Chen Zhonghua Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Yilu October 25, 2009

[TheChemicalBassist]

This is one of the most intense demonstrations of the Yi Li I've seen. Most Impressive!

[kyon9394]

Amazing. He performed every movement with great intentions on them and great sense of shadow boxing. Even though his root was a little elevated due to the speed and intentions he was practicing it with, he always planted the root hard down afterwards.

[wuguobuji]

This is so enjoyable that I watched it over and over again! Visually, I think what makes Grandmaster Chen different from other Grandmasters' demonstrations is that his performance is so dynamic that you can just feel the energy is everywhere within and around him.

[jonathanbluestein]

Wow, amazing performace!  This ranks up there with masters like Chen Xiaowang, Feng Zhiqiang and Ma Hong. The only person whose Chen Taiji is that good that I know of that's close to master Chen Zhonghua's age group is Chen Fake's grandson, Chen Yu. It boggles my mind thinking of the level these two are going to reach 20 years from now... Keep on the good work!

[richnwood2000]

Why does he raise or move his left heel with many of the fajin in this form? No critic, just asking.

[Practicalmethod]

@richnwood2000 Because that is how it is supposed to be done. You can move other parts of the body which is called "leaking out".

[kidaries]

Is it just me, or can one hear his heart beating as he's doing the form?

[cantonesedimsum]

@kidaries Yeah, I can hear it too! That is probably because the mic is close to his pulse on the neck.

[ozarkchi]

Erik, Curious what your definition of double weighted is? If memory serves, double weighted has more to do with being stagnate than whether your weight is equally distributed 50/50. Being wobbly and shifting around a lot side to side doesn't prevent double weightedness. As far as the energy of the upper and lower body separation, that's an accurate observation. Whole body movement requires there be a such a separation of upper and lower body. Wedding of another paradox!

[Practicalmethod]

9:I suggest you read Chen style Taijiquan Practical Method Volume 1 by Hong Junsheng and translated by Shifu Chen Zhonghua if you are interested in further reading about our perspective on Chen style Taijiquan.

36 minutes ago

[lawrencezx]

@Practicalmethod where do i go to read this?

[Practicalmethod]

8: There you will actually feel that his joints are rotating in place instead of moving and therefore the posture's force does not leak out. It comes from the opposite foot, transmitted by the kua and out through the hand or wherever the contact point is with the opponent.

[Practicalmethod]

7:In terms of Shifu's energy "not seeming to come from the lower body", a characteristic of an internal martial art is that advanced movements cannot be seen by onlooker. In other words, his lower body is doing joint rotations, no movements (other than rotation which we define as not really a "move"). If you were taking one of our workshops, this question he would answer it by letting you feel his kua while he does the posture.

[Practicalmethod]

6:

When you shift the center in that case, you do it without moving the spine side to side, but by just opening and sitting on that kua and the opposite leg will then be light in order to move it. When you finish taking the step, the datien returns to the center.

[Practicalmethod]

5: Hong also taught that when he learned from Chen Fake there was no shifting of the center to the right, left, backward or forward. "An axis of a wheel can only rotate, not shift" according to Hong's writings from his interpretation of the classics. Therefore, the center in a same posture always remains in the center and you can power up with either leg. You only shift the center

when taking a step.

[Practicalmethod]

Xavier 4:

Hong based this in the teachings of Chen Fake, The Taijiquan classic of Wang Zongyue, and Chen Xin's book. Hong did not believe that a simple weight shift was to resolve the "mistake of double heavy if the classics said that "this issue requires thorough study". Hong in his writings viewed the idea of double heavy being a horse stance as a misinterpretation of the classics.... See More

[Practicalmethod]

Xavier 3:

Hong redefined double heavy as both sides of the body not being able to move or act in the same direction. If you want to emit power from the right hand, use the left foot for power or vice versa. If two body parts act in the same direction, that is Hong's definition of Double Heavy. He completely disagreed with the conventional view of "double heavy being a horse stance with 50/50 weight distribution".

[Practicalmethod]

Xavier 2:

Hong studied uninterrupted with Chen Fake for 15 years until he moved to Jinan during WWII. Hong taught in Jinan until he came back for 4 months of final corrections from Chen Fake in 1956.

[Practicalmethod]

Xavier Santiago

Here is an explanation from my perspective in the Chen style Taijiquan Practical Method lineage of Hong Junsheng. None of this explanation is to put down other Chen style lineages, only to explain why we are different.

My Shifu, Chen Zhonghua is performing Yi Lu as he learned it from Shigung Hong Junsheng. All his moves come from Hong Junsheng's teachings. Hong Junsheng was one of Chen Fake's first students in Beijing in the 1930s.

[ferjepoba]

very nice indeed.

[metodopratico1]

Wow. Packed with fajin, qigong and tons of expression.