To manipulate and opponent requires gradually altering the “friction” of the contact points. We need to be able to go from 10 units of friction to 8 units to 6 to 4 to 2 as we do a move, and we need to be able to do this more quickly than the opponent can adapt to us. This is very difficult to do, it requires a lot of foundations. When someone is pushing us, if we have too much yang we will lose, too much yin and we will also lose.
The universe was nothing, and then was created through a rotational force. Therefore, a rotational force cannot be countered. This does not mean a rotational force can do everything. However, the progress of a rotational force is unlimited; 360 degrees. An external straight line has an end. Read more
Everything is like loose sand. Among the sand, some things might have a spark. There’s nothing wrong with sand, and nothing wrong with other ways of moving, such as other forms of martial arts or football. It just depends on what you want. Master Chen is looking for the sparks in the sand. Read more
Make my fetch water action much, much, much bigger. Only when there is size, it becomes useful. My action is way too small, Master Chen told me the same at the last workshop as well. I have not changed yet.
Once I am done with stretching the top, while not moving the front kua, knee, foot, move the rear foot to increase size.
Whatever I do, the front knee is not moving.
Train the whole yilu with one specific part not moving.
Before I start the first positive circle the middle finger of the front hand must concentrate on a dot. The front middle finger is no higher than the eyebrow. The elbow and palm of the front hand are directed towards the floor. There is a stretch from the front middle finger to the rear foot. The front forearm is stretched and the front shoulder is pinned down (it does not move).
What a fantastic set of online classes that Kelvin Ho has run! I was challenged in each class to bring myself back to the uncomfortable-ness of our practice. Read more
These words, uttered by Master Chen (with his usual impish grin and mischievous glint in his eyes!) at his premier European workshop way back in 2006 when he came to Holland, have since been heard by many others around the globe. As the room was full of grown Dutch men in this instance, a nation that prides itself on being pragmatic, logical and individualistic, they did not go down well! Read more
Top New:News just came from Thailand that Sun Yang has won the 67 kg Golden Belt after many rounds of hard fights at the Golden Belt Finals under the auspice of the Thailand Muay Thai Federation. Sun Yang is a disciple of Master Chen Zhonghua, International Standard Bearer of the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method system and Dean of the Qingshan Taijiquan and Cultural Research Institute of the Rizhao Politechnic. Read more
Night of Push Hands is an event for push hands enthusiasts to improve their skills. Matches will be run in a tournament format with different weight divisions, and winners from the weight divisions will compete in the grand championship round. There will be a referee for each match with two 2-minute rounds with a 1-minute break in between.
Anyone interested are welcome to join. Spectators are also welcome.
On Sunday, February 10, I had the good fortune of attending the Taiji Tournament that is always held as part of the annual Phoenix Chinese Week. This festival celebrates many aspects of Chinese culture, including history, food, art, opera performances, and- of course- martial arts. I have attended the tournament several times in the past as a spectator. As a newer disciple, I decided that it would be good for both myself and the promotion of Practical Method to finally participate. Read more
To anyone who’s interested in participating in this year’s Berlin workshop with Master Chen, please click here for further information and sign up:
http://www.practicalmethod.de/angebote/anmeldung-czh-in-berlin/
On Tuesday, 1/29/2019, I was invited to the radio talk show in Phoenix, Independent Talk 1100 KFNX. The show was live streamed on Facebook, Successful Aging.
At the Phoenix workshop Master Chen had someone place a pole from his hand to the arch of his back foot. In w/ elbow his and and forearm slid along the pole. He has a shorter pole placed by his front kua a slightly upward angle. His elbow followed the 2nd pole while the hand stayed on the 1st pole. He then said, it’s actually “out w/ foot” as the hand only guides the direction. Read more
I just attended Chen Zhonghua’s Phoenix workshop last weekend. As usual, I thought I was pretty good thanks to all the practicing I had done since last year in Iowa, and as usual, Zhonghua threw my confidence into the toilet.
It was a great workshop, although overwhelming. At least I’m more comfortable with what I think is the most important thing that was taught, namely don’t think. Just follow the directions and don’t question them. This is a big thing for me, someone who is always up in his head comparing and questioning. Turns out that thinking is just a distraction from practicing, which is the only way to learn what is being taught. How to get out of my head? I think the answer is to practice as intently as I can. When I do that, I notice interesting things and have occasional exciting insights. It’s that excitement that keeps me going and that keeps practicing tai chi from becoming like a diet, where it takes willpower to force me to do it.
The second biggie I came away with is the need to segregate all the parts within each movement. I learned that when two parts within a movement go at the same time they are double heavy. I had not been separating the parts, which made for a prettier form, but was not leading me in a good direction. So far, I’m just working on the part up to the pound mortar of the first section of yilu. It is so hard! But it’s starting to feel right, especially if I practice it with stalking power. With that power, each segment of each movement seems to slip into place.
These two things are enough for me to practice right now. I’m already starting to feel human again and it’s a given that my confidence will be back by this summer in Iowa, just in time to be destroyed by the master again!
