part of the trinity of the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method system. The other two are timing and speed. Angle is used synonymously with direction.
The space between two points of action. The distance between two points is regarded as a space that can be manipulated in taiji actions.
Timing： The activity and force that is caused by the utilization or manipulation of time or lack of time.
