Master Chen Zhonghua corrected Roy Croucher’s first 13 moves of Yilu.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 56 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:2/5 At:Edmonton Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
Foundations corrections on Sept. 29, 2020. Master Chen Zhonghua used the three primary foundations exercises (Twisting the Towel, Six Sealing and Four Closing, and Fetch Water) to train the closing and opening of the front kua. This action is called Folding and Opening, 折叠， zhe die.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 64 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:2/5 At:Edmonton Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
I haven’t heard too many people praising the pandemic, but for me at least, it’s been great. I mean, I’m not fond of wearing my N-95 mask in buildings; it tickles my nose and fogs up my glasses when I talk. But these are minor problems compared to the boost it’s given my tai chi training. Read more
Today we completed a set of Foundations led by Kelvin Ho. Master Chen provided instructions on Double Negative Circle (symmetric, and alternating) as well as Turning Flowers and Playing with Sleeves from Erlu.
– We have to ignore the details and do the Taiji we want to do. To copy without any technical things. Then add the details.
– When we add the details, we tend to forget the overall thing.
– This is the same as forgetting where we are in the form when instructing. We need to be more fluent with the whole thing.
Master Chen Zhonghua’s online class on Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method on Sept. 28, 2020.
This class is on foundations. Some topics:
1. Double negative circle.
2. Fist Draping Over Body.
3. Turning Flowers and Play with Sleeves.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 65 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:1/5 At:Edmonton Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
…during the Sept 23 Zoom class GM got that gleam in his eye, we’ve all come to know, “Little sparrow wags its tail…” and he went on to share a story about developing the skill of intention and about the skill of not telegraphing intent through micro-level somatic signals…
…what is the essential nature of Peng? …is there room for creativity in training processes as a PM beginner? …could be that how we answer these questions will affect the speed of our learning and our ability in PM over time, maybe…this is a speculative piece…
You Tube 2020.09.27 5:56
Sifu, what would be a designated center and how can it be created ?
is the physical center you speak of the dantian ? xie xie Read more
… I have been telling Anton and Eric that my review of their lesson with GM, above date, was already submitted to the PM website, but I can’t find it anywhere, must have made an error in saving or posting or forgot to rub my magic ring, no really guys the dog ate my homework, anyway here it is, though I suspect the original version contained some absolutely brilliant insights that would have improved your training immeasurably, c’est la vie… Read more
“The movements of the body are in the Dantian and nothing leaves the dantian. Only power gets out of the Dantian.”
The quote above from Master Chen Zhonghua and his assigning me to write on the dantian sent me on a journey of understanding…and to be forthright, I got stuck. I over thought things and I had difficulties “getting the ball rolling” or rather the dantian article. So being an educated person, I did what students do, and gathered up my information from the online lecture and from past videos from Master Chen Zhonghua.
Click to view video: Suzhou Practical Method Practice in the Park 2020.09.22. 苏州陈中华太极馆2020.09.22
Sun Yang teaches the Shandong Sports University Professional Sanda Team Practical Method Push Hands on Sept. 25, 2020 i
Sun Yang teaches the Shandong Sports University Professional Sanda Team Practical Method Push Hands on Sept. 25, 2020.
Sun is a disciple of Chen Zhonnghua.
…class was a part of the online Zoom ‘Make it Real’ series of lessons, focusing on the double-positive circle…be sure to check out the posted video this review relates to…
Beauty is a chrysanthemum bud opening up until it reaches it’s maximum, then withers away. If it gets disrupted, it withers away prematurely. Beauty in taiji is being fully expressed. We can’t be deficient, not reaching our maximum; nor can we be over extended…
GM reviews specific elements of ‘6 sealing, 4 closing’ movement…or Roy’s body get’s adjusted, again, some more.. Read more
The Central Vertical Line
The central vertical line (CVL) is an internal stretch that exists between the bau hui to the hui yin. I have heard Master Chen refer to this as a “rod” in the body. It should be present whether we’re doing foundations, form or push hands.
When I’m starting with students that need to strengthen the CVL, I have them do a guided imagery drill. The guided imagery was taught to me by Richard Johnson when I attended a week long workshop with Master Chen in 2011. I adopted the guided imagery and added a partner component as a means of enhancing the physical understanding and strengthening the central vertical line.
Yilu corrections for students. Mostly starting from Cross Hands. Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 60 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:3/5 At:Edmonton Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
Today Master Chen covered the Double Positive Circle and 29. Upper Cloud Hands in Yilu.
Double Positive Circle Read more
After many years of watching Master Chen practice taiji, it occurred to me that he moves like a predator. I have always known that he makes micro-adjustments in each muscle when he does the form, but watching it has always felt mechanical; like he is a machine, able to move each joint in his body independently. But, when I watched my cat hunt for the first time, I realized that his movements are actually very natural. Read more
Observations, insights, anecdotes, and some bad jokes about the content and process of GM’s Zoom lesson on the above date.
Quick notes from my private lesson with Master Chen – Twisting The Towel
– assuming you know the basics adopt proper training stance with left hand forward and right hand rearward, distance between hands is the length of your opponents elbow to their wrist or hand.
– create 2 horizontal tracts, 1 thru the mid section and 1, in this case with the right hand moving forward, forearm parallel to the ground. Without proper guidance we only create 1 tract.
– the 2 tracks can only be created if if we lock or create a bite, in this case on the left side of the body
– to create the lock or bite we must stretch.
– push dow on the thigh muscle, open the kua and stretch in opposite directions, this is the lock or bite it cannot move.
– right hand can now begin moving forward.
– open the right kua and drop the right shoulder to cause compression, this will force the elbow in toward the dantien.
– the hand can now mov forward in a straight line, extend through the index finger.
– when the hand reaches a certain point in travel we must lock the shoulder and allow extension to continue by opening the elbow. to do this we must actiivate the small muscle on the inside of the elbow, This is very difficult and requires much training
– throughout the exercise the spine must be pulled up or stretched.
– when the right hand reaches full extension the process can now be reversed with the left hand moving forward.
GM asked for 3 paragraphs on a part of the Zoom lesson, specifically, the topic of ‘do the movement as required by GM, let everything else go’.
Chen Zhonghua’s Practical Method Online Lesson on Sept. 23, 2020. This lesson focused on the 3-count Cloud Hands.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 62 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:1/5 At:Edmonton Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
“Make it real” Series
Exercise 1
Open the kua to cause a horizontal rotation. Lock the top by using one hand to the hold the wrist on the other side. Stretch the fingers. Where the middle finger is pointing at changes as the rotation caused by the kua happens.
Open the right kua to turn left.
Open the left kua to turn right.
Don’t let the left knee point down when opening the left kua.
Read more
In learning Taiji, Master Chen would often say that we create power with size and restriction. He would also say that we must develop the ability to separate every single part of our body. This includes left and right, top and bottom, front and back, and inside and outside. Read more
Master Chen Zhonghua’s online lesson on Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method on Sept. 22, 2020. This lesson focused on the double positive circle. Training steps of locking the arm onto the torso; rotate horizontally, rotate vertically; and rotate three-dimensionally.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 65 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:1/5 At:Edmonton Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
Master Chen Zhonghua’s corrections on Roy Croucher’s Six Sealing and Four Closing. It covers the basic function of the exercise and various subtle points. Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 57 min. In: English Year: 2020 Difficulty:1/5 At:Edmonton Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy
Read moreI entered into class late and saw everyone doing double positive circles. He instructed us to do it in a higher stance with our elbows attached to our waist. Read more
Today Master Chen covered the Double Positive Circle.
We started with double positive circle.
We used a rubber cord to tie to elbow to the waist, so that the elbow does not move by itself.
Read more
Upshaw Practical Method Taijiquan Broadsword 1st recording 20200921
– just after Roy’s 2nd private lesson with GM, it was suggested that I record his impressions about his experiences in this learning process
– I’m no journalist so bear with me here Read more
– I am beginning to understand some of the challenges in trying to describe, discuss, even think about PM in ways that pass along that information, in digestible bites to other people Read more
In view of the current Covid-19 restrictions, the government of Wulian held a county wide sports meet, part of it is the 8th Daqingshan Taiji Competition. Thanks to Han Rui, Qiu Liwen, Wang Guixiu and Sun Peiliang.
Video clips:
