YANG SHOU ZHONG (YANG SAU CHUNG) TAI JI QUAN - FIRST HALF

[mickeblue]

Well you have just answered the question I was asking myself, as I understood that it was the unwritten rule that the form shouldn't be distributed as a video. That said, I find this piece a pleasure to watch and a great inspiration.

[principledpower]

I appreciate your understanding of my gesture. I try and keep in mind Confucius: "To know when one knows, and to know when one doesn't know, that is to really know."

[principledpower]

Hi Michele,

Thank you for the compliment and for the request. However, as an act of deference to those who have generously instructed me in this system - Ginsoon Chu, John Conroy, Yang Shouzhong, Mary Yang, etc - I have chosen to limit my public demo to only 1/2 the form. I hope you understand.

Michael

[michele3d]

Michael, thanks for posting this. Your form is wonderful. Do you think you could post the second half of the form? I'd like to learn from you. Thanks.

[principledpower]

Thanks, Adam.

Same goes to you.

Michael

[HeavenManEarthTaiji]

@principledpower very kind, thank you

[HeavenManEarthTaiji]

very, very good, I am impressed.

adam

[tentobot]

This is got to be one of the more accurate versions I've seen of Yang style, so many fakes out there that claim to know it.

[principledpower]

The teachers I studied from were either the direct Yang family members (eldest son Yang Shouzhong line), or first-line Yang family disciples, and I've done my best to emulate them to the utmost detail. Thanks.

[tentobot]

@principledpower I also studied the Yang Style Form from a similar lineage as you do, from a teacher of the Gin Soon Federation.

[principledpower]

Given your familiarity with the Yang standard, I take your rating as a double compliment. Thank you.

[lebarosky]

@tentobot Doesn't look exactly like Yang Chen Fu so I am not sure what you are talking about. Certainly a good form. I don't know what difference it makes whether you are doing the relaxed and generous form Chen Fu laid down, or a more martialized variation such as Yang Jwing Ming demonstrates, or Chen Man Ching's Yin-emphasizing form. As long as you are adhering to the fundamental principles of the Classics it seems all is good.

[iamtheheartbreakkid]

Hi. Nice video. I would like to know if Mary Yang still teaches in Hong Kong and where. Thanks

[principledpower]

I appreciate your comment. I recommend you contact the Rhode Island School of Tai Chi. They are working directly with Mary Yang.

[gordhill]

To make some advancements, try to keep your centre in EVERY posture (which you break almost every time). Also, one of the things that people who practice other martial arts do (i know cuz i did it myself when i was learning) is to pause at the end of the postures. In taiji, you must use the energy of one posture into the next. IT is not a series of postures, but one long flowing posture. Think of it like this: the yin/yang symbol is a circle and doesnt have flat edges. Pauses are flat edges.

[taichiheaven]

@gordhill - This guy gordhill - LOL. Isn't the Internet wonderful? Any knucklehead with a keyboard can criticize his betters, but unless you can offer a video displaying better skill, I'd suggest you please refrain. It's quite apparent to me, "principledpower" has retained his centre in all his movement - to say otherwise is just plain misinformed.

[gordhill]

@taichiheaven with a name like that i figured id see some good examples of taiji as i was admonished for not having any vids up (while everything i stated is based on the taiji classics, which yours are not), yet no vids either... disappointing. i was hoping to see the first GOOD taiji on youtube, but alas i must wait longer until the master taichiheaven puts up his vids.

[taichiheaven]

@gordhill - Gordhill get real! YOU are the one criticizing a 30 year practitioner, not me. It's up to YOU to show us all a video clip of YOU performing Tai Chi Chuan better than principledpower is giving us - otherwise just go away and keep your uninformed opinion to yourself.

[gordhill]

@taichiheaven ROFLMAO!!! It says you are 62! Thanks for proving that age nor length of time doing something means absolutely NOTHING when it comes to understanding!!

[gordhill]

@taichiheaven ROFLMAO!!

[taichiheaven]

@gordhill - Still waiting for your video clip Gordhill. Where is YOUR video? We are still waiting for your clip to show us what "good" tai chi chuan is. Since you are the one criticizing, and "pretending" to know something, please show us YOUR video clip. Again, where is YOUR clip Gordhill?

[principledpower]

Hi taichiheaven, Thanks, I appreciate your position and your comments.

~ Michael

[taichiheaven]

@principledpower - You're welcome sir. I recognize skill and hard work when I see it. I can only dream of doing the form with such power and energy. BTW, I sent you a youtube email if you have the time I'd love to hear your responses.

[PurpleKripalu]

Hello Michael,

Your steps are extraordinarily long to the point where the front knee is quite behind the toes. It's not how it's taught at the GinSoon's school, and Yang Sao Chung's knees seem to be on top of his toes as well. Would you explain the reason behind this? Is it for more power development? Thanks! --- Dennis

[principledpower]

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for your question. At the Ginsoon club in the 70's and 80's we practiced the form from even a little deeper stance than I demonstrated. It wasn't for everyone, just those of us who aspired to the story of Yang Banhou, I think it was who was known to do the form under a table. In power pushing the lower also the better, similar to Chen style low pushing hands position. It appears this idea hasn't circulated widely amongst contemporary Yang style practitioners I've seen.

[PurpleKripalu]

Wow, things were different then! The only remaining person who still trains very deep at the club is Linda. I heard about the "doing the form under the table" story also, but I thought it was for small frame or snake form? I didn't know that you could train the same way with Yang Sao Chung's form, but I guess there is no reason you shouldn't.

[principledpower]

Dennis-also might I add: Regards the "knees behind the toes", I refer you to the TJQ Youtube clip of Chen Longxiang who I also studied from. His teacher Li Yaxian learned the form from Yang Chengfu in Yang's later years, and you see the long stance and knee behind the toes position. Overall, unless you're doing fast form with follow step, the deeper the stance the more athletic and, in my opinion, the more complete one's development.

[principledpower]

Dennis-I feel that (a) age (b) stage in life development, and (c) potential for mastery development, are not adequately taken into account in modern martial arts practice in general.

Best, Michael

[mychifilling]

It is such a pleasure to see REAL TCC from the Yang family on youtube; since we absorb information with ALL our senses, "information transfer" is effected even from merely watching such great form. One criticism, and I mean this in the kindest and most friendly way: next time, please - no student; I understand he must be trying his best, but he merely serves as a visual distraction. Please accept my most sincere congratulations on your deep accomplishment in TCC, Sifu Guen. - Michael Phillips

[principledpower]

Dear Michael,

Thanks so much for your sincere comments. I am impressed that without seeing me demonstrate push hands or applications you've inferred so much.

Your essential grasp of the TCC principles is sound, and I look forward to future collaboration.

Best Regards,

Michael

[denzuko1]

The stance for the stroke is quite huge, I think it is more of a Yang Chen Fu Style than Yang Shao Hou ones.

[ejb816]

You are correct. Yang Shouzhong was Yang Chengfu's eldest son. What led you think of it as Yang Shao Hou?

[denzuko1]

If the tracking is accurate, Yang Shao Hou's style is passed to Wu Tu Nan. There are some clips on Wu Tu Nan on the fast form. If you observe his movement, it is very small steps. If I am right, then Yang Shao Hou's style would be Xiao Jia rather than Da Jia.