This is a saying from GM Hong Junsheng
Many people regard Taijiquan as a slow, gentle and soft art. The original principle, however, points to a different and more reasonable direction.
Knowledge
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Guidance of a teacher is meaningless without a common experience between the teacher and the students
Any time you have a large surface of contact you are double heavy – no surface – only use a dot. The exception is when you intentionally create a large surface to counter your opponent’s particular action.
This “natural” is not your “natural”. The master said so right at the first meeting. His explanations later on were mainly based on how to separate “self” from the objects that we observe. The “nature” taiji talks about is about the real nature out there. It is the one outside of self. Not the one the observer feels, sees, or believes. The master used the analogy of chopsticks to illustrate the Read more
In Practical Method, when we want to move foot forward, back, or side, we need to have the weight shift to the supporting leg and “pump” the other leg out. In other words, the leg which is moving out will not interfere the whole body balance. It’s independent from the rest of the body. It can move freely. The taiji terminology for this is “Chan Chu” (Shovel out). Read more
The most pervasive human behavior is rationalization. Rationalization happens after people make a mistake.
Here is an example. On our 2004 trip to China, a Chinese master was explaining a technique to Yaron Seidman. He said that his arm was so rubber-like that it was not possible for Yaron to catch it (usually catch means to render it straight thus losing ability to neutralize). Read more
I had always believed that the Hong Junsheng school of Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method was not for curiosity seekers. All who gravitated to Hong were serious students or masters of Taijiquan.
So much so that a certain master named Zhao was not ready to join Hong’s classes, even after observing training at Daming Lake for three days. Zhao had come to Jinan from the eastern part of the province in search of Hong Junsheng. When he saw the dedication of the students and the level of difficulty of their practice, he decided to look elsewhere. (When I spoke with him, years later, he recalled that even the old people were doing Hong’s taiji in very low stances). Read more
It’s easier to know the Dao than to believe in the Dao;
It’s easier to believe in the Dao than to act on the Dao.
It’s easier to act on the Dao than to gain the Dao.
It’s easier to gain the Dao than to keep the Dao. Read more
The rock in the north western corner of the Black Tiger Springs Park weighs about 30 pounds. It has special significance to me. It was the special object that told me just how strong Hong Junsheng was. Read more
“You can never do physical activity without physical activity. Taiji skill cannot be attained by reading books or talking about it. Thinking about it is only 5% of the practice.”
”Collapse” is when a movement causes the loss of the original structure.
This is a common mistake in the learning of Taijiquan. Read more
No problem, I really appreciate the opportunity to participate in these discussions. It helps to solidify my understanding of things as I study videos and practice. One of the videos that helped clarify one of the main contradictions/sources of confusion is the mini lesson “Hands on Positive Circle Sequence” where Master Chen is detailing the 9 count circle for you, Michael, and a small group of students on the mountain. Read more
Quotation
From complexity to simplicity Practicing taiji is to train to make all the complex moves and routines simple for execution. In order to do so one must be able to “See” the simplicity in the complexity.
I am very impressed with Steve’s demos, he is able to explain his actions exactly like Master Chen with no deviation. It’s like deja-vu. I have heard the same explanations from Master Chen in a different place at a different time. I can learn so much from him.
For those of you that come from other taichi backgrounds and now do the Practical Method, I’m curious as to what led you along this path. Also, what was your first impression of the Practical Method style? I’ll tell you a little about my story. Read more
In many cases, when people move, they always render their kua too short in consideration of the opponent’s position. In the following photos, one shows that the kua is too short (the one that has an overall bent body) and one shows the correct kua.
originally published 02/22/2008 Read more
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
Learning Taiji is to solve a set of contradictions.
Neither over-extended, nor deficient.
Anything that exists is the resolution of a contradiction. Therefore, when you see a contradiction in a matter, you have not resolved the issue. When you have, you will not see the contradiction any more.
In taiji, you must reach a stage when you create movements without moving; you don’t push but your opponent is pushed out; etc. When you still cannot do this, you are still not at the level yet.
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originally published on 2008/03/03
Some clips of master Chen Zhonghua’s push hand teaching sessions of Daqingshan in the summer of 2012. These are extracted from the 7 volumes of the Daqingshan 2012 push hands training videos. This video is also available at: http://chenzhonghua.cn/2012/11/陈中华老师2012年大青山推手训练精选视频花絮/ Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 8 min. In: Chinese Year: 2012 Difficulty:4/5 At:Daqingshan
Red Rock Canyon, NV, USA
Master Chen and to those on this web site, I have a question I would like to get your input on. In the taichi classics there is an expression, “Stillness in Motion, Motion in Stillness”. I’ve always had this explained to me that it relates to the mind being still while the body is in motion and vice versa. This has always perplexed me somewhat and didn’t seem like a thorough answer. Read more
During the recent Chen Taiji Seminar in early Mar 2012 conducted by Master Chen Zhong Hua, he used an analogy of how striking in Taiji is like being “struck by a bullet.” Read more
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
Most people will say, “I cannot do it myself but I can tell right taiji from wrong taiji.” Read more
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
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
Here is a short video that we filmed in my class last night. In the gym where I teach, we found an exercise device that can illustrate the importance of the alternating fixed point in the Practical Method. The explanation is not as precise as I would have wanted, but we filmed this on the spur of the moment.
Daqingshan 2012 summer push hands training evening session trailer.
Read more
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
Figure 1. |
Figure 2. |
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
Master Chen taught the two main taiji energies: push and pull. Every push must be a pull. Showed and did an exercise on how to turn the body into a rotation spool to create power.
