Master Yu's 22 Essential Movements of Tai Chi

An excellent clip showing how Shifu helps keep things fresh for long time students with a form he composed in Chen style. Every aspect of the movements shown has a combative application which he is willing to share with his students. Learning a movement and having an understanding of how a movement can be applied, helps the student to train better and smarter.

1 Motion May Actually be Comprised of Several Movements or Intention

Really understanding a given motion, may require a very in depth look at what is actually being done. As Shifu explained it to me, I may see or think of one interpretation, but that same motion, HE may be seeing or thinking of 4 to 5 potential applications. The key to understanding this is to practice slowly and really examine the path and the relative timing of what can be happening within that short time frame of motion. It is why when we practice Tai Chi, we try to go slow,slow enough to understand what we are trying to achieve.

Initially when learning the form, we just try to learn the movements of the form, and while learning the form, we reap the benefits of the training physically, mentally and for me, emotionally. As we progress, we have to examine deeper what we are actually doing with the motions. I won't lie, I thought I had a pretty good grasp of application from a number of the motions... I cannot tell you how humbling it was to see just how infantile my understanding and expression was!! Only a high level instructor willing to share his art, skill and understanding can help one achieve this breadth of knowledge. Thank you, Shifu!!

Breathe Out As You Ward Off

This was new to me. For years, when I practiced another type of Tai Chi, I had been taught to breathe in with the ward off. I remember really struggling with that concept back in the day, but I had learned to do that in form training, while in application/fighting and sparring I always naturally breathed out upon exertion of force.

So, while relearning the form yesterday, I had to "work" at doing the form motions correctly and had to keep reminding myself to "breathe out as you ward off." Just sharing the things that I feel are important for me to remember and relearn. Hopefully, you find this useful as well!

Page Views

As of today, these are the numbers of page views I've had to this blog. While I have been remiss in posting during my hiatus from training, i'm super glad to be back and have missed the flow of energy and positivity I used to gain while training in Chen Tai Chi. For those that don't remember, I am a student of Yu Guo Shun. He is a serious top instructor in Chen Tai Chi and a direct lineage holder of Chen Fa Ke's training in China. While it is not the same as the Chen style taught from Chen Village, in my opinion as a martial arts student with over 40 years invested in training, Shifu is a wonderful and giving instructor who sincerely wants his students to do the forms correctly and with understanding, and he works tirelessly to ensure his students recieve the best he can provide in training. I can't recommend Shifu's training enough.

Single Leg Standing

One of the very first and very clear things I noticed in my return to training today was how difficult I was adapting to the single leg stances and sustaining good balance during some of the transitional movements. Shifu noticed that and encouraged me to work on single leg standing and holding it for progressive periods of time to increase my core strength and my balance. This was a weak part of my form back in the day, and three years of relative inactivity didn't help me. I'll be working on my single leg stance and holding it for 30 seconds for a few reps daily. I expect that improvement should be noticed in a few weeks time. Shifu encouraged focusing on the raised knee, and trying to bring that knee higher during my training practice. Hope that helps you all!

Better Late Than Never...

Well, so it only took about 3 years to finally get back on track, and back to training with Shifu Yu. He is such an incredible teacher. In the few years that have passed, his command of the English language has improved quite a bit, and the depth of his teaching has gotten even more detailed and intense. I asked him to resume my training with me starting at a basic beginner level. He was accommodating and so gracious. He was very clear that he didn't want me practicing "dead" movements, that he wanted me to understand what I was doing. We went over many things in our session today, and more details will be coming very soon! It's great to be back in tai chi action, back with my old teacher, and back to learning this amazing art as he teaches it. I am grateful.

Interesting clip

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODY3MzczMjA=.html
Sorry, tried to get the vid clip to embed, but unable to. I think it is worth checking out. A descendent of the Chen Zhao Kui lineage of Chen Tai Chi.