Shifu Chen Zhonghua often emphasizes how to learn Taijiquan. This web site has a great article called 6 Methods of Learning Tai Chi. (Read this if you have not already.) It expands and elaborates on Grandmaster Hong’s “Look, Listen, and Ask” practice method.
In motor control research, I found the neurological basis for this method of learning. There are neurological mechanisms called mirror neurons. The basic premise is when we see a person do something, mirror neurons fire off in our brain attempting to duplicate the pattern in our nervous system required to copy the movement. At first, it is an imperfect copy because it follows old neurological pathways. With repeated viewing of the action, our brains and nervous system do a really good job of creating new neurological pathways to accurately copy the movement. Read more
Taught Allan Belsheim and Ricky Pietila in the Edmonton studio how to keep the body straight while making the rotation in these moves. These are moves 35 and 36, Punch to the ground and then turn right (to double kick).
The original meaning of the word is awkward. It refers to the energy that causes the opponent to feel awkward. During the learning stage, it is the requirement of this energy that the routines of the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method make the learner feel awkward first. Through years of training in an awkward way, the practitioner gets used to being in this awkward position and he starts to look normal. But when dealing with opponents, he produces an effect on the opponent that is extremely awkward to deal with.
This is one of the basic reasons why taiji is difficult to learn, and once learned, other people find taiji people difficult to deal with.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10 min. In: Chinese Year: 2015 Difficulty:5/5 At:大青山
Many fake things originated as high level mastery. It is the people who don’t have the skill but want to present themselves as highly skilled masters that make people think that the original act was also fake.
Very often, when this happens, the average person tend to believe the fake act and refuse to believe the original real act.
One week ago Master Chen held the first workshop in Romania. Four years ago I myself took my first step in the practical method world, buying the first video: foundation. In these four years I met Master Chen three times in workshops across Europe. It was not easy. Without this modern approach which allows you to work using videos from practicalmethod.com, it would have been impossible for me to make any progress.
These are some of the local people and the people who arrived already from other countries. We have people coming from the UK, Belgium, Germany, Finland and Scotland. Worked on drills to do Elbow in without moving the hand. Change push into a pull.
And not moving. — in Gdynia.
Sticking exercise, rotation power – pivoting point, indirect power – focus Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 69 min. In: English Year: 2014 Difficulty:1/5 At:Sydney
indirect powertheory, matching incoming power, several moves at once, press down exercise Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 66 min. In: English Year: 2015 Difficulty:1/5 At:Sydney
Lining up to the ground, space, not moving in the back/chest, practice for not moving back
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 71 min. In: English Year: 2014 Difficulty:2/5 At:Sydney
You have heard about the positive and negative circles. You have gone through in-with-elbow and out-with-hand thousands of times. You have even advanced and co-ordinated your feet with your hands — hands-in with front foot and hands-out with back foot. Now are you ready for the next step? Co-ordinated rhythmic changes using the basic building blocks of the positive and negative circles… Here is Master Chen Zhonghua in person to demonstrate…
Circle Detail, Twist Towel Detail, Planning during Application
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 64 min. In: English Year: 2014 Difficulty:1/5 At:Sydney
Shifu Chen Zhonghua often emphasizes how to learn Taijiquan. This web site has a great article called 6 Methods of Learning Tai Chi. (Read this if you have not already.) It expands and elaborates on Grandmaster Hong’s “Look, Listen, and Ask” practice method.
The original meaning of the word is awkward. It refers to the energy that causes the opponent to feel awkward. During the learning stage, it is the requirement of this energy that the routines of the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method make the learner feel awkward first. Through years of training in an awkward way, the practitioner gets used to being in this awkward position and he starts to look normal. But when dealing with opponents, he produces an effect on the opponent that is extremely awkward to deal with.
