Tai Chi – The Art of Precision
By Ramona Gomez
Up until the 2019 seminar in Iowa I did not know my moves were fake. My moves imitated the real thing but were not real. They still are not what I want them to be, but now I have the tools to get me closer to the real thing. Master Chen showed me how to find the line.
There is a line to be found in all Practical Method motions. The hand and elbow has to stay on track. A good way of understanding this is comparing the motion to a bi-folding door. There is a fixed end that does not move, the handle and the end that moves on the track. The shoulder is the fixed end, the elbow is the handle and the hand is the end that is on the track. The handle pulls the door open and pushes it shut. The end on the track does not perform the action. The elbow pushes and pulls the hand on the track. The hand never moves. This concept should eventually spread throughout the body. Master Chen explains this the best on the “Sydney 2014 Workshop 1” Online Video. This video contains a lot of valuable information.
Currently I am working this concept in my yilu. I am also working on not moving the mid-line of my body as well as keeping a knee fixed during transitions. I have a long way to go, however thanks to Master Chen and the disciples at the Iowa summer training camp, I have the tools to get me where I need to be for the next time we meet up.
My current first 13
A number of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and patients attended Practical Method experience class on Dec. 20, 2019, and some of them tried taiji for the very first time. Among the participants, there was Rachel Yi, who started studying Practical Method in 2016 in China. She is now attending university in Canada, and is continuing to study PM under my taiji brother Si Chan in Winnipeg. We covered some foundation exercises, the first 13 moves of yilu, and some demonstration of applications.
Shifu James Strider – 1st 13 Moves of Yilu – Daqingshan, Shandong Province, China – September 2019 i
Shifu James Strider demonstrating the 1st 13 moves from the Practical Method Yilu during his 18 month full time sabbatical on Daqingshan, Wulian, Shandong Province, China – September 2019
This is purely a video of reference material. If you wish to learn from the International Standard Bearer Master Chen Zhonghua, go to his extensive library of online training materials and click here for further information on our Full-Time training program.
International Liaison Officer and International Instructor Sifu James Strider teaches Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method classes and workshops at various locations across Australia and on Daqingshan, Wulian, Shandong Province, China.
Email: james@practicalmethod.com.au
Hello, my name is Adarsh Khalsa, a 67-year-old woman retired almost two years now. I began studying PM (Practical Method) with Ping Wei at the beginning of 2019 and this was my first workshop (December 2019). One of the main things for me was how it exponentially increased my understanding of what this practice is really about. I found that it is harder to “not move” than it is to move; even becoming aware that you’re moving a part that shouldn’t be moving is a huge learning process.
Master Chen instructed me to use a wider stance, which I have started working on.
I had the opportunity to talk with almost everyone at the workshop, which I found very helpful. Thanks to 3 gentlemen and Master Chen, I was able to experience a taste of what push hands is about; in the correct position by rotating my arm just a tiny bit and moving my hip, my “attacker” fell over.
Very helpful was the instruction to read your notes out loud; also the idea to make use of devices, such as sticks and walls to train is good too.
There were many details, nicely noted elsewhere by Edward.
Thank you to all my fellow attendees and especially Master Chen for being so accessible.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 3 min. In: English Year: 2019 Difficulty:2/5
Instructor: Kelvin Ho Length: 23 min Language: English Year: 2019 Difficulty: 1/5 At: Toronto
This video covers:
Twisting the Towel
Fetch Water
Positive Circle
Negative Circle
Practical Method Phoenix, Ping Wei
Regular classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, from 7:30 to 8:30am at Roadrunner Park.
Foundations, Yilu, Erlu, and sword.
Call (602-373-3457) or email (peace_defender2003@yahoo.com) for details.
New Year’s Day Tai Chi and Brunch Hosted by Ping Wei
Practical Method Phoenix
8:30-9:30am Tai Chi at North Mountain Park (7th Street/Peoria).
9:30-, Brunch at Ping and Ross’ home, 10622 N. 8th Street, Phoenix.
RSVP by text to Ping @ 602-373-3457, or email: peace_defender2003@yahoo.com
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Do you have a New Year resolution to become healthier in 2020? Taiji may be your answer. On Dec. 29, 2019 at 10 am, you will have a chance to experience what taiji is like and what health benefits it may bring you at the Chen Style Taiji Experience Class to be held at Channels of Wellness Centre. Come try it out for free!
Day 1
- Double negative has to be more vertical – open below, closes up top.
- Buttocks cannot protrude. Kua is not open enough. It will hurt.
Push Hands Only Version
Full Version
On Dec. 8, 2019, a Practical Method Taiji Push Hands Workshop was held in Toronto. We had 10 participants, and 4 of them were new to Practical Method. Bert Desjardins drove 4.5 hours from Windsor to Toronto to attended this workshop. We also had the pleasure of having Master Liu Xuwei, who teaches Chen Style Taijiquan Small Frame, in attendance. We covered foundations:
- Twisting the Towel – Don’t move the hand, and only use the foot the squeeze out the hand.
- Fetch Water – Don’t move anything, only focus on opening the kua
- Six Sealing Four Closing – Lock the front hand and rear shoulder, push the front shoulder into the line formed by the front hand and rear shoulder.
- Positive Circle – In with elbow, turn with waist, out with hand. No other body part should be moving except the specific leader.
- Negative Circle – In with elbow, drop the hand on the outside, out with hand.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
Jieshou, a Chinese word that means “accept hand”, is a term used in Practical Method. You will get an idea of what it means after viewing the video clip.
It is important to know that Practical Method does not allow head-on collision in making initial (or any other) contact with the opponent.
This is a clip of teaching video at the Dec. 2019 New York workshop.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
Video Pt1 – James Strider – Private Session – Jose Lobato – Perth Dec 2019
On the 4th of December I had the privilege of meeting up with Jose Lobato from East Timor whom I had met just recently at the Bali workshop. We had a great time, despite the unexpected Marsh Flies and various bugs trying to eat us!
Due to his work, Jose is in Perth every month and we found time to meet up in beautiful King’s Park for a 2hr session before 2019 comes to an end, covering the Basic Foundations and general Theory.
From this I have made a series of 6 reference videos which I thought may be of interest…
These videos and more will be available at www.practicalmethod.com.au.
If you want to learn from more in depth materials, please look into the incredible database of Master Chen’s online videos here at www.practicalmethod.com.
As always, feedback is welcome…enjoy!
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Practical Method Sydney 澳洲悉尼實用拳法Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method 陈式太极拳实用拳法 |
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.
Each workshop typically covers theory, foundations, Yilu (the first Taiji barehand form), applications and push hands. Practical Method is a system based on separation of yin and yang. The main concept is indirect power. The primary actions are in with elbow no hand, out with hand no elbow.
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.
Classes and Practice Sessions:
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| Instructors: | Master Chen Zhonghua |
| Date: | Feb 15-16, 2020 |
| Time: | 8:30am to 11:30am2:00pm to 5:00pm |
| Location: | DJKJ Kung Fu Academy 34 Rosebery Avenue, Rosebery NSW 2018 |
| Topics: | Theory, Foundations, form (Yilu), applications and push hands |
| Fee: | $380 for 2 days, $220 for 1 day. |
| Register: | http://bit.ly/PM2020Sydney |
| Suggested preparation for first-timers, get yourself familiar with the following: | |
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| For further information, contact: Brian Chung practicalmethodau@gmail.com +61 423 035 857 |
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
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….
International Liaison Officer and Instructor Shifu James Strider on Daqingshan Mountain 2019
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.
Official Page: http://www.dyysg123.com/206593211320581365232424739178236373103426371.html
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Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
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.
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Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
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.
推手是一种让人检查对太极原理（分阴阳）理解的练习。 套路训练可以改变人的身体结构，而推手则提供了运用太极拳知识和技能的机会。 它已成为国内外流行的体育赛事。 这训练班适合推手初学者及不同程度培训的太极爱好者。 如果您以前从未尝试过推手，那么这是个让你在友好与安全的环境中初次尝试的绝佳机会。
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.
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Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
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
Arrived early this morning. Some photos: Read more
This photo was taken on Nov. 20, 2012. Thanks to Wei Ping and the Phoenix Group!
Chen Zhonghua in Sedona 2012
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!
