Similarities, Basics and Adaptation of Movement

In class, Shifu was explaining to us that sometimes the movements we are doing in class, may be very similar to other basic movements from other forms, such as tai chi tang lung.

The movement pictured above is a classic example of this principle. Here Shifu was explaining that the fist shown, could also be a palm heel shot, or a parry/block or an entry into a throw or hold. Either leg if going forward could be either some type of leg destruction, or a kick, or a repositioning of the foot to allow for a sweep or a throw.

He also proceeded to demonstrate how a sequence of similar motion could be used as a potential counter to first an attack from one side, to a potential counter to an opponent's second attack from the opposite side. It is difficult to explain all these types of details in the written word.

Seeing and Feeling leads to better understanding.
We are very fortunate to have a teacher such as Shifu, who is always so willing to share and impart his knowledge to us, and willing to demonstrate what I am describing above to help us grow in our understanding of what we are trying to do as we learn Chen Tai Chi. As a martial arts instructor myself with over 40 years of training time, I can honestly say without hesitation that Shifu is truly an exceptional teacher. There are so very few like him with high skill level and with a desire to pass on his knowledge and wisdom. I strongly urge all interested people in Chen to come and see in person for yourself what I try to share with you all on my blog.
J

Stepping

In class today we spent a long period of time learning the appropriate way to step.
Key points:
lowering the hips, posteriorly tilting the pelvis
raising up the knee high
stepping out/forward and down
settling into stance

Students' questions were about balance: I have a hard time keeping my balance in this position; yes, everyone has trouble initially, then as skill develops, balance will improve

Other questions: were we to kick out from the knee up position for practice of basics; yes!

Shifu emphasized that we had to somewhat spiral our step forward as we brought our knee up, somewhat spiral out to permit the foot to land in the appropriate spots.

For application of the Step, Shifu demonstrated a variety of attacks/counterattacks, kicks and various leg destructions. Simply amazing how deep his understanding is. Truly.
J

Respectfully, I Disagree...

I found this bit of writing about Chen Tai Chi today as a training tip for how to practice the forms.

Primary importance is placed upon understanding the underlying movement principles and then progression to standardised movement. As this is accomplished, the next goal is to search for further realisation of the internal circulation of energy. Initially when you come to the fixed postures, for example, Lazily Tying Coat (Lan Zha Yee) or Single Whip (Dan Bian) in your mind you must very strictly adjust yourself according to the requirements for each part of the body: Lift the top of the head, shoulders relaxed, elbows sunken down etc.

First I wish to make the following qualifying statements. The author of the paragraph above is a well-respected author with far greater length of training time than I in Chen Tai Chi. And I have no doubt he means well with good intentions.

However, I respectfully disagree! While I am totally and completely aware of the "requirements" he describes, I believe that it is THAT type of thinking that keeps the vast majority of practitioners unable to actually use and develop martial value to the techniques they are hoping to learn!

My 40 years + of training in and teaching various martial arts have taught me that students need to learn the correct movements first, then learn to understand the intention and meaning behind a given motion of the form. Then, as they develop a better appreciation of energetics within the body, they must also seek to develop further interpretations of the potential meanings of the movements in question, and also seek partner practice to further cultivate attributes of timing, reach, distance, application of strength, variation in opponent size and incoming energy, various terrain, etc, etc.

I also believe that students will be able to develop martial ability even if the students might be slightly "off" in the "requirements" of how to move within the form. YES, we should absolutely strive to sustain the "requirements" as we practice; however, I truly do not believe we should be adjusting at the close of each movement merely to "fit the requirements." Remember, often what we are doing as we transition from the initiation of a movement to the conclusion of a movement, we are already potential engaged in contact WITH an opponent, and to adjust at the end and having our intention focused upon the corrections as opposed to the entire movement seems quite limiting to my understanding.

Again, I mean NO disrespect to the author I am alluding to. I believe he has done, and continues to offer tremendous sources of information for students globally. But I feel strongly that I need to express my viewpoint as well for the martial imperative I feel needing support.
J

Why Such a Low Stance?

One of my friends was looking at some of Shifu's videoclips and asked me "why such a low stance?" Frankly, for this particular movement shown above I am not sure, but in other sessions of classes, Shifu has gone very low in other movements and explained and DEMONSTRATED to us the effectiveness of going into such a low and deep stance on an opponent. At times, the lowered position seems to apply greater pressure onto a limb such as the opponent's leg or arm, or neck... at other times, the lower stance was to neutralize a given attack by an opponent. The bottom line though, is that there IS a functional reason for being able to achieve those lower positions. It may be unnecessary for most people but for the serious Chen student who is learning application and true understanding of his form, then it should be something that is striven for. By the way, that movement is from one of the Chen forms I will be learning much later.
J

Example of Zhao Bao Tai Chi

This is the last variation i'm going to highlight. While I do appreciate and respect the differences, I truly do find my personal satisfaction learning Chen Tai Chi as taught by Shifu Yu.
J

An example of early Hunyuan Chen Tai Chi

This is another example of a different style of Chen Tai Chi. I find it fascinating to see different variations of a style within a style.
J

Champions from NYC in Chen Tai Chi

These are some of my Kung Fu Brothers! The three of them went down to Baltimore a couple of weeks ago, and returned with a bunch of bling. They represented our school well, winning medals in empty hand forms and weapons in the advanced and intermediate divisions. Great job guys! We are all proud of you.
J

Another Different Style of Chen Tai Chi

Another example of a different style of Chen Tai Chi. Truly interesting. I find that I learn something from being aware of some of the movement variations, and appreciate the technical difficulties of what different Martial Artists strive to achieve.
J

Small Frame Cannon Fist

An example of Small Frame Chen Tai Chi.

Style Differences in Chen Tai Chi

Sometimes Shifu struggles with the English language. Despite English NOT being his native tongue, Shifu excels at getting his points across. Today in class we briefly touched on a specific movement in Lao Jia and how to move efficiently and correctly in our practice. I was actually thrilled to hear him very briefly try to share with us some of the particular differences in a given movement as done by other styles of Chen Tai Chi.

Shifu very rarely discusses other styles of Chen Tai Chi, but today he was willing to share some variations in different styles, emphasizing they were all correct and very similar, and yet also, different. His sharing of these tidbits really inspired me to examine more closely OTHER styles of Chen Tai Chi and now to have a better appreciation for why they choose to do or move as they do. It's not about one being better than another, rather one different than another, and yet also similar.

It is so good to have Shifu pass on HIS respect for others to us as well; and in this manner we can continue to help promote and recognize all other Chen practices as well.
I am very proud to be Shifu's student.
J

Position of the Hips with Different Stances

Shifu has mentioned several times that we need to be careful of the alignment of our hips and lower backs as we strive to achieve lower stances. Shifu has stated that it should feel as if we are sitting on a chair. The legs must be in a firm and appropriate alignment to support what we are doing with our upper bodies and arms.

In class he spent time explaining the appropriate alignment of the knees relative to our feet as well.
J

Use of Both Hands to Maximize Power

In class Shifu demonstrated a few techniques on how we would use and move our hands/arms in opposite directions to maximize power on a given technique. Shifu also reviewed principles of "closing in," and "opening up," to generate power.

Shifu went over in small detail how proper elbow positioning is important to generate strength in trapping arms and how these details in the positioning of our hands/elbows facilitate locks and grabs as well.

Today's class was filled with awesome information. I always feel bad when people can't make it to class because I know what they are missing.

I have been focusing very hard in class, especially now that I am only able to attend once a week vs the three times a week I had done earlier. There is so much to do and practice though, so I am in a good place.

J

Other Variations

With the above motion, Shifu demonstrated several variations of potential fist strikes and grabs, forearm strikes and possible areas to target with given techniques.

In addition, Shifu also indicated that given the particular application we were practicing, our head turn and eye focus might also change slightly in our demonstration of the form, to ensure accuracy of our intention and to demonstrate that we are aware of what we are intending to do with the given practice of the form movement.
J

Variations of a given technique

Today was an awesome class. We focused on the above pictured movement today. Shifu demonstrated a number of variations of application, and was the third change i've been introduced to in the past year. I love it!!

Shifu made it a point to have us understand that "the body movement stays the same, the only difference may be in how the hands move." Hence, depending on the given application an individual is practicing, when demonstrating the form, an observant eye should catch that several individuals may be doing the same movement slightly differently in the perspective of the hand motions, while the body will still move the same.

Great stuff, truly, and in my opinion critical for all practitioners to recognize if their form is genuinely as accurate as possible.
J

More Adjunct Training

Those of you who know me personally, know that I LOVE a good, tasty meal! That's me above having a terrific lunch at a local famous deli.

The point of today's writing is more adjunct training that I believe will be useful to improving my Chen training. I'm very pleased and proud of my improvements in Lao Jia. The jogging has helped me a lot already, and I am not getting fatigued as quickly as before.

Now, i've decided to try a new training program to lose weight!
PALA Weight Loss Plan
That is the url for the program I will be following for the next 8 weeks. What's cool about it is that it is totally FREE right now. I don't know how long it will remain free, but I actually paid a small fee for the active trainer program for my jogging (the couch to 5K) program and found it thus far to be great at keeping me moving forward and making progress.

I sincerely believe having an internet training log is very useful for me, at least, and I thought I would share with you all.

Note: when I first began with Shifu about a year ago, I started at 295. I dropped to 287 with no change in eating habits. Since starting the couch to 5k, i've dropped to 284 with very little change in eating habit.

I'm very curious to see how I will do with the new program. I do know that i already have one massive birthday dinner coming up lol... so I will compensate that week with additional ex's and perhaps a very light lunch that day. Wish me luck!

I do believe with less fat and less mass, my spirals will be improved and my mobility will be enhanced.

Let's see what Shifu has to say after the next 8 weeks!
J

Application

Shifu was explaining in class that obviously when we practice many of the movements in the form are done slowly. This is to learn how to coordinate the motion, with the proper weight shift, body turning, hand and leg positioning and breathing, and coordinating chi and intention.

In application however, we must move quickly and strongly relative to a given attack by an opponent.

The movement pictured above is one that we worked on in class Sunday.

Shifu will often be heard to say, "hips down, then turn the waist and spiral down." He then proceeded to show us about 5 different meanings and possible interpretations of the movement all the while, following his instructions to "make sure the hips are down, then spiral down." The result was very obviously devastating on the students that he was demonstrating on.

Although the movement in the form does not appear particularly dynamic, the application was very much so. I will NOT forget at least one of the movements shown by Shifu.

Shifu is very deliberate and careful in how he presents things to us, and we, his students are the beneficiaries of his teaching and generosity. I truly am grateful that I found Shifu as my teacher of Chen Tai Chi.
J

Being Aware of One's Center

In class this past Sunday, Shifu was teaching us that for beginners one of the most important things to develop is an awareness of one's center. That is one of the principles to be learned with the first opening posture and movement of Lao Jia. To illustrate the importance of understanding our center, Shifu showed us how relatively easy it is to lower one's hips while standing, and then merely turn or twist slightly and how that could off-set an opponent trying to grab or to push us, while we are able to retain our positioning and stability.

Obviously, in later movements of the form, sustaining our center is a bit more challenging as we move either sideways or shift from one direction to another; however, it is a starting point fundamental that cannot be lost.

In addition to learning our center dynamically, by practicing different stances and basics of stances, we are able to cultivate strength and stability in some of the more challenging positions of the form.
J

Applications of Chen Tai Chi and the 8 Skills

Generally when we discuss Chen Tai Chi applications, there are 8 "skills" or principles of combat that should be considered. These 8 skill sets are also called Ba Fa.

Peng -The way I interpret this is to ward off, or to stick and make contact

Lu -push aside or grab and pull

Ji -to enter and push

An -to cover or trap the arms and push

Kau -to bump or strike with body parts like the shoulder or hip or knee

Zhou -to hold and punish with an elbow strike or motion

Cai -to grab, hold and twist

Lie -to split, or to enter and throw

I believe that when we examine the movements of the Chen Tai Chi forms and we try to figure out the applications, we can go through a catalog of possibilities which incorporate each of the 8 skills. Perhaps they will apply, or maybe not. At my current skill level I am still trying to understand how these concepts apply to different motions. All I can do is to share what I come across in my class and outside learning and hope that with continued study, I will better understand and be able to use the skills I am developing in my practice.
J

Vid Clip of Chen Yu

Unfortunately a bad Saturday night and a very severe case of neck pain kept me away from class on Sunday. Maybe it's just me, but when I watch vid clips, generally, I personally prefer the volume down? Anyway, hope some of you find this clip useful.