@charles888 lol.. Charles thanks for the taiji bang post. I have put it along side the Shaolin Rubbing Palms (made from Wooden and Metal chopsticks) exercise from the 72 Arts of Shaolin regimen. Combined they are quite powerful tools. I also add the weighted ball regimen to this system to the proprioception enhancement regimen. I will add this bang execise to my conditioning set while in the weighted horse stance and pranayama breathing work... See Facebook page Angel's Gym: Singh's Review
Somehow my reply to your comment seems to have disappeared. Anyway, I do not believe I said "only way." Rather, I said that Taiji involves three parts: Enlightenment, health, and martial arts. All three are required to belong to the category of activity known as Taiji. Missing one of the parts, e.g., "martiality" then you have something difference, perhaps "moving qigong" or "healthy movement" but not Taiji. Since the principles of taiji revolve around use of the opponents force, (continued)
Also, while Yang Cheng Fu is often held up as the Yang Family standard bearer, as it turns out, his actual skill apparently wasn't so good. He beat a lot of people when he went to southern China largely on the basis of his being a big fat man. I don't think you'll get far pursuing spirituality among Chinese taiji masters -- usually when this is the song that they're singing, they're merely fraudulent and cannot cite any lineage of note as the source of their knowledge. This page is an example.
Well said! You appear to be quite an expert on taijiquan, so may we have your sources and lineage so that we may disntinguish between you and these youtube "frauds?"
I don't think I used the term, "only way." But I did strongly imply that taiji without the martial aspect is not taiji. Call it "great health exercise" or "moving qigong" if you like... but it is not taiji of the traditional lineage when you remove the martial aspect. And, indeed, taiji's basis in fighting is almost entirely contingent on the attacker's force -- the attacker hurts him/herself in reality -- whether that's acceptable or not is not a decision I care about. I don't attack people.
Two things: Primarily, the notion that Chen Style was created in Chen village is probably not true. But I won't argue the point - please just accept that I disagree with that assumption and if you really wish to pursue the issue, talk with someone from Zhaobao. They have very convincing _real_evidence_ to suggest that actually Zhaobao is where the system called "chen style" actually originated. It doesn't really matter so much, but there is big contention between the two villages now on this.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
I am going to investigate Zhao Bao. I love this guy's form of course. One thing that people don't seem to understand about Chinese martial arts generally is the distinction between good (or even great) gung fu -- basic skills - and great martial skill. The two are completely different, yet great martial skill cannot be achieved without great gung fu. Great gung fu, however, can be achieved without great martial skill. Great martial skill - esp. re: taiji, can only be demonstrated in real combat.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Failings of the English language "Chen style being the hardest..." could mean a few things. Like "most difficult"... or it could mean, "hard" as in "similar to external styles" -- not sure your intended meaning. Either way, there has come to be a common misunderstanding, particularly exemplified by the Chen stylists, that "fa jing" (powerful throwing) is a goal for Taiji. It is not.
Yes, you are correct, Tai Chi is a healthy exercise, and a martial art. In my opinion it is often impractical for someone to practice it as a martial art because of the amount of time you would need to spend studying from a qualified teacher,and the amount of time you would need to practice. So it's best to follow the principles and practice for health. It works! There are different styles of Tai Chi. Most people start with Yang. In my opinion Sun is easiest and Chen is hardest.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Taiji is said to have three parts: fighting skill, health benefits, and enlightenment. I am paraphrasing. Jou Tsung Hua does not provide any great "peng" example here - no offense intended to him he was a very generous man regarding his support for Taiji Farm. Taiji's martial component is nearly dead altogether, having been replaced with frauds and farces. You must look very hard to find a legit teacher.
Part of the commentary I left out was that _real_ taiji is considered to have all three components. If it is only "taiji for health" it isn't _real_ taiji at all -- sort of like baking an apple pie with no apples. You may call it something, but not really proper to call it an "apple" pie.
"Peng" is just one of the four movements from "four hand" push hands, consisting of the palm pushing forward about midsection (the way we practice) and the other arm guiding the opponents other arm back towards his face. It is an attack. The four principle movements are are: peng, lu, ji, an. There are 8 total.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
One question: Why would anyone be watching Jou Tsung-Hwa's taiji anyway? Although I appreciate the generosity in sponsoring taiji farm for many years, as a taiji practitioner, he was really just a hobbyist.
Jou, Tsung Hwa was a man who fell in love with Taijiquan and did his best to improve himself, sharing what he learned with others. He overcame serious illnesses that almost killed him with Taijiquan and meditation. He was not my teacher but I knew him and observed him for many years. His was not about fighting as much as self development. He inspired many, helped promote the internal arts and claimed to be a fighter but he did not back away from conflict if it came.
hey everybody quit watching this video, go and watch wang peisheng. he beat up way more guys than this guy...
I am serious he was all like waaaaaaaaa! and then everybody died, quit learning from other people you have nothing to learn from them if they did'nt fight alot of people.
remember wang peisheng= cool badass tai chi guy
Zhou tsung hua= old tai chi guy that didn't beat any famous people up.
no brainer man WPS would bench press this geezer with his mind
Actually, he never challenged people, but he was challenged all the time. He said "do anything that you want." He was never beaten. He said that Tai Ji can tackle any problem. The question remains: What should be the standard for good Tai Chi? If it is only that you can learn "something" from them, then almost anyone's tai chi is good. Personally, I could care less about fighting, but I understand this is a prerequisite for Tai Ji since it is a martial art. Hmmm.....
one of my masters always said that you learn more about what is correct from doing all of the wrong ways, than from doing one correct way.
of course the sad part is that if you do not have someone to guide you into the right direction than you could get lost in such a complex Art/Science/Excersise/Martial Art.
here is one interesting story I witnessed from one of the best tai chi met I ever met. a student of another lineage, a very famous one. came to learn from this master I was studying with at the time.
this "student" came mainly to test the teacher, and eventually a question about tai chi principles and what he had learned from another teacher turned into him pushing my master around! he was teaching my master how it was supposed to be done and being quite cocky...
...the master was quiet and got pushed around, he looked like he couldn't handle this guy. the student left feeling very good like the bringer of truth to heathens and two students left him because of the demo!
I was a bit confused as I knew the teacher was really good at push hands and I assumed that the other guy was really really good. a few days later I asked the teacher what made that guy so good and he replied "he was horrible" and so where the two students that left.
...this master gave me a demo of what was wrong with the guy and I had one of the most intereting push hands experiences of my life, this master could have crushed the guy! it was obvious by he let the guy win.
he said: "if I beat him, then he would stick around looking for more, but I have nothing to teach such an arrogent student", "also if my students are only interested in martial arts then I don't feel like teaching them, they are waisting their time"...
What Jou Tsung-Hwa's learned from internal practice is difficult to dispute. Anyone who saw him at 80 jumping up and down like a teenager and running without getting winded half the length of a football field should bow their heads in tribute to what he was able to achieve. Many times he was heard to say to someone making disparaging remarks about styles or teachers. "Do not criticize others, work on yourself." Good advise in my book.
Hey your point is good but nothing can be infered about every master on the planet by one aanacdotal argument. I myself have run into many deified masters who turned out to be assholes, but just as many well respect, less known masters whose skills were beyond explanation. It's hard to know the entire ocean when you are a turtle trapped in a well. Don't be so foolish as to assume the world is a certain way because you've been misfortunate in life.
Many of those who visited Tai Chi Farm on a regular basis saw Mr. Jou, unlike some Taiji "masters" who won't push except with their students push hands with anyone. He was very, very good at it, ask Sam Masich or Yang, Jwing Ming about it sometime.
Jou Tsung Hua was pretty humble regarding his skills. His primary contribution was his "Taiji Farm" which had quite a following over a period of probably 15 years in 1980s and early 90's in New York State. Despite the fact that the whole experience of Taiji Farm was like a visit to a hippie commune full of elaborate Chinese MA poseurs, it was also pretty fun.
I don't think Jou Tsung Hua was anything other than promoter of Taiji. Sadly he was killed in a car accident.
I was told by several famous grand masters in china that every body else seems to be falling off or getting worse and they were among the last few that still had "it", the real tai chi. MARKETING & Politics, usually the most famous people in the tai chi world arent very good at tai chi.
I never met this guy but I see his energy balance, It is good Tai Chi. If you cant see that, then what are you using to say good or bad? I am not using his age or his very interesting literary works.
He looks stiff because none of you know what you're looking at. He's using "whole body" method. It's a technique from traditional kungfu. More to the point, his structure is good, his head is in the form and he's got serious balance and control. You don't get that way at his age with lightweight training. Since the guy's in his 70s or 80s, it also means he's a Chinese elder who "did the work" and deserves respect, not rude comments from clueless "arm chair masters."
Sorry, it was a typo. The performance is from 1998, not 1988, same day as the performance by YJM. Based upon your comment, I guess this is an example of his excellent period. Good thing somebody did tape him.
This was 1988. Jou Tsung Hwa wasn't that good yet. From about 1991 or 92 was when they say his practice took off. By the time he was into his late 70's early 80s, his form was supposed to be excellent and he had crazy push hands skills. Too bad nobody video taped him then.
hmmmm...
ANGELSGYMSINGH 1 week ago
@ANGELSGYMSINGH That's a good summary.
charles888 1 week ago
@charles888 lol.. Charles thanks for the taiji bang post. I have put it along side the Shaolin Rubbing Palms (made from Wooden and Metal chopsticks) exercise from the 72 Arts of Shaolin regimen. Combined they are quite powerful tools. I also add the weighted ball regimen to this system to the proprioception enhancement regimen. I will add this bang execise to my conditioning set while in the weighted horse stance and pranayama breathing work... See Facebook page Angel's Gym: Singh's Review
ANGELSGYMSINGH 1 week ago
Quiet and peaceful Taiji. The way it's suppose to be. Thank you Sifu Jou.
TheTaoistdragon 10 months ago
@GarrisonPBigsby I trained with master Jou for a while and learned the chen style from him. What structural flaws do you see?
krautbeer1 10 months ago
This guy's not bad. What master did he train under? Obivously someone from the Yang family but who exactly?
JingHuaFilms 3 years ago
Somehow my reply to your comment seems to have disappeared. Anyway, I do not believe I said "only way." Rather, I said that Taiji involves three parts: Enlightenment, health, and martial arts. All three are required to belong to the category of activity known as Taiji. Missing one of the parts, e.g., "martiality" then you have something difference, perhaps "moving qigong" or "healthy movement" but not Taiji. Since the principles of taiji revolve around use of the opponents force, (continued)
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
Also, while Yang Cheng Fu is often held up as the Yang Family standard bearer, as it turns out, his actual skill apparently wasn't so good. He beat a lot of people when he went to southern China largely on the basis of his being a big fat man. I don't think you'll get far pursuing spirituality among Chinese taiji masters -- usually when this is the song that they're singing, they're merely fraudulent and cannot cite any lineage of note as the source of their knowledge. This page is an example.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
Well said! You appear to be quite an expert on taijiquan, so may we have your sources and lineage so that we may disntinguish between you and these youtube "frauds?"
JingHuaFilms 3 years ago
I don't think I used the term, "only way." But I did strongly imply that taiji without the martial aspect is not taiji. Call it "great health exercise" or "moving qigong" if you like... but it is not taiji of the traditional lineage when you remove the martial aspect. And, indeed, taiji's basis in fighting is almost entirely contingent on the attacker's force -- the attacker hurts him/herself in reality -- whether that's acceptable or not is not a decision I care about. I don't attack people.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
Two things: Primarily, the notion that Chen Style was created in Chen village is probably not true. But I won't argue the point - please just accept that I disagree with that assumption and if you really wish to pursue the issue, talk with someone from Zhaobao. They have very convincing _real_evidence_ to suggest that actually Zhaobao is where the system called "chen style" actually originated. It doesn't really matter so much, but there is big contention between the two villages now on this.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I am going to investigate Zhao Bao. I love this guy's form of course. One thing that people don't seem to understand about Chinese martial arts generally is the distinction between good (or even great) gung fu -- basic skills - and great martial skill. The two are completely different, yet great martial skill cannot be achieved without great gung fu. Great gung fu, however, can be achieved without great martial skill. Great martial skill - esp. re: taiji, can only be demonstrated in real combat.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Failings of the English language "Chen style being the hardest..." could mean a few things. Like "most difficult"... or it could mean, "hard" as in "similar to external styles" -- not sure your intended meaning. Either way, there has come to be a common misunderstanding, particularly exemplified by the Chen stylists, that "fa jing" (powerful throwing) is a goal for Taiji. It is not.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
Yes, a person has to be pretty flexible and strong to practice Chen. My favorites are Sun and the two Wu styles.
VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
Yes, you are correct, Tai Chi is a healthy exercise, and a martial art. In my opinion it is often impractical for someone to practice it as a martial art because of the amount of time you would need to spend studying from a qualified teacher,and the amount of time you would need to practice. So it's best to follow the principles and practice for health. It works! There are different styles of Tai Chi. Most people start with Yang. In my opinion Sun is easiest and Chen is hardest.
VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Taiji is said to have three parts: fighting skill, health benefits, and enlightenment. I am paraphrasing. Jou Tsung Hua does not provide any great "peng" example here - no offense intended to him he was a very generous man regarding his support for Taiji Farm. Taiji's martial component is nearly dead altogether, having been replaced with frauds and farces. You must look very hard to find a legit teacher.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
Part of the commentary I left out was that _real_ taiji is considered to have all three components. If it is only "taiji for health" it isn't _real_ taiji at all -- sort of like baking an apple pie with no apples. You may call it something, but not really proper to call it an "apple" pie.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Yes, your are correct! Probably Tai Chi practiced just for health might be more appropriately called Qi Gong.
VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
"Peng" is just one of the four movements from "four hand" push hands, consisting of the palm pushing forward about midsection (the way we practice) and the other arm guiding the opponents other arm back towards his face. It is an attack. The four principle movements are are: peng, lu, ji, an. There are 8 total.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
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LoansOfYogurt 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
One question: Why would anyone be watching Jou Tsung-Hwa's taiji anyway? Although I appreciate the generosity in sponsoring taiji farm for many years, as a taiji practitioner, he was really just a hobbyist.
baiyuantongbei 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
His books in Russia are also regarded as best! Dedicated to Taichi and Meditation Art - they are really good...
Drakula5 3 years ago
Jou, Tsung Hwa was a man who fell in love with Taijiquan and did his best to improve himself, sharing what he learned with others. He overcame serious illnesses that almost killed him with Taijiquan and meditation. He was not my teacher but I knew him and observed him for many years. His was not about fighting as much as self development. He inspired many, helped promote the internal arts and claimed to be a fighter but he did not back away from conflict if it came.
thegompa 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
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VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
hey everybody quit watching this video, go and watch wang peisheng. he beat up way more guys than this guy...
I am serious he was all like waaaaaaaaa! and then everybody died, quit learning from other people you have nothing to learn from them if they did'nt fight alot of people.
remember wang peisheng= cool badass tai chi guy
Zhou tsung hua= old tai chi guy that didn't beat any famous people up.
no brainer man WPS would bench press this geezer with his mind
stupidkid915 3 years ago 5
Actually, he never challenged people, but he was challenged all the time. He said "do anything that you want." He was never beaten. He said that Tai Ji can tackle any problem. The question remains: What should be the standard for good Tai Chi? If it is only that you can learn "something" from them, then almost anyone's tai chi is good. Personally, I could care less about fighting, but I understand this is a prerequisite for Tai Ji since it is a martial art. Hmmm.....
VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
one of my masters always said that you learn more about what is correct from doing all of the wrong ways, than from doing one correct way.
of course the sad part is that if you do not have someone to guide you into the right direction than you could get lost in such a complex Art/Science/Excersise/Martial Art.
stupidkid915 3 years ago
here is one interesting story I witnessed from one of the best tai chi met I ever met. a student of another lineage, a very famous one. came to learn from this master I was studying with at the time.
this "student" came mainly to test the teacher, and eventually a question about tai chi principles and what he had learned from another teacher turned into him pushing my master around! he was teaching my master how it was supposed to be done and being quite cocky...
stupidkid915 3 years ago
...the master was quiet and got pushed around, he looked like he couldn't handle this guy. the student left feeling very good like the bringer of truth to heathens and two students left him because of the demo!
I was a bit confused as I knew the teacher was really good at push hands and I assumed that the other guy was really really good. a few days later I asked the teacher what made that guy so good and he replied "he was horrible" and so where the two students that left.
stupidkid915 3 years ago
...this master gave me a demo of what was wrong with the guy and I had one of the most intereting push hands experiences of my life, this master could have crushed the guy! it was obvious by he let the guy win.
he said: "if I beat him, then he would stick around looking for more, but I have nothing to teach such an arrogent student", "also if my students are only interested in martial arts then I don't feel like teaching them, they are waisting their time"...
stupidkid915 3 years ago 4
Very cool story! I'm sure there are not many people left like that in the world.
VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
thank you for posting this.
exit7a 3 years ago
What Jou Tsung-Hwa's learned from internal practice is difficult to dispute. Anyone who saw him at 80 jumping up and down like a teenager and running without getting winded half the length of a football field should bow their heads in tribute to what he was able to achieve. Many times he was heard to say to someone making disparaging remarks about styles or teachers. "Do not criticize others, work on yourself." Good advise in my book.
John Painter
thegompa 4 years ago
Comment removed
VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
Hey your point is good but nothing can be infered about every master on the planet by one aanacdotal argument. I myself have run into many deified masters who turned out to be assholes, but just as many well respect, less known masters whose skills were beyond explanation. It's hard to know the entire ocean when you are a turtle trapped in a well. Don't be so foolish as to assume the world is a certain way because you've been misfortunate in life.
wushu297 3 years ago 5
structure not looking very good there
andymach33 4 years ago
Wo Ye Ye,
Your Taiji lives in my thoughts.
Yin Yang sleeps in my eyes.
My heart smiles when I teach,
and see you in my students.
I wish I could have known you,
yet I carry you with me with each breath.
Wuji,Taiji,Yin Yang,Wanwu,Know Yourself
Do Your Best,Don't Over Do It, Make a Little Progress Every Day. Wo ai ni! Wen di
asgwd1 4 years ago
Let's see his push-hands with someone..
blajing 4 years ago 6
Many of those who visited Tai Chi Farm on a regular basis saw Mr. Jou, unlike some Taiji "masters" who won't push except with their students push hands with anyone. He was very, very good at it, ask Sam Masich or Yang, Jwing Ming about it sometime.
thegompa 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Those who know, need not explain. Those who need explanation won't get it.
utubeuser0121 4 years ago
8 or 80 the tai chi principals remain the same.
if he drove like he did his form that explains the crash.look at wu tu nan doing his form at 100.light,fluid and living by the principals.
tennytigers 4 years ago 4
Jou Tsung Hua was pretty humble regarding his skills. His primary contribution was his "Taiji Farm" which had quite a following over a period of probably 15 years in 1980s and early 90's in New York State. Despite the fact that the whole experience of Taiji Farm was like a visit to a hippie commune full of elaborate Chinese MA poseurs, it was also pretty fun.
I don't think Jou Tsung Hua was anything other than promoter of Taiji. Sadly he was killed in a car accident.
baiyuantongbei 4 years ago 11
Comment removed
VladtheEmailer 4 years ago
I was told by several famous grand masters in china that every body else seems to be falling off or getting worse and they were among the last few that still had "it", the real tai chi. MARKETING & Politics, usually the most famous people in the tai chi world arent very good at tai chi.
I never met this guy but I see his energy balance, It is good Tai Chi. If you cant see that, then what are you using to say good or bad? I am not using his age or his very interesting literary works.
stupidkid915 3 years ago 4
Comment removed
VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
Comment removed
VladtheEmailer 3 years ago
He looks stiff because none of you know what you're looking at. He's using "whole body" method. It's a technique from traditional kungfu. More to the point, his structure is good, his head is in the form and he's got serious balance and control. You don't get that way at his age with lightweight training. Since the guy's in his 70s or 80s, it also means he's a Chinese elder who "did the work" and deserves respect, not rude comments from clueless "arm chair masters."
TheBitchSlapper 4 years ago
BRAVO!
cerizzamax 4 years ago 2
Thank you.
MasterGohring 4 years ago 2
Very bad.
bekake 5 years ago
Sorry, it was a typo. The performance is from 1998, not 1988, same day as the performance by YJM. Based upon your comment, I guess this is an example of his excellent period. Good thing somebody did tape him.
charles888 5 years ago
If you didn't make another typo, he is 81 in this video. He died at the same age.
italiansoccer19 5 years ago
This was 1988. Jou Tsung Hwa wasn't that good yet. From about 1991 or 92 was when they say his practice took off. By the time he was into his late 70's early 80s, his form was supposed to be excellent and he had crazy push hands skills. Too bad nobody video taped him then.
jdonnelly0001 5 years ago
First:respect! Second: teachings have to be seen&felt! Third: grandmasterJTH is explaining something about SPLEEN! Why? that's tao. best regards
cerizzamax 5 years ago
stiff and mechanical
taijiinchina 5 years ago 4
I would like to see you perform that well at age 71.
italiansoccer19 5 years ago