I sometimes read reviews of workshops given by masters and always view them with a ‘grain of salt’ being a somewhat critical and sceptical martial artist. I have been involved in martial arts since the early 1970’s. I’ve studied boxing, wrestling, judo, aikido, kick-boxing receiving black belt level degrees in several arts. In 1975 I was Canadian Middle-weight mixed martial arts full contact champion. For the last twenty years I’ve been pursuing skill in the internal arts with a focus on Ba Gua Zhang. I’ve attended numerous workshops and seminars offered by so-called ‘masters’ of internal arts. I am a teacher as well, possessing over 25 years of experience as a martial arts instructor.
Recently I renewed a friendship with an old martial arts buddy who had become involved in Chen Taiji. He also had travelled a similar road for about the same time looking for a genuine transmission of the real martial root of Taiji. He told me he’d found it in the person of an old style teacher of Chen practical old frame style. He spoke about the man with reverence and awe. I know Gord and he is a tough customer. He spoke about his teacher being able to throw him around like a rag doll. He spoke to me about Joseph Chen the International Standard Bearer for the Chen Fake-Hong Junsheng Lineage Chen Practical Style of Taiji. I was intrigued and began to work out with Gord and his group of students discovering what was the most genuine form of internal martial art I had ever encountered. I was fortunate to be able to attend a workshop offered by Master Chen in Langford, Victoria, BC on Dec. 4 & 5 of this year (2004).
I was impressed with the style as Gord taught it. I was astounded by Master Chen’s teaching and demonstrating. Every other internal ‘master’ I’ve ever studied with was unwilling to actually engage physically with me. Master Chen not only engaged in contact with me but handled my every move with apparent ease. I am 215 pounds of solid muscle at 6 feet tall. Master Chen is perhaps 5 foot 2 inches tall and maybe 115 pounds soaking wet. He invited me to feel the movements in his body as he, with precision of bio-mechanics and physics, explained and de-mystified the basic principles underlying the transmission of the Gong and the Fa of internal power. His style of presentation is magnetic and highly entertaining. He paces the workshop time well, interspersing hard practice drills with stories of Taiji’s theory and history.
I learned more about internal from him in one weekend than I’d learned and intuited in over 30 years of martial arts diligent study and practice. I am a better martial artist because of his precise explanations of the mechanics of internal power. He holds nothing back. In the tradition of his teacher Master Hong he shares freely both the application (Fa) as well as the foundation (Gong) that makes the applications work internally. I felt both silly and elated. Silly that I’d spent 30 years looking for a genuine transmission of an internal art and elated that finally in my 40’s I’ve met a generous man who I experientially know is a master of internal martial arts. If you are also sceptical and looking for the ‘real deal’ check out Master Chen if you have an opportunity.
Originally written by: Ted Truscott
Date: 12/8/2004 0:00
Title: Victoria Workshop on Self Defence
Organizer: Gordon Muir
Location: Victoria Link to pictures:
Comments: Master Chen proved to me that his tai chi was different from the tai chi I have experienced in the past. It has obvious combat applications in both the manipulation of your opponent’s balance and with the obvious creation of striking power.
He also proved that it will take a very long time for me to be able to emulate his methodology! 🙂
I found him to be very personable and friendly and very open with his teaching. An A+ for sure.
Ted Truscott Sandan Shorin-Ji Ryu Karate
Dec. 8, 2004
Originally written by: Ian Macrae
Date: 10/23/2004 0:00
Title: Victoria Workshop on Self Defence
Organizer: Gordon Muir
Location: Victoria
Comments:
Whether because it was in a karate dojo, or because quite a few of the participants had martial arts backgrounds, or for some other reason, I felt that the Victoria workshop brought home Chen style taiji’s, and CZH’s, martial roots and purpose. CZH focused on applications and the theory behind them. He presented practical drills and exercises designed to help you understand the theory so you could make the taiji applications work. One of the great things about studying with CZH is that he is very much hands on. Both days, each student got many opportunities to touch him and feel the taiji principals and applications at work. The two person drills weren’t metaphysical exercises, but were actual martial applications. CZH had a wealth of taiji information and knowledge which he shared during breaks from the physical work. A very worthwhile workshop.
Ian Macrae
Seattle
Written by a 2004 Sept. Edmonton Full Time student
On a drive through my neighbourhood, you pass a church which always has cheesy homilies that frequently bring on a personal gag reflex, but seem to provide inspiration for others. This time it decried “To achieve joy, one must experience it through the birth of pain.” After contemplating the usual negative thoughts about this sign it was possible to apply this platitude to Taiji. Read more
After appointing Li Enjiu as the standard bearer for Hong Junsheng’s Taijiquan in 2002, the Hong family appointed Chen Zhonghua as the international standard bearer for Hong’s Practical Method system on June 19th, 2005. The ceremony was held at the First Annual International Symposium of Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method System. Standard Bearer Li Enjiu attended and presided over the ceremony. Hong Junsheng’s senior son Hong Youren came from Cangzhou for this special occasion. He issued the official certificate to Chen Zhonghua on behalf of the Hong family. On this historical day, Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method enthusiasts from China and abroad gathered at the second floor of the Shun Geng Shan Zhang International Conference Center in Jinan. Read more
“In my 16 years as a NYC police officer, I have seen it all. As a long time Karate Sensei, I have never seen martial skill like Master Chen.”Michael Calandra, NYC, 2003|
Name: Patrick Yu
Location: EDMONTON
Workshop title: 2000 Summer Edmonton Push Hands Workshop
Date: Wednesday, August 30, 2000
Comments:
Thanks Shifu Chen. He is very generous to give the teaching, only in a short time, I know how to push-hands from hands only to use my waist and legs; from one direction to become a turning ball; from yin or yang only to line up my energy. I have the basis kung-fu for my future training, I will appreciate it all my life.
Comments
After attending Joseph’s 48-workshop, then I realize what appears to the simplest move contains the deepest philosophy. I came out with much higher respects to Taiji and Joseph.
Comments
Every moment with Joseph serves to be a learning experience, however this particular workshop has proved to be very much so in that a number of principles that have eluded me for the past two years suddenly appeared. One in particular; the transfer of energy from the hip to the heel without going through the knee was one concept I have “missed” in earlier training. Never think that any amount of training with Joseph is not productive. Even fifteen minutes can give you that understanding that you have been seeking. You just never know.
Yaron Seidman
“My own experiences in my time working with Master Chen include feeling like I’m suddenly standing on ice; The floor bounces me upward like I’m on a trampoline; A two-ton weight is pressing me down; I can’t lift my feet; My knees go weak; I’m shooting through the air as if launched by a cannon. I have also felt a tap of a punch blow right through me and a tap to the belly makes me want to vomit.” Yaron Seidman, martial artist and Chinese medical doctor, New York, 2000.
At the end of March, I attended a Chen Family Taijiquan Weekend seminar that lasted two days. The seminar was conducted by Master Chen Zhonghua. Master Chen is full of energy with eyes beaming with spirit. Read more
Peter Wu led a two-day push-hands workshop in Ottawa, November 11 and 12, 1999. It was the fifth workshop of his North American tour. Other workshops that he held were in Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, and Winnipeg. In the United States, Atlanta and San Francisco were his other stops. Read more
The history of human conflict is dotted with the names of famous martial artists. Although each is known for his high level of skill, some became famous because of their extreme brutality and cruelty, while others became famous for their compassion, and virtuous character. One martial artist who is well known for his acts of compassion and virtuous character is the legendary Taijiquan master Chen Fake. Read more
Because there have been many educated people practicing Taijiquan many periodicals on Taijiquan have been published, even before liberation [1949]. Read more
