Improving the Low Stances and Mobility

The past 3 weeks have been a killer for me as I am suffering through learning and applying movement with the low stances found within the broadsword form I am training.
Only now am I beginning to see a glimmer of hope lol, the first week was just a lot of pain and difficulty dropping down into that low stance, and not being able to hold it. Now, I am finding it easier to drop into the low stance and holding for a few seconds. Now, I am just beginning to better move from one side to the other side while maintaining a low height.

For sure it has been and will continue to be a struggle for me. I find great satisfaction in clearly observing the improvement and knowing that I will be able to achieve some level of competency in the months to come.

I also understand that once I achieve that level, I will have to practice that form often to keep up and maintain that degree of functionality.

Sigh. Learning Kung Fu is not easy. But with Shifu's teaching and the support of my friends, I am truly loving it!
J

Footwork

Last night I was struggling with several moves in the broadsword form. There was one particular sequence that combined some light steps with turns and sword motions that I just couldn't seem to pick up on. Shifu told me, this particular sequence was a critical one, in that ANY or ALL Kung Fu systems would have this type of footwork pattern. He called it, "Bu Fa." That is my understanding of the pronunciation, but it translates to footwork.

We did a number of different footwork patterns to try to help me understand what it was I needed to understand and learn. Rarely, Shifu told me is the footwork straight forward or back, but rather, i'd be circling in or circling out with my step, AND he was showing me the importance of toes up or down, and most importantly the application of these different footwork motions.

I usually am pretty proud of my footwork, having grown up in the disco era, and not being shy back in the day about dancing, but Man! I gotta tell you, I was frustrating myself and Shifu to no end last night.

Bu Fa, or footwork, is just one of those basic fundamentals that need to be worked on and given time to develop. Without good footwork, our skill level truly is NOT very high or skilled; having the footwork and being able to direct our intention appropriately is important to developing our Kung Fu skill.

Oh, yeah, I still don't have it, lol... this broadsword form is a terrific challenge!
J

Use The Force...

In class today, several of us were trying to work a bit on applications. It's a funny thing, I always remember the words, "use the force," but actually moving appropriately isn't as easy as remembering the phrase.

We worked on a couple of variations today. I felt that when we correctly yielded to an incoming force applied, we were better able to "lock on," or "secure" the opponent's limb to better effectively perform our counter moves.

Life and Training

I want to apologize to my readers, the past several weeks have been very challenging between unreasonable work demands, unfortunate medical changes, doctor's exams and lifestyle changes. Despite all this, Chen Tai Chi remains at the forefront of my thinking and desires.

The weather seriously hasn't been helping, it has seemingly rained or been unseasonably cold the past few weekends. It is disgusting out now, but i'm awake and getting ready to stretch and do a light workout. Obviously, our lives are filled with demands and we are stretched in different directions, but I just wanted to encourage all of you to train and practice when you can, what you can. Every little bit helps in the long run.
J

Missed Again...

Almost there. I have been working on another vid clip showing application of the opening move from Lao Jia Yi Lu against a few attacks, a couple empty hand, and one against a grab and a blade attack. Unfortunately, we have the clips, but they don't have the proper orientation. Hopefully tonite, we can fix that condition and we are re-shooting. Just giving an update, so you know i've still been working on materials!
J

Chen Tai Chi Good for Self Defense?

I know many students that started aikido in hopes of being able to fight as Steven Seagal does on the movie and television screen. Often after training for a year or two they often express disappointment that they feel they "have not learned anything they can use to protect themselves." I know many people view Tai Chi as a slow motion exercise good for health and meditation, but not many new comers check out Chen Tai Chi for self defense training.

I believe Chen Tai Chi should be considered when looking for a self defense program. I believe that with appropriate adjunct training, Chen tai chi can be very effective. I just posted an article up on this. Hope you will take time to check it out!
Chen Tai Chi for Self Defense Training

When Work Gets in the Way...

I always look forward to my classes with Shifu, especially my one to ones. Sometimes, though, like tonight, I have to cancel due to work obligations and work pressure. I really hate that. Fortunately, Shifu does seem to understand. He states, "work has to come first." Yeah, unfortunately. Well, tonight after dinner, I will try to practice a bit, but I always hate to miss an opportunity for good training.

At the Beginning of Chen Training - Don't Worry About the Breathing?

As mentioned before, I had spent quite a bit of time learning and practicing Yang Style Tai Chi before deciding to train and learn Chen Tai Chi with Shifu. When I first began my training in Chen, like so many others who had come from other tai chi systems, I asked about "how should I breathe, when practicing the movements of the Chen form." I laugh to myself now, when I think back to that beginning, because, I was shown how I SHOULD breathe, then later on in private sessions with Shifu, that breathing was re-emphasized again, as a way to practice basic methods of training the motion and the individual movements.

It is a difficult thing to grasp coming to Chen Tai Chi from other systems. The movements in Chen are SO MUCH MORE COMPLEX and EXACTING, that truly, we need first to learn the motions and positioning of the hands and feet, and then the motions, and then the subtle body turning, spiralling, weight shifting, etc, and THEN combine that with appropriate breathing methods. We are talking about a VERY LONG and Difficult practice and progression.

It is such a wonderful puzzle, this Kung Fu system. Every month, I watch, and I watch MORE closely and then MORE closely, and every month I learn and develop a bit more nuance, and more subtlety, and it is very clear that when learning Chen, don't worry so much about the breathing as a beginner. The important thing is to learn to relax, learn how to get the movements down as best you can, and keep practicing, and eventually, you'll have so many of the requisite things happening, and THEN practice the breathing. Before you get to this point, you CAN use the techniques, you CAN understand more of what you are trying to do, and you CAN protect yourself, and man, by the time you CAN combine the breathing with all the other stuff you are supposed to do, you WILL be pretty darn good.

Shifu likes to tell us, "don't be anxious." It's good advice!
J

Having an Open Mind - a Fresh Spirit, the Beginner's Mind to Learn Chen Tai Chi

So many years ago, one of my first major influences in the martial arts, always spoke of the best way to learn something. He would tell us that it wasn't what we had learned before, it wasn't how much we had thought about or studied something previously, the appropriate way to learn each day, and everyday, was to start each session or class, with a "fresh" mind, or a "beginner's spirit." He was an incredible teacher, and he literally positive touched thousands of students' hearts and minds, including myself.

These days when I'm in class and practicing Chen, I look at the newbies coming in to participate. It's a funny thing, because so often I hear them comment that they are trying to learn "like a beginner," or that they "need to register what they are looking at with what they have done before." Many statements are made always talking about what they had done, or seen before.

The true key to learning quickly and well, is to not even THINK about what you've done before! That is just ego. Let go of yourself and don't even mention the past, don't even think about other teachers when you're in class with Shifu, because it's what is happening here and now, in class, that is important. That is why you're here if you truly wish to learn.

AFTER class, then you can think about the "differences," or "changes," or what has your mind reeling.

I'm so glad that I learned this lesson all those years ago. It has truly helped shape me to be able to learn so many different things, and has helped me become more adaptable. I hope it helps you all, too.
J

Gritting One's Teeth and Hanging On!

Okay!! Had my lesson last night with Shifu, and we both had a good laugh as I suffered through the lower stances i've been working on now for the past few days as i'm learning the broadsword form. I'm at work right now, and I won't lie, i'm miserable haha! It's killing me each time I stand up from my chair, and my co-workers think I have hemorrhoids lol, but I know with each step I take, i'm one step closer to being able to do these forms the right and correct way, and I want that! I want to do good forms and I want to learn how to use this broadsword the correct way, and that is what makes me different from the masses of people that would NOT endure this type of pain and soreness. This WILL go away soon, I truly believe that.

So, why am I writing about this? I know many of you may want to try to learn Chen Tai Chi and perhaps you might be very physically challenged, and you may worry about how much you need to endure, but I truly believe with all my heart, that it is worth the discomfort NOW, as you reap the benefits of all your training LATER.

Being a martial artist is not an easy task. So, hang in there, give it a go! Push yourself! and Be happy... after the soreness is over!! ; )
J

Uh Oh, The Leg Soreness is Back!

Well, I was fatigued on Sunday when I started the broadsword form, and then last night had a sudden opportunity to train with Shifu, so of course, I was all over that. Good news is that the broadsword form is VERY challenging, even more so than the first Chen Straight sword form I had learned earlier.

The bad news? Wow, the thigh and leg soreness has returned. It had taken several months to get used to the low stances of Lao Jia, the first empty hand form. But the broadsword form I am learning has VERY LOW stances. Shifu offered me some modifications to the form if i desired it, but, nope, if i'm going to learn it, let me learn it the right way. I'm thinking that maybe when I hit 80 years old, maybe i'll do some mods at that time lol. See? I'm an optimistic fellow.

Note to self and others: It always helps to prep up for a few weeks prior to learning a new form with challenging sequences, this will make the sudden demands less stressful on the body. Of course, if you just decide to jump into things like myself without adequate research, you gotta just get through the discomfort.

Here's some better news: If you're uncomfortable and in pain now, trust me, you're gonna feel so good when you are doing all these cool moves, stances, twists and turns easily and without pain!! Keep the faith and keep training.
J

Selecting the Appropriate Broadsword

I was very grateful that Shifu was able to take some time out and go with myself and several others to learn how to appropriately select a broadsword for Chen Tai Chi practice.

I wrote an article here:
http://www.squidoo.com/chen-tai-chi-broadsword

If you're interested in what we learned, please click on the link!

Thank you, Shifu!
J

Is Weapons Training Necessary in Chen Tai Chi?

I do not think it is necessary or important for the average individual to train in weapons in Chen Tai Chi. I do however feel that there are many compelling reasons to seek out training in Chen style weapons, though.

In my personal training, I have learned one straight sword form, and am now beginning to learn a broadsword form. These are some of the benefits I have found immediately from starting my Chen weapons training: appreciation for how to move with a long and heavy weapon in hand, better body awareness, increased demand upon different body movements in different motions that work the core tremendously and a need for greater agility. I learned very quickly that even with a lighter weapon in hand, my core strength improved very quickly as did my eyehand coordination and overall enduarnce and tolerance to activity.

Don't be fooled by slow moving tai chi forms with weapons. Even moving slowly you ARE working and if you practice seriously for more than a couple of hours you WILL build up quite a sweat and training in the weapons forms will improve your Chen Tai Chi empty hand skills and forms practice because of better mobility/agility, body awareness and inproved strength and body mechanics.

Also, different weapons such as the broadsword and the straight sword are worked differently and training in each weapon will enhance one's ability to move and adapt to different situations and scenarios. If you can find the time and energy to train in Chen weapons, I encourage it strongly.
J