Knowledge : Stories

Tai Chi Day Perth 23 Feb 2020 – TaiJi in the Square i

by Gawain Siu on 2018/07/23

Tai Chi Day @ Yagan Square

TAIJI in the Square

Leading West AUSTRALIAN community, Ging Mo Academy encourages and supports well being through Daily Practice.

Daily Practice in the ancient art of TAIJI maintains wellness, reverses the effects of illness and builds a strong constitution. Protecting the body from sickness.

Early this morning, Sunday 23rd February, Si Fu Gawain Siu and his team provided a perfect opportunity for the people of PERTH to experience the Healing effects of Chen Style TAIJI Practical Method at Yagan Square.

For more information on ongoing weekly classes contact the team at www.gingmo.com.au

If you’d like a Tai Chi Day in your community, simply contact Si Fu on sifu@gingmo.com.au

Full Time Blog – James Strider 2

by James Strider on 2018/06/10

The 6th Daqingshan International Competition

Daqingshan Mountain from the Pagoda

The start of my stay in China coincided with the 6th International Daqingshan Competition (April 28th to 30th this year), a yearly gathering that Master Chen started to promote both Taijiquan forms (a series of choreographed movements particular to each Family style) and also to provide a stage for a large scale Push Hands (a means of practicing Taiji techniques whilst trying to unbalance your opponent) tournament.

Taijiquan at 30,000 Feet i

by Pawel Mueller on 2018/06/04

I’m writing this at about 30,000 feet on the plane from Munich, Germany to Toulouse, France. Master Chen Zhonghua is sitting next to me, it’s late evening and we are both tired from traveling shortly after noon.

On the last flight, from Danzig, Poland to Munich Master Chen gave me another lesson about rotation.

Some of those ideas I had already heard on a flight almost two years ago, but what Master Chen taught me a few hours ago goes much, much further, of course. Some questions were answered, especially regarding applying the theory on the body.

The application cannot be written down, really. It must be demonstrated and felt. Trying do write it down will never do justice to the physical experience felt in person. Read more

Embarassed in Iowa 4

by 胡歌 on 2017/03/14

From far left: Ed Alvarez, Hugo Ramiro, Jeff Clevenger, John Upshaw, Bruce Schaub, John Dahms, Todd Elihu, Spencer Jones, Brennan Toh

At some point one evening during the 2016 Iowa seminar, in Levi’s basement, a discussion occurred regarding the front kua and a particular orientation of it during a particular move. A statement was made about this requirement, followed by crickets chirping. Sensing that the moment was dying, I decided to wade in and stake my claim; to place myself at risk and bleed, hopefully. “I can do that! I can totally do that!” I crowed. It had been John Dahms, one of Master Chen’s senior disciples, who had stated the requirement. He said, “ok show me”. I sprang up and did something, as best I could, and his response was quick and direct – “You’re not doing it”. As deflated as possible I said “ok” and sat back down (I will come back to this). The discussion continued with some new indications and some new material, revitalised (with the help of my blood, I imagined). That moment still resonates with me many months later as I continue to work on the requirements laid out by John for that move on that evening.

The truth is I lied. I knew I couldn’t do it when I offered myself up, but I also knew something else: if I felt psychologically prepared during the teachable moment I would not really be listening. Somehow I had to create a situation inside of myself where I would be truly receptive, and I knew from Master Chen that two useful qualities in this respect were a. obvious failure (“Invest in Loss”) and b. confusion (“I don’t know”). Even if I simulated these by artificially elevating myself and then coming crashing down in front of everyone it would be better than being ‘very competent’ during the learning process or even not offering myself up at all. The emotional risk is necessary – in other words, I must be ready to put myself aside, no matter how bad it feels so that I can have a chance at real learning, which is always in an unknown and uncomfortable place.

I invested in loss, and in doing so, with John’s careful and attentive instruction, I invested in myself.

Why the Teacher is Important 11

by Pawel Mueller on 2017/03/06

I had an interesting experience lately. I took singing classes with a professional classical singer. It was only one single event, but I learned two important things in those one and a half hours which are not only reflecting back on my Taijiquan but also on my life in general.

Western Learning Methods
Everything is about intellectually understanding things. After listening to my singing for a short time and before the teaching started I got two or three pages of text describing how the breathing organs work and how those relate to singing. Doing Practical Method for a while now and being in contact with eastern learning methods I just skipped through the pages to see if there’s something useful. I asked the teacher whether knowing this stuff is of any importance, especially in the beginning. She said, being a little puzzled, that most people want to know what they are doing, first. Intellectually. I explained, that I do PM and I trust her as a teacher to lead me through exercises which she figures are important for me at my current state. She started teaching me.

Feeling Awkward
With different exercises she tried to get me in a mode where the voice was full. She put me on a stepper on which I had to walk while singing. At some point I had to lean forward in a shoulder wide stance. Singing “dui dui dui” up and down the scale in this position felt strange and she directed me saying “try this” or “try that”. At some point my voice felt awkward. The setting of my muscles in my vocal tract was so wrong. I even got a little scared somehow. I stopped after being in this state for not even a second. Suddenly the teacher almost shouted at me: “why did you stop?! That was wonderful! Do it again!”
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find that setting during the remaining 15 minutes of the lesson.

This moment, when the awkwardness was on its peek was the moment when the door opened. I didn’t step through it, but now I know it’s there, at least. Even if I would have find this door without the teacher, I would be convinced that it’s the wrong door.

So glad to see John! And he sent a Basketball player rolling across the court! i

by Nicholas Fung馮嘉傑(香港) on 2016/08/28

Fresh new Mr. accountant John and I had a catch up today and celebrated. Despite his absence, he has been keeping up with the basics and was able to develop new moves on the basketball court. Yeah, he sent a guy rolling across the court when pushed from behind. I am impressed! And, John didn’t know what had happened except for not moving!

Spring 2016 – Rick’s visit in Prague 5

by Pavel Codl on 2016/03/21

We have a great visitor last weekend in Prague. Rick Pietila from USA currently based in Wienna (Austria) paid us a short visit. Read more

How Taiji Helped My Baby 2

by Susanna Chwang on 2015/10/03

My name is Susanna, I am a Toronto student of Master Chen Zhonghua. I started studying Practical Method in the fall of 2012. At that time, my first daughter was just 9 months old. I brought her to the workshop and carried her around as I learned from Master Chen for the first time.

I learned the first 13 movements at that seminar and practiced them a couple times a week. Since the fall of 2013, however, I started practicing the first 13 movements everyday, without fail, 5 repetitions per day. It would take about 20 minutes to do. I continue to practice like this today. Read more

Daqinshan with infants i

by Sarah on 2015/09/28

To all parents hesiting if to go with their baby or infant to DQS, we collected some informations and impressions.

At the moment we, that is me with my husband Michael and 2 1/2 year old boy Lukas, are on Daqingshan, Shandong Province in China for Taiji Fulltime Training.

The three of us have been here together already last year, so here are our experiences with our little boy on the mountain.
Read more

“Yilu Detailed Instructions Section 6, 2015” Online Video Purchase i

by Shopmaster on 2015/05/30

Forms 69-81 of the Yilu Routine.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 7 min. In: English Year: 2015 Difficulty:1/5 At:Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

You can buy all six videos for $40.00 here: http://practicalmethod.com/2020/07/yilu-detailed-instructions-all-six-sections-2015-online-video-purchase/

Let the Principles Do the Talking or The Floor Becomes the Teacher 3

by John Upshaw on 2015/02/24

Last Sunday I made arrangements to have coffee then train with my elder disciple brother, Levi. He teaches Practical Method at The University of Iowa’s Chinese Martial Arts Club. We decided to train during his regularly scheduled class time as it provided a good space to practice. A new student arrived wanting to check out the class. Introductions were made. He was a visiting professor originally from China. After some discussion the gentleman disclosed he studied Hong Style Taijiquan for 7 years. Levi and I exclaimed that is the lineage we practice under our Shifu, Master Chen Zhonghua. He stated he studied under a disciple of GM Hong Junsheng and one of his grand-disciples, both Levi and I not having any knowledge of this Master. Read more

About Challenges 22

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2015/02/03

What they are

is simple: challenges! This information is for the few who don’t know.

The case of study used is the challenges that happened in Yishui, Shandong, China on Feb. 1, 2015. The two videos are included below for references. There are lots of comments at the youtube site where the videos are. Read more

International Master in a mountain i

by admin on 2014/07/29

The video is in Chinese. Qilu network video reports on Chen Zhonghua’s taijiquan on Daqingshan, China.

深山里的国际范儿太极
http://v.iqilu.com/wdy/wcp/2014/0704/4095036.html

The Yilu Challenge 1

by Kelvin Ho on 2014/07/01

Serious students of the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method are asked to do as many Yilus as possible for a single day. This practice started in 2001 by Master Chen Zhonghua and is known today as the Yilu Challenge. The 100 Yilu Challenge tests the students courage, endurance and power level. Read more

Visiting Professor Chen Zhonghua of Handan College 9

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2014/06/10

On the 10th of June, 2014, Master Chen Zhonghua became visiting professor of Taiji at the Handan Colledge in Handan, Hebei Province in China at a simple ceremony held by Prof. Ma Jibin, president of the College. He was also named the official representative of the college for Canada and the United State. Read more

Chen Zhonghua and Hong Junsheng in his late years i

by admin2 on 2014/03/07

(click the cc button in youtube window for translation)

Italian Job: Veneto 2013 1

by Pavel Codl on 2013/04/05

I was invited by Master Bon and Master Neresini to lead a week long private teaching and weekend public workshop. Here is short report and some pictures from sweet northern Italy district Veneto. Read more

Mr. Hong Junsheng’s Taijiquan Science and Philosophy (a translation) i

by ksloke on 2013/01/08

Hong Junsheng Taijiquan Philosophy – As I See it

By Zhang Yanhai 张延海 (Translated from http://chenzhonghua.cn)

Mr. Hong Junsheng (1907-1996) of Yu County, Henan Province was an indoor Taijiquan disciple of Mr. Chen Fake for 15 years and as the result has received true transmission of the art. After many years of inheriting the tradition and developing it, Mr. Hong has brought the essence of Taijiquan to a scientific and philosophical level and provided a systematic analysis of the inherent laws of Taijiquan; and at the same time able to demonstrate them visually in front of everyone. He is the first to propose the use of the mechanical concept of “neutral equilibrium” in Taiji. He has his own unique perspective on “rotation” and “silk reeling”.

Do Not Move! i

by Allan Belsheim on 2012/12/21

Originally written by: Allan Belsheim Nov 2007

When Master Chen Zhonghua shows us how to do the Chen form, he assures us that the hands are NOT moving. To look at him, everything is moving, including the hand. When we copy his moves, we are told that we are moving our hands and on top of that, we are tossing our bodies. The less we seem to move the more we are told that we are moving. Read more

Inside and Outside i

by webmaster2 on 2012/12/08

Originally written by: Allan Belsheim published Nov 2007

During one of our full time Taijiquan course sessions with Master Chen Zhonghua, we were talking about secrets. As we were all of the opinion that there are no secrets, he went along with us. However, he pointed out, “There is a difference between inside and outside.”

Seeing Is Not Believing 5

by webmaster2 on 2012/12/06

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

The Rock 2

by webmaster2 on 2012/12/04

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

A Can of Pepsi 24

by Todd Elihu on 2012/12/02

One afternoon during our full time Taijiquan studies, in the Hunyuantaiji Academy studio in Edmonton, Master Chen Zhonghua spoke of the mysterious, spiritual borderlands between yin and yang called ling. Read more

My Garden Loves Taiji i

by Camille Lipford on 2012/07/15

My garden loves Taiji practice

i get to admire it then

catch stunning glimpses of orange Read more

“WHAT IS IN A NAME” 8

by Xavier Santiago on 2012/02/13

The following article was once originally part of Master Chen’s former webpage www.chenzhonghua.org. It gives us Grandmaster Hong Junsheng’s first-hand account of what actually happened in the talked about encounter in a martial arts tournament in Beijing between Great Grandmaster Chen Fake and Wu Tunan. I thought it would benefit everyone interested in Taijiquan history to read this article and learn of Grandmaster Hong’s first-hand knowledge of this encounter. I want to thank Shifu Chen Zhonghua for allowing me to re-publish this article in Practicalmethod.com. Read more

Study in Handan Allegory i

by Todd Elihu on 2011/12/23

Driving through the immense rural landscape of China by car during a recent research trip my teacher, Chen Zhonghua, and I sought diversion from the lengthy journey by entertaining each other with stories. As we were traveling from the city of Jinan to Chen village (Chenjiagou) we happened to pass Handan, a little hamlet tucked in amidst the fertile fields of central Shandong province. Read more

How to “see” the energy alignment? 1

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2011/12/11

Today, Michael Winkler of Germany suddenly “saw” the energy alignment on the body. This is part of the enlightenment of taiji learning. This is also part of the “entrance” to taiji. Now he is busy looking at many of the “masters” photos to “see” if there is energy alignment in their postures. Just what enabled him to have this ability? We will have to let him explain.

How did my taiji journey get started? 1

by Kelvin Ho on 2011/10/23

I have been wanting to write about how I started learning taiji for a while. I guess everyone has his/her own story, and I will share mine here. When I looked back at it, I always felt that it was fate and luck with all the stars aligned to be learning from Master Chen.

Daqingshan Stories (2) 3

by Zhu Dongsheng on 2011/10/05

One

Before talking about Master Chen Zhonghua’s Daqingshan Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Seminars, it is necessary to discuss the historical significance of Practical Method of Grandmaster Hong Junsheng.

Review of Master Chen Zhonghua’s first Practical Method seminar in China 5

by Li Xinming on 2011/08/23

Read more

Daqingshan Taiji Stories (1) i

by Zhu Dongsheng on 2011/08/10

陈中华先生云:习拳悟道,当有机缘.所谓机缘者.顿悟之锲机.并言洪师爷逸事一则:某年夏夜老人外出散步.不料脚下踩一物以致不能自控而倾跌倒地.洪师爷起身,作辑,向四方拜一拜. Read more

Stories of Daqingshan and Taijiquan 1

by 胡琳 on 2011/08/05

做为一个没入门的太极拳爱好者，我很长时间以来，一直经常在网络上看陈中华老师的一些文章和教学视频，对陈老师独特的理论和精彩表演感到非常好奇。此次借出差之机，途经大青山，得见陈中华老师，并体验了他神妙的太极功夫。 Read more

New Yilu Records set on Daqingshan! 8

by admin on 2011/07/19

Brennan Toh set a new record of 150 Yilus in one day on June 26th, 2011. Two days before his taiji brother Steven Chan left. Steven previously set a record of 124 in one day. Yilu repetition is designed to train body endurance and integrity. It was said that Chen Fake did 25 yilus a day for many years consistently. Way to go, Brennan!

Taiji Enlightenment on Daqingshan 5

by Todd Elihu on 2011/07/18

The long transpacific journey over, my wife, Baraka, and I stepped onto Chinese soil, thrilled by the permutations of consciousness that this ancient, yet forward-looking land was already beginning to effect upon us. Our toddling daughter, Akasha, for whom any experience was a delightful curiosity no matter how mundane or extraordinary her parents deemed it, took in her new surroundings with an uncomplicated wonder which we, too, hoped to embrace despite the grown-up demands of intercontinental travel. Read more

Learning Taiji on Daqingshan 7

by Ketong Lin on 2011/06/04

二上大青山

2009年10月，第一次上大青山，认识了陈老师，初次领略了实用拳法的奥妙，前已为文记之。下山时，便许下愿心，日后有机会定当再次上山。其实，这想法自然不过。我在大青山上遇见的拳友，没有不被陈老师的为人和功夫所折服的，几乎所有人上山都不止一次。 Read more

My Conversion 10

by Michael Koh on 2011/05/24

I have been practicing Cheng Man Ching 37 style for 2 years, and in 2010 Apr, I started learning Chen Style Taiji in Singapore. After 3 months, I walked away feeling frustrated as I realized that what I learnt was “flower punch”. Nothing more than moving and waving my hands in the air. I didn’t give up and searched further on the internet brought me to a direct lineage from one of the master from Chen Village. I told myself, this teacher cannot be wrong. I signed up a 3 months course. Read more

Gongfu and Techniques 16

by Sun Zhonghua on 2011/01/05

I was watching Chen Zhonghua teach push hands one day in July of 2010 on Daqingshan when I could not resist saying, “I have a method.” On hearing this, Chen Zhonghua stepped away. The opponent did not move. I picked up where they had left off and proceeded to knock the opponent down. Of course I caught him so that he would not hit the floor. Read more

10 Questions with Chen Zhonghua i

by admin on 2010/12/19

10 Questions with Chen Zhonghua «.

30 Years of Waiting 4

by Hong Sen on 2010/11/08

On Oct. 28, 2010 my taiji uncle Zhang Guangzong came to my father’s house for a visit. He solemnly presented a diary that he had kept for 38 years to me. Read more

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