Knowledge : Workshop and Class Notes

Master Chen’s Online Lesson on Aug 25, 2020 – Kelvin Ho i

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/08/25

Moving Step Positive Circle

Hold your head up, tuck the chin.
Each body part performs its own duty. Don’t merge together.
Factory workers work, not everyone does the same job, but at the same time.
Example: Move the feet back and forth by themselves, keep the central axis upright, move your hand out and elbow in.
The waist must go backward while the hand goes forward.

Master Chen’s Online Lesson on Aug 21, 2020 – Kelvin Ho i

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/08/21

Two ways to do Double Negative Circle:

Double Downward Squeeze
Fist Drape Over Body

Master Chen’s Online Lesson on Aug 18, 2020 – Kelvin Ho i

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/08/18

Morning Session

1-2-3 in general means that we must have a method, and there is a procedure.

We have to listen with our eyes. We can’t just close our eyes and say that we are listening.
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Dixian 底线 Bottom Line 2

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/08/14

Dixian 底线 (Bottom line) – Master Chen Zhonghua Zoom Lesson 2 on Augest 14, 2020

– We use the term dixian instead of “bottom line,” so that we can learn what Master Chen means for dixian. This is re-calibration.
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Re-calibration: August 11, 2020 Zoom Lesson 1

by Susanna Chwang on 2020/08/13

These are my notes from Master Chen’s zoom lesson on Re-calibration, on August 11, 2020

We need to tune a thermometer. First we find the zero. We set a standard then we can use it to measure Read more

Recently, I attended a Practical Method seminar with Master Chen, hosted by Ping Wei in Phoenix Arizona. In preparing for the seminar, I “learned” the first thirteen moves of Yilu form so that I could follow along as much as possible. I believe the seminar was supposed to be regarding the first thirteen moves of Yilu form and foundations. Read more

Class notes from Students in Phoenix, June i

by Ping Wei on 2020/06/19

Toronto workshop 8 March 2020 Morning session notes 1

by Harshil on 2020/03/08

TOFEB20Trailer-1

Yilu and foundations are for warm up

Then one must learn, create yin yang split

Action has movement, physical structure has no movement

Hand and screwdriver analogy —

Screwdriver doesn’t work on its own but is turned by hand

i.e.

Twisting towel

Hand doesn’t move on it’s own,

Kua is responsible for action on hand

Technically

object is yin &

Action is yang –

Fixed for consistency and to avoid confusion

At higher level it doesn’t matter which one is which, just know there are two and can be switched

There has to be a trap to walk in for opponent

Trap doesn’t change shape/size

Trap is designed so that you can have the hold

Hold gives access to ligaments and not muscles, working on muscles is futile

Opponent’s arm is not sufficient to get the hold of the whole body

Body parts are irrelevant for the hold,only think of to hold the line, have a grab from both side of teh line and not just one

Drill-

Sink waist to press elbow

Hand should be complete dead no move on its own, and that is quality like a steel, otherwise it absorbs like cotton

Shoulder rotates on vertical axis and doesn’t get displaced

Two ends have to be related, timing has to be coordinated

Stretch in right shoulder has to be totally matched by stretch in left heel

_____

Only two ways to move opponent .

Lever- lock middle and move the ends (strong opponent)

Anti-lever – lock the ends and move the middle (loose opponent)

Two ends and the middle are independent of one another. However opponent thinks they all happen at same time because the difference in time is so tiny it goes unnoticed.

A nut (micro living that lives only morning to afternoon) can not fathom a qun (mythical bird that lives many years) and for qun a nut did not exist, however they both live same life cycle birth-growing-reproduction-death.

Taiji encapsulates everything – in time.

If one splits that fraction of second when action was done at two ends and middle into million parts, these three actions will be only 3 of those million parts and totally different (although sequential) and they have no relationship to one another but for opponent it feels as if they happened at same time and they have relationship.

“TO 1909-Two Concepts” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2020/02/28

Chen Zhonghua’s Sept. 2019 Toronto Practical Method Workshop videos.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2019 Difficulty:3/5 At:Toronto

Notes for Sydney Workshop Feb 12-16, 2020 by Brian Chung 2

by Brian Chung on 2020/02/17

2020.02.12 悉尼笔记锺百豪 (英文) Sydney Notes by Brian Chung (English)

Practical Method Yilu Class i

by Kelvin Ho on 2020/01/19

ChenStyleTaijiPracticalMethodBannerWithRedLogo


Instructor 导师:	Kelvin Ho 何家伟
Date 日期:	Sundays 逢星期日
Time 时间:	9:00 am to 10:00 am
Location 地址:	716 Gordon Baker Rd, North York
Topics 内容:	Taijiquan Foundation 太极拳基本功 Yilu 一路
Fee 费用:	$350 for 10 classes or $40 for a drop-in class $350 – 10 课或 $40 – 1 课

What is “Ji” ? 1

by Albert Chung on 2019/12/31

Albert’s private lesson with Master Chen, Wednesday, Dec 11, 2019, Phoenix, AZ.

“Ji” (Squeeze, 挤) is one of the eight hand techniques in Tai Ji Quan – peng, lu, ji, an, cai, lie, zhou, kao.
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December 2019 Phoenix Workshop notes – Edward Liaw 2

by Edward Liaw on 2019/12/14

Day 1

Double negative has to be more vertical – open below, closes up top.
Buttocks cannot protrude. Kua is not open enough. It will hurt.

Jieshou i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2019/12/08

Jieshou, a Chinese word that means “accept hand”, is a term used in Practical Method. You will get an idea of what it means after viewing the video clip.

It is important to know that Practical Method does not allow head-on collision in making initial (or any other) contact with the opponent.

This is a clip of teaching video at the Dec. 2019 New York workshop.

NY1912-Jieshou

Ottawa Broadsword Seminar on Oct. 26, 2019 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2019/10/26

Ottawa Broadsword Seminar on Oct. 26, 2019.

渥太华讲座场地20191026 – Walking towards the Legion Hall.

渥太华讲座场地20191026 – 1
This is where we held our first Ottawa Practical Method Seminar in March 1998.

渥太华讲座场地20191026 – 3
Front Door of the Legion Hall

渥太华讲座场地20191026 – 2
Front of the building of the Legion Hall on Montgomery.

Notes for Toronto Workshop Sep 7-10, 2019 – By Mark Hanley i

by Mark Hanley on 2019/09/30

Gears on either side of spine move in opposite direction

The gears twist on either side of the spine and your intention along with where you are looking can send power in any direction you want. You can also add better control by also changing the percentage of each lever. with straight spine hold with front left kua use right hand across. them Opening kua to right

Power comes from restrictions, stretch to point of rotation, Movement is muscle., no movement is a lever
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Notes for Toronto Workshop Sep 7-10, 2019 – Kelvin Ho 2

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/09/20

When practicing yilu:

Put myself inside a fixed sized box.
Pull against the sides of the box coming into dantian.
Push against the sides of the box going out of dantian.

Notes from Grandmaster Zhonghua Chen Workshop on Sept. 14 & 15, 2019, Edmonton, PM Studio i

by Doug Gauld on 2019/09/19

Notes from Grandmaster Zhonghua Chen Workshop on Sept. 14 & 15, 2019, Edmonton, PM Studio

埃德蒙顿2019.09.14讲座合影。本文作者是右四（后）。 Read more

My kua opened up at the Vienna Workshop 2019 i

by Pawel Mueller on 2019/09/16

Participants of the Vienna Workshop with Master Chen Zhonghua in 2019
So we were doing lots and lots of six sealings four closings exercises at the end of the Vienna Workshop. I was leading the group and counting. Then, at #476 something in my hip cracked open. A rush of pure energy run through my body and I felt like a conductor between heaven and earth, and then … Read more

Notes From Toronto September ’19 Workshop – Day 3 1

by Michael Lamberti on 2019/09/14

First I had to not push the opponent and just find the wall with my back. When it wasn’t working so well it was because I was too far from the wall. It got a little bit better, but I was hitting the wall too straight so my stretch wasn’t as long as it could have been. Once that was fixed by lowering more to hit the wall, my fingers were not angled correctly towards the opponent and extending past the demarcation line. Once all those things were corrected, I was able to push better. Read more

September 14, 2019 Edmonton Notes i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2019/09/14

Positive circle steps. There are two steps and one modification. They are in, turn and out. Read more

Toronto Workshop on Sept. 8, 2019 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2019/09/08

2019.09.08 pm Read more

Comments on the North American Practical Method Training Camp 2019 1

by Paul Carlson on 2019/08/06

Comments on 2019 North American Practical Method training camp

From my perspective, this year’s training camp was outstanding! I came with the thought that I had progressed a lot but after a short time I realized (as usual) I have so much to learn. I am basically a very beginner but I can see that each time I attend a function with Master Chen I can get a little better grasp of what he is teaching.
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2019 Day 1 Phoenix workshop i

by Paul Carlson on 2019/08/05

Notes from Day 1, Phoenix Practical Method Workshop
These are pretty rough, just short statements.

Every movement needs to have intent and some reference. When we do taiji we need intent. Taiji is governed by yin yang.

We need to see what is really there. Usually we think we see but that is not what is really there.
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First day after Midwest Practical Method Workshop 2019 i

by Lou Sacharske on 2019/08/01

This morning was my first post-training camp workout, and it was awesome. My mind was flooded with all the great corrections and insights Master Chen gave us. There was a virtual wooden TV tray on my head during the yilus (private lesson reference).
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San Francisco Practical Method Seminar Notes 2019 9

by Edward Liaw on 2019/07/21

Day 1

The kua has to come out (draw a line forward with the kua). Don’t move anything but the kua.
Partner exercise: partner sets a dot a few inches in front of the kua; you have to get your kua to touch it.
Add speed – do it 5 times fast. Add power – have someone hold onto your kua from the rear. Add stepping – connect it to your elbow and don’t let the elbow move.
Learning – have to make ideas based on physical reality, not on ideas.

Edmonton Workshop June 8-9 Notes i

by Steven Cheng on 2019/06/10

For this year’s Edmonton workshop we worked a lot on positive circle concepts and stretching.
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First Zurich Practical Method Workshop on April 2, 2019 1

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2019/04/03

The Zurich workshop is for Tuesday and Wednesday evening only as there aren’t enough weekend on my European tour this year. 13 people came to the workshop of which 7 came from Germany. This is expected for a first workshop. Read more

Italy Practical Method Seminar on March 29, 2019 i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2019/03/29

Italy Practical Method Seminar on March 29, 2019. Chen Xu and Sun Yang arrived on March 28, 2019. There was a brief tour of Venice and then training. Read more

Arrived in Valdagno, Italy i

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2019/03/27

Michael Angelo, Jiuseppe Bon, Chen Zhonghua at the airport in Treviso.

March 2 to 5th Workshop Notes i

by Mark Hanley on 2019/03/10

The following are highlights of my workshop notes workshop March 2 to 5th. I have tried to organize them into categories so I could better relate them. I did not capture everything

Workshop notes:

All Questions Should be asked in order to bring clarity: Hear It , See it, Feel It – the 3 questions you want answered

Principle – Yin and Yang separation life – I want to be good

Concept – all moves are indirect education

Action – convert into action use
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Toronto Workshop, Day 2, March 3, 2019 – Mike’s Notes i

by Michael Lamberti on 2019/03/03

We are here because we’re humans, not animals.

Everything is like loose sand. Among the sand, some things might have a spark. There’s nothing wrong with sand, and nothing wrong with other ways of moving, such as other forms of martial arts or football. It just depends on what you want. Master Chen is looking for the sparks in the sand.
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Open and close the kua i

by Michael Lamberti on 2019/03/02

My attempt to recount what Master Chen said the morning of 3/2/2019 at the Toronto workshop
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Notes for Toronto Workshop Mar 2-5, 2019 – Kelvin Ho i

by Kelvin Ho on 2019/03/01

Day 0

Fetch Water

Put my front knee against the bench.
My front knee should be on top of my front heel.
Make my fetch water action much, much, much bigger. Only when there is size, it becomes useful. My action is way too small, Master Chen told me the same at the last workshop as well. I have not changed yet.
Once I am done with stretching the top, while not moving the front kua, knee, foot, move the rear foot to increase size.
Whatever I do, the front knee is not moving.
Train the whole yilu with one specific part not moving.

Stay on the line 2

by Lou Sacharske on 2019/01/27

At the Phoenix workshop Master Chen had someone place a pole from his hand to the arch of his back foot. In w/ elbow his and and forearm slid along the pole. He has a shorter pole placed by his front kua a slightly upward angle. His elbow followed the 2nd pole while the hand stayed on the 1st pole. He then said, it’s actually “out w/ foot” as the hand only guides the direction.
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2019 Phoenix Workshop notes – Edward Liaw 4

by Edward Liaw on 2019/01/20

Reference points: counting is to establish a standard for us to be able to teach and communicate
Direction: must not lose the aim. Don’t lose the 45 degree facing when practicing the foundational exercises
Positive circle 3 count: 1. in elbow; back shoulder to forward foot is the axis. 2. rotate waist don’t involve spine and don’t lose previous axis. 3. push foot, aim at hand. There is a split in the middle. Again don’t lose previous two axes