The Sydney Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy, also known as Practical Method Sydney, was officially established in 2012. Paul Janssens traveled to China to attend Master Chen Zhonghua’s three month full time training course on Daqingshan, after which he invited Master Chen to conduct workshops in Sydney and Canberra in 2012. Since then, Master Chen has conducted regular two day workshops in Sydney. These workshops have attracted many people from around Australia to learn from Master Chen.
The Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy headquarters is located in Daqingshan, Wulian, Shandong Province, China. International students train year-round on Daqingshan. Daqingshan holds one of the largest Taiji competitions in China annually.
Brian Chung, Master Chen Zhonghua’s 256th disciple, is an instructor for Practical Method Sydney. He has been teaching and promoting the Practical Method system in Sydney since 2018. He has received numerous medals in various Taiji competitions in Australia & China. He has completed over 20,000 Yilus and will continue to further his learning.
During her 7 day stay on Daqingshan during July, 2019, Disciple Applicant Yu Xin gave this 8minute interview with International Liaison Officer and Instructor James Strider. In it they discuss meeting Master Chen and the daily regime you will find on Daqingshan when you come to stay….
I was invited along with a number of taiji teachers in Toronto to perform at the 2019 Fountain of Youth Qi Event on Nov. 23, 2019. Each teacher first performed a routine of his choice on stage. In the 2nd part of the event, each teacher demonstrated Cloud Hands, Single Whip and White Crane (Goose) Spread Its Wings of his style. Over generations of transmission, there are many variants of these moves. Many thanks to Sharon Liu, Founder of Fountain of Youth Qi for the invitation and organization of such event.
This time the 7th practical method workshop in Indonesia was held in Bali. Master Chen Zhonghua together with a team of trainers i.e: Wang Kai, Ling Ziming, Ling Zili, Song Zhenhua and participants from China arrived in Bali on November 19, 2019 at midnight. James Strider arrived at the 21st of November. The next day the lesson has begun and is followed by students who arrive earlier. This workshop was very special because the day before the workshop which was November 22, 2019 was also held for the first time the push hands practical method match for the Southeast Asia and Oceania region. Read more
Push hands is an exercise that examines your understanding of the Taiji principle: Separation of Yin and Yang. While form training transforms your body, push hands provides an opportunity for you to apply your Taiji knowledge and skill. It has also become a popular sporting event both in China and abroad. This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as people at different levels of their training. If you have never tried it before, this is a great opportunity for you to do it in a friendly and safe environment.
We are pleased to have Master Chen Zhonghua back for the 4th annual training camp. Once again, the taijiquan training, lodging and dining will be at one location with one cost at the same location as last 3 years. This will be an intensive workshop focused Theory, Foundations, Yilu, Push Hands and Broadsword. Disciples will take part in the instructions. Read more
Today, there was a discussion among some of the North American disciples on intent. What is it? What does it mean?
The discussion allowed me to solidfy a couple of things.
In 2019 Iowa Camp, shifu mentioned:
Spencer’s notes:
The camp’s lessons this time were pervaded by the idea of “intention”. Intention in PM is what we call “to lead”. For example, in the positive circle, the elbow in is the “lead” Intention has no meaning in itself, but it changes everything. I am starting to realize this is one of the reasons Master Chen’s form looks so much different than mine and I can never figure out why. Your eyes can only see movement. The act of leading translates to intention, and when intention is used, the action is different. In with elbow, turn at waist, out with hand… You have to be clear about those intentions. Say them aloud! When the intention is clear, you produce a very thin line. From one large thing, you pull out one dot. This is the concept of silk reeling. Read more
In the weekend of 9 & 10 November Carlotta and Sven from Berlin came to Utrecht in the Netherlands for the Open Dutch Championship and a workshop.
Sven led the workshop and Carlotta the execution of the yilu 13 section. Two of my students in Holland, Lucas and Ester took part in it, together five of us. Read more
Brennan Toh, disciple of Chen Zhonghua, recently visited the Ottawa Branch of the Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy. Brennan is currently living in Regina, Saskatchewan.
As we know Master Chen Zhonghua does not allow students of Practical Method to socialize. This event became a practical and teaching session!
Pulling instead of pushing … The first time I heard that statement, it made absolutely no sense at all to me. The tenth time I heard that statement, it still made no sense. I remember doing two person floor drills at Master Chen’s workshops where we were supposed to move the drill partner backwards by ‘pulling’, rather than ‘pushing’ them backwards. The only way that I could move them backwards was to push from my back foot. Read more
Push Hands training session of the 2019 Chen Zhonghua Prague Practical Method Workshop. Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2019 Difficulty:1/5 At:Prague
Master Chen showing Rick Pietila how to align the rear elbow with the front hand
Recently at a 2019 Toronto CA workshop hosted by Kevin Ho, Master Chen Zhonghua demonstrated and taught the participants a training drill that requires the starting position to have the rear heel off the floor and both hands in a double push position, chest high. While going over this drill and teaching to the finer more precise details, he offered that we students feel his back leg starting positions with our hands. One hand was to be placed on the ankle while the other on the inside thigh to feel the active tendons and muscles. He suggested that students pull or rake across these two areas to gain a better understanding of the physical requirements for the drill. When I took my turn, pulling across these areas, something registered with me to the feeling of the amount of tension in the leg as well as what precisely for this move was being used to generate such great power, and speed. Read more
Part 5 of Greg Schnabel’s Private Lesson in Toronto in Sept. 2019.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2019 Difficulty:2/5 At:Toronto
Part 4 of Greg Schabel’s Private Lesson in Toronto in Sept. 2019.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2019 Difficulty:2/5 At:Toronto
Part 3 of Greg Schnabel’s Private Lesson in Toronto in Sept. 2019.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2019 Difficulty:2/5 At:Toronto
