At the Ottawa Nov. 12-13, 2016 workshop, Master Chen Zhonghua talked about when doing twisting the towel or six sealing four closing, our hands and elbows must stay on the same line. Where was that line exactly? We often just imagined where that line was. He told us to use a physical object to guide us, and he used a stick to show us. In today’s class in Toronto, we started with twisting the towel and covered what I learned at the Ottawa workshop. We went on to use the railing at the community centre to do the six sealing four closing exercise.
Do the form. A lot. Do it so much you never have to think about the next move, until all the movements and transitions are fluent. Only then can you work on a specific principle comfortably enough to improve.- Finish each move (in the form) and keep going. Keep going into the next one.
- We have to be capable of anchoring power on the outside, just as we have to be capable of anchoring power on the inside. IE: body movement that anchors on the hand (hand doesn’t move), and hand movement that anchors on the body (centre line doesn’t move). Maintain consistent power on the outside while the inside stays mobile.
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Disciples Rachelle B., James T., and Daniel M. once again orchestrated an exceptional Practical Method seminar in Ottawa. Participants from Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City, Montreal, and Petawawa gathered to immerse themselves in the ancient art of Taijiquan, guided by the personal expertise of Master Joseph Chen. James has already shared a summary of this enriching event.
Over three intensive days, we explored every dimension of the Practical Method—delving into its theory, philosophy, and history, alongside rigorous training in Foundations, forms, and applications. Below are my personal reflections on this remarkable experience. |
Date: December 17 – 18 2016
Contact: Nicholas Fung nicholasfung@icloud.com
We are pleased to have Master Chen Zhonghua back for another workshop. This time Taijiquan training, lodging and dining will be at one location with one cost. This will be an intensive workshop focused on foundations, drills, form, push hands and applications.
Date: July 28 – Aug 1 2017
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Partner exercise to train getting in
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Vancouver
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 9 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Vancouver
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 20 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Vancouver
Our training spot at Augarten in beautiful Vienna, Austria
If you are in Vienna, Austria, or close to it and you want to practice Practical Method Taijiquan you are most welcome to join our growing group. We practice in different places which you can check out on our map, our main spot is currently in the 15th district at a Karate Dojo where you can find us every Saturday morning from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
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Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 20 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Phoenix
JhungSiu is fulltime student from Perth staying for 3 months
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 13 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Phoenix
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 3 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Toronto
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 5 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Toronto
We did a lot 13 Yilu repetition with counting. The idea is to be clear in each step of each move. Master Chen mentioned once student learn the choreography, it is helpful to break down each move to understand it better, then latter perform it together again.
This sequence of breaking and putting it back should be repeated several times as student progresses in practice.
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All actions are rigid (yang); all adaptations are soft. (yin)
Qi gong and 3 levels of taiji progression: “The truth is naked”, People can’t take the truth because they are not naked. We are always covering up.
When all moves arise from the biting and catching of the gears, there will be proportionality.
Saturday:
1. Gear box / Bite: Don’t add extra moves. With twisting of towel you need to grind elbows on ribs. Everything is proportional and nothing is loose or it will break at higher speeds (like an engine). In this way, nothing leaks out.
2. A rock cannot have a relationship with itself; it needs to split and then one part can move around in relation to the other.
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Maple Ridge Workshop With Chen Zhonghua October15/16, 2016
It was windy and raining in Maple Ridge last weekend, but in our cozy hall, Master Chen was telling us once again what he has been telling us for sixteen years: elbow in, hand out, move one thing at a time, observe your opponent, where his energy is located, see his lines.
Detailed Lessons on Foundation
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 44 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
Talk on action necessary to create Yin Yang Separation
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 11 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Toronto
Taiji enthusiasts in Houston, Texas were treated to an unexpected treat, a visit from Master Joseph Chen due to a flight layover. Master Chen’s disciple in Houston, Jeff Clevenger, arranged for a get-together with Master Chen which included breakfast, a training session at a local park followed by lunch at a good BBQ restaurant, before Master Chen had to fly out in the early afternoon. Although it was short notice and during the work week, five participants showed up to meet and train with Master Chen.
How to get the body to be proportionally even
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 9 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5 At:Toronto
I don’t know if it’s accurate, but I tried my best to record all I’ve heard and saw in the two-day workshop.
- Change “一” shape structure to ” V ” shape to get a 3D structure
- If there’s a V shape structure with ABC points as joints. A Taiji movement would be:
A as a hinge. It doesn’t move at all, but able to rotate.
B as a connection between two arms. Its track will not change because A and C are restricted. And will move towards the different direction of A.
C as the only free moving part. But its track must be pre-defined before it moves, and need to be related to A.
Talk and Demonstration on Five Lines of Power in Taijiquan
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
Master Chen’s Practical Method workshop and private lessons in Phoenix, Arizona, October 1-4, 2016. Read more
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 9 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:2/5 At:Toronto
Practical Method Phoenix, AZ Workshop October 1, 2016 – October 2, 2016
by Chris Liu on 10/4/2016
When I discovered the Practical Method, I started watching a lot of Master Chen’s videos. This led me to read more in depth about Taiji and its rooted philosophy in Taoism. I watched, and read, and thought about it every day for over a year then one day, I finally believed I was ready to meet Master Chen. Read more
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 22 min. In: English Year: 2016 Difficulty:1/5
The difference in push hands 1.5 years training can make.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 36 min. In: English Year: 2015 Difficulty:1/5
Background: I’m Harshil Meraiya, age 32, from Pune, India. I learnt Yang style Taichi from August 2011 to Jan 2014. I had no other Martial Art background. I was introduced to Practical Method by Sandeep Desai in Jan 2014.
During next 6 months I learned choreography and basic foundations from Videos and Skype sessions with Kelvin Ho and John Upshaw. I started accumulating lots of PM brothers as friends on Facebook providing me feedback, guidance etc on my yilu videos I posted…
