Nicholas Mann is a Chen Style Tai Chi practitioner and instructor who lives in Guelph Ontario. His exposure to Tai Chi over the past four years has been comprehensive as well as thorough. Since beginning formal Tai Chi instruction in Victoria in 2006, Nicholas has been to China twice, both times to participate in three month long residential training courses offered at the Daqingshan Mountain Resort.
These courses were instructed by Nicholas’ current teacher Master Chen Zhonghua. Chen Zhonghua is the International Standard Bearer of the Hong Junsheng Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method System. During these courses Nicholas was given certification of completion of the full time instruction course offered by Master Chen Zhonghua. Along with his current classes in Guelph, Nicholas is also continuing to learn from Master Chen Zhonghua at workshops held in Toronto tri-yearly.
Growing up Nicholas was always involved in sports and martial arts. He wrestled throughout high school and during this time Nicholas won a place on team Ontario and a trip to the National Jr. Wrestling Championships and he also won a Silver Medal at the Ontario winter games. During university Nicholas trained in Boxing and Mui Tai Boxing before settling down with Wing-Chun Kung Fu. Nicholas learned Wing- Chun for two year from Sifu Robert Gould before completing his Philosophy Degree and moving to Victoria, BC where he was introduced to Tai Chi and his current teacher Master Chen Zhonghua.
Two movies on students at Daqingshan interacting with high level champions, as another way to learn taiji.
Author: Liu Ni, etc. Length: 35 min. In: English & Chinese Year: 2011 Difficulty:3/5 At:Daqingshan Mountain Resort for Taiji
I started learning the Practical Method from video in February of this year (2011). Because I had studied Chen Style Taijiquan since 2006 and did not have a Practical Method teacher in my area, I thought I could learn from the wealth of information and videos available on the Practical Method website.
In this mini lesson held at a Toronto workshop, Master Chen Zhonghua started by explaining the intricate 360 degree rotation of the shoulder in a positive circle and went on the explain many important taiji movement concepts including how two points link, how many points work together, etc.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 32 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:3/5 At:Toronto
In these videos, you will learn how to use taiji energy in push hands situations. Both Chen Zhonghua and Steven Chan are highly accomplished in taiji push hands.
Author: Chen Zhonghua Length: 5, 6 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:4/5 At:Daqingshan Mountain Resort for Taiji
In recent years, Grandmaster Hong Junsheng’s Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method is gaining popularity all over the world. Many inquire to this website as to how to become an official branch of the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method.
1. beginning. 2. Full time on Daqingshan. 3. Coordination of the two halves of the circle. 4. Gino Nasato Yilu. 5. Blake Norman Yilu parts. 6. Competition judges arriving on Daqingshan. 7. Practice at 6:30 am. 8. Chen Zhonghua making corrections. 9. Foundations with Hong Sen. 10. Cannon to the Gate and applications. 11. Hands on with K.T. Lin. 12. Lunch at Daqingshan. 13. Demonstration of how “Fetch Water” works. 14. Straight places must curve; curved places must open. 15. Circle in reality and in action. 16. Contacting point and power point. 17. Movement rhythm. 18. In and out movement sequence. 19. Two energies causing one movement. 20. Movement perimeters. 21. Steven Chan and Sun Jian pushing.
Author: Chen Zhonghua Length: 77 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:2/5 At:Daqingshan Mountain Resort for Taiji
Actual footage of Master Chen Zhonghua’s teachings at the 2011 Daqingshan Full time Taijiquan session.
Author: Chen Zhonghua Length: 63 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:2/5 At:Daqingshan Mountain Resort for Taiji
I wanted to share my experiences of the June 2011 workshop in Edmonton. It was amazing as always. As a group we decided to focus ont Yilu and fundamentals during the time I was there. We sweated a LOT and did Yilu again and again and again. Read more
In this video, Master Chen teaches an advanced method of Yilu training.
In each move there should be torque power, and it is generated by separating each movement to horizontal and vertical portions.
Presenter: Chen Zhonghua Length: 12 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:4/5 At:Maple Ridge
2011 edition of Master Chen Zhonghua’s corrections of student Yilus. This is collection of 18 correction videos from Daqingshan full time student year of 2011.
Author: Chen Zhonghua Length: 10-20 min each. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:3/5 At:Daqingshan Mountain Resort, etc.
During an evening of art and calligraphy demonstration, Master Cai Shengye started showing some yilu moves and their applications in the multipurpose room of the Yulange Hotel on Daqingshan in May, 2011. Students involved are Nicholas Fung and Daniel Mroz.
Author: Cai Shengye Length: 18 min. In: Chinese Year: 2011 Difficulty:2/5 At:Daqingshan Mountain Resort for Taiji
We will be having our summer get together the weekend of July 23 and 24 at Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor, Iowa. We will be working on Yilu forms, foundations, applications and push hands. All skill levels are invited to attend. There are motel/hotel rooms available in McGregor, but it is advisable to book early, McGregor is a casino town and the rooms are usually full. One can also check for rooms in nearby Marquette and Guttenberg, Iowa. There are camping spots available at the park. http://www.iowadnr.gov/parks/state_park_list/pikes_peak.html For more information, contact John Upshaw (319) 404-3962.
One concept which seems to come up in almost every lesson and principle Master Chen teaches is connection. But what does “being connected” actually mean? How do we achieve it and what are the benefits of being connected? I think these are all important questions that any serious Chen Style Taijichuan Practical Method student needs to explore and understand in order to gain a deeper understanding of this complex art. While most practioners seem to focus on the external choreography of the art, which is the first step and the foundation of the Yilu, I think the answer to what connection is can only be found by focusing on what happens inside the body. Taiji is, after all, an internal martial art!
A continuation on push hand lesson, how to add after matching the opponent’s force. In this clip Master Chen Zhonghua demonstrated adding force toward the opponent while maintaining the balance of matching power.
Author: Chen Zhonghua Length: 12 min. In: English Year: 2011 Difficulty:3/5 At:Maple Ridge
It took me 51 hours to get home, but I am still carrying the spirit of DQS with me. It had been such an experience that will be impossible for me to ever forget.
The DQS experience is unique in that I don’t need to worry about anything else apart from Taiji, and every student there was trying to do the same. Read more
It took me 51 hours to get home, but I am still carrying the spirit of DQS with me. It had been such an experience that will be impossible for me to ever forget.
