In this brief video, you can see how “Single Whip” is used in many ways. Mainly it is the interaction betwwen the forearm and the thigh on the same side. Read more
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After “Punch to the Ground”, you turn to the right and then double kick. This is the transition to the double kick. The first turn to the right is a right elbow strike. In this case, the previous move of “Punch to the ground” actually dodges the opponent’s punch or kick to the head. You then strike your opponent’s ribs with the elbow.
After the right arm goes out to the right with the hand as a hook, the body turns left to drive the right arm to make a strong negative circle (power). In this video, in order to get into position, the master had to compromise his central equilibrium first. Best done without this loss.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYLblJ73ECU]
Right arm positive circle while the waist turns left to set up. When executing, the waist turns right and then to the right again (two beats) while the right arm is doing one beat with elbow moving to the right in a negative (bottom portion) circle. In this video, the elbow was not physically used but the actions are exactly the same.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8E8GyjHdJo]
This is the second last Single Whip in the Yilu routine. It is different from other Single Whip moves. Before, stepping to the left, the right hand does a deep positive circle and goes way down before coming to the finished position. Hong changed it to this way through his personal experiences. Here is how it is applied. Notice that the left leg did not step forward as required in the form. Read more
These are some Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method push hands and applications demonstrated by master Chen Zhonghua and Sensei Michael Calandra. Michael Calandra is an outstanding NY city Read more
What would be the benefit of training both Chen and Hunyuan, instead of focusing on one or the other? 4
I teach the two systems for two reasons:
- Personal bias. You can also call this respect for my two masters. I am a disciple of both systems and therefore, I find in my heart that I must teach both systems. This does not mean that I always teach both Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method and Hunyuan Taiji at the same time. Read more
I cannot tell you THE most important thing to pack. Here is a list from past graduates (no particular order):
- chocolate
- lots of socks
- really good hiking shoes
Sorry we have not included any information on this subject. It will be very easy to live as a vegetarian on the mountain. We are growning our own vegetables this year. If you decide to go, let us know as soon as you can, we will start planting things that will suit you. Lots of soya bean products. We make our own tofu on the mountain too!
I have had 1.5 years of training in Xingyi but no taiji training. Can I join the full time course? i
Definitely you can. First of all previous experience is not important for learning our style of Taijiquan. Secondly, what you have learned before is not essential either. Thirdly, how strong you are is not a factor. Read more
This is a very difficult question and yet it is a realistic question. If you want to commit three months of your life to do something so seriously, you want to know how much you can get in return. Fair enough. Let’s look at it in two different ways:
The following article is reprinted here with permission from Chen Zhonghua. It was first published on January 8, 2007, when Chen Zhonhua formally presented the material at the Premier Hunyuan Taiji International Symposium, in Beijing, China. In this presentation he offers some unique angles on the importance of practices for the specific cultivation of skill involved in co ordinated joint rotation. This perspective also adds a new dimension to the understanding of the concept of “gong”. Read more
This video clip was taped in 2003 when master Chen Zhonghua gave a workshop in Victoria, B.C. Canada. The workshop was sponsored by Gordon Muir. In keeping with his master’s tradition, master Chen seldom wears a uniform. This demonstration was done in slow and chopping movements so that the workshop attendees could see the full moves that they had learned. Front, rear and side views were shown in this clip.
There is a natural tendancy to power an attack (forward movement) but not so when withdrawing (movement towards oneself). In the positive circle, the outgoing upper half is often naturally powered. Read more
Ed Zolpis
Points to remember re: Circle exercise-
-position of feet is so that when step to the side the feet are approximately 4.5 foot lengths apart with the back of the forward heel on the same line as the front of the toes of the back foot. Read more
Date: 11/26/2005 0:00
Title: Chen Zhonghua Workshop in Ottawa Nov 26, 2005
Reviewer: Daniel Mroz
Organizer: James Chan
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
On November 26 and 27, 2005, I took part in a two-day workshop on Hong Junsheng’s Practical Method of Chen style taijiquan, offered by Mr. Chen Zhong Hua in Ottawa, Canada. The workshop was arranged by Mr. Chen’s students and attracted about a dozen participants. Read more
Originally written by: Ed Zolpis
Date: 11/26/2005 0:00
Title: Return to the Basics: Stepping in Chen Style Taijiquan
Reviewer: Ed Zolpis
Organizer: James Chan
Location: Ottawa
Comments: Notes: Master Joseph Chen’s Workshop –
Ottawa – November 26-27, 2005
Ed Zolpis
Points to remember re: Circle exercise-
-position of feet is so that when step to the side the feet are approximately 4.5 foot lengths apart with the back of the forward heel on the same line as the front of the toes of the back foot.
-the back foot is slightly turned out from being perpendicular while the front foot is at approximately 45 degrees outwardly
-kua is open with knees stretched out and body low
-open the body so that it feels as if the energy of the body on the inside is struggling against the form of the body
-the energy of the knees go in opposite directions to each other, i.e. front knee energy goes upward while back knee energy goes downward, without the knee actually moving
-try to keep movements inside the body not allowing them to become predominantly outward, i.e. involving body peripherals(limbs) dominating the movement – another demonstration of this is using upper limbs to hold opponent while move him with lower limbs
-to increase stability, everytime you move, drop body by 5%
-“Double Heavy” is when 2 body section lines are on the same line (parallel). This is unstable. Instead one should try to have these body lines at an angle to each other to increase stability.
-bounce energy in body from foot to foot to top of head
-when stepping use a slipping action so as to insure energy is going outwards
-3 concepts to remember are: 1)withdraw elbow, push hand
2)sink the “dang” (groin)
3)hand grinds out
-training check method – if want to check if a particular move/technique is following principles of body dynamics, multiply its force by 10 to see if it works without overstraining the body
Compiled by Todd McGown
There must be horizontal and vertical movements. The shape of the positive and negative “circles” is that of an egg. Not a true circle and not a 2D oval. The horizontal movement is mainly achieved by the hand, shoulder, waist, opposite kua, opposite knee, opposite foot line of the body while the vertical action is achieved by the shoulder, waist, kua, knee, foot line of the body. Read more
Practice taiji and doing taiji push hands is the exchange of position, time, and space. In taijiquan, this exchange is called “turning of the joint”. Time and space have five layers (dimensions). Chen style calls this spiral movement, or Peng Energy.
It is therefore East, West, North, South, and Center. In the human body, it is left hand, right hand, head, feet and huiyin. There are two feet but they only represent one direction: the lower/bottom position. They are split from the point of Dantian into two. Because they are one of the same, it is not a matter of which foot the weight should be on when we talk about double weight or double heavy.
Double heavy is a problem in the synchronization of the head, hands and foot. It takes at least ten years of practice to have a basic grasp of what this means.
The original of this was in a note form hand written by Chen Zhonghua.
Embedded Pdf document below.
Read more
No worries in front of poverty
No fear faced with danger
No imploring in front of authority
Without guilt in life
Reserve
To excessively expose the spirit is another error that must be re- solved. To accomplish this, one must also be reserved. Read more
The history of human conflict is dotted with the names of famous martial artists. Although each is known for his high level of skill, some became famous because of their extreme brutality and cruelty, while others became famous for their compassion, and virtuous character. One martial artist who is well known for his acts of compassion and virtuous character is the legendary Taijiquan master Chen Fake. Read more
Helen Yum
Communications
Insight Read more
Because there have been many educated people practicing Taijiquan many periodicals on Taijiquan have been published, even before liberation [1949]. Read more
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 2 mins Difficulty: 3/5 Language: English
Year: 1985 Location: Edmonton, Canada
Master Xu Guicheng's Practical Method Sword form demonstration in 1985.
