Chen Style Taijiquan and Hunyuan Taiji email: practicalmethod@qq.com
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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
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.
Filmed by James Tam of Ottawa, Canada in July, 2012
Read more
Ming’s post below captures most of the material Master Chen shared on the weekend. Here are a few things I wrote down or was told directly over the course of the weekend.
Main Theme: “Taiji movement must be Differentiated and Sequenced; in order to move like this, repetitive practice of Yi Lu is needed to habituate the body”, Read more
Rare footage of Grandmaster Hong Junsheng. Li Zongqing was one of his earlier disciple and assistant. This video came from a 1980s film. It was on an occasion that they demonstrated for the governor of Shandong Province in Jinan.
DAQINGSHAN SURVIVAL GUIDE V1.0
so a lot of people i’ve talked to have said they wanted a in depth guide on stuff they might need to bring to the mountain, now this guide is less important for people here for shorter stays so if you’re here for less than a month it wont be so important, but if your here for more than 2 months this list might make your stay much more enjoyable, so here’s my first revision of the daqingshan survival guide apologies in advance for the terrible grammar and spelling Read more
”if the move up and down are equal, the center becomes truly empty”—— “In ancient times the master would never let you feel it…..if you don’t feel it, you will never get it….once you feel it, it’s only a matter of time….”——–”they MUST equalize….”
Thanks to Bruce Schaub who typed in the quote from Ireland workshop video. Please check out Ireland 4 video (now on new video server) for demonstration on turning of the joint and other topics
http://practicalmethod.com/2010/05/ireland-workshop-2010-4-online-video-trailer/
The Edmonton Full Time Training session will be held September 24 until December 21, 2012 so let me know soon if you will be attending. Edmonton, the Home of Grandmaster Chen Zhonghua, has a reputation as being able to give you an incredible amount of instruction for the time you are here.
We specialize in helping beginners or advanced practitioners to learn or correct Practical method Foundations, Silk Reeling, Theory, Applications, Yilu, Erlu, Chen Sword and Broadsword, Hunyuan Qigong and Hunyuan 24 form. Contact me at: allanbelsheim@shaw.ca and check for more
At DaQingShan, Master Chen was discussing push hand with someone, I was observing at the side, I could not resist and said “I have a method”. Master Chen, upon hearing, stood aside, the other person kept the same posture, I used his original posture, applied a effective technique. I held on to that person, as he was working with me, I could not let him fall.
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