Chen Style

Master Cheng Jincai Entering the door of Chen Taijiquan

by Asr Cordes Traditional chen style taijiquan is complete art that develop the practitioner on many levels along the road to achieving mastery, Whether one's purpose in training is for health or for marital skills, traditional Chen Style Taijiquan training seeks to develop the compete person inside and out. As the Chen Style begins to gain popularity its standard bearers and official representative travel around the world teaching the genuine article to those sincerely interested in achieving the development offered by genuine Chen Style Taiji Training. It is upon meeting and interacting with these Master that the aspiring Taiji practitioner begins to realize that alot more is involved in learning the art than just the diligent practice of techniques and principles. Master cheng Jincai Grew up training the Chen village and has practiced chen Style tai ij for over…

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January 19, 2019

forms

Important Tai Chi’s relaxation techniques

Relaxation as a part of practicing Tai Chi's internal skills is very crucial in the whole training process. Without understanding what relaxation is, how to relax, the role of relaxation in internal training, the purpose of relaxation, the principles of relaxation, etc., it is impossible to practice true internal Tai Chi. As the master stated in his writings: "Practicing Tai Chi, one never goes beyond the word 'relax'. If there's a bit of tension, or a part that's not relaxed, one will never achieve mastery." What then is relaxation? The dictionary defines it as "the state of being free from tension and mental stress." For example, to relax. The master emphasized the essence of relaxation both mentally and spiritually in his writings. That is: mentally, one should maintain tranquility and nurture the spirit, then the strength will naturally be reserved. When the fist moves, never forget to maintain purity and relaxation so that wisdom can grow; guided by mental consciousness, the body should gradually achieve maximum relaxation. Daily imbue the spirit of relaxation, and over time, one will achieve true relaxation; in terms of standards for relaxation, it is required not just mentally and physically, but also in joints and sinews, to be thoroughly relaxed and penetrable, to the extent that not a single thread can withstand external force, completely free of distractions. From the dictionary and the master's writings, it's clear that to properly practice Tai Chi's relaxation technique, one must start with mental (conceptual) relaxation, to correctly grasp the key to relaxation, and step by step, practice the relaxation technique deeply.

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March 30, 2024

BeginnerGuide

Is Tai Chi really difficult to practice? What is the hardest part to learn?

Ancient Tai Chi manuals clearly state that all movements in Tai Chi are formed in response to the opponent's actions, thus lacking the fancy, bizarre, and complex proactive skills found in some external martial arts. In this sense, Tai Chi is actually simple and easy to learn. However, even the simplest actions can be challenging. For example, who can't walk? Everyone thinks walking is simple, but tightrope walking is essentially walking. How many people in the world can walk on a tightrope hundreds of meters high above a canyon? Hence, walking also involves difficulty and tricks. Indeed, no matter how clear and straightforward the principles and techniques of any skill in the world, learning it involves difficulty and tricks; mastering any skill to a high level is even more challenging. Learning Tai Chi is naturally difficult and requires tricks, and for the average person, the difficulty can be quite substantial, even insurmountable for some, hence the saying, "Many practice, but few succeed." Can this situation be changed? Of course.

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March 27, 2024

Stances

The root of rootlessness, the form of formlessness, is indeed the best realm of Tai Chi!

The "Classic of Boxing" states, "Its root is in the feet, issued through the legs, directed by the waist, and expressed in the fingers." This indicates that the root is in the feet, with the axis in the waist. The waist being the axis shows that Tai Chi is a circular movement, and it's a three-dimensional spherical movement. The rolling of a sphere, where every contact point on the sphere can neutralize the opponent's force, leading the opponent into emptiness, and can strike the opponent, making it impossible for them to defend. Those who practice Tai Chi have this experience, such as when lifting the cat step or splitting the leg, the contact point on the solid foot transitions from the little toe to the big toe, then to the inner side of the heel, and finally, when it lands on the outer side, the center of gravity is the most stable, and lifting the empty foot is the lightest. If the toes grip the ground fixedly without change, it will inevitably become rigid and lose balance. This is true for lifting the foot as well as for issuing force, practicing boxing, playing hands, and pushing hands techniques, all requiring the yin and yang movement of the soles of the feet. When the body is in motion, how can the center of gravity on the soles of the feet remain unchanged? Relaxed, resilient, with the skill of using minimal force to move a great weight, all require taking advantage of opportunities and situations, being agile and circular, to truly understand energy.

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March 25, 2024

Bagua Zhang / interviews

Inside Interview of Zhuge Jiabao

Mr. Zhuge Jiabao, an early disciple of Mr. Guo Gumin, one of the second-generation leading figures of Liang-style Baguazhang, is highly respected in the Liang-style Baguazhang community for his decades of dedication. One day, while visiting "Wu Soul" magazine, I discussed Mr. Zhuge's situation with the editorial staff, who hoped I could help interview Mr. Zhuge, mainly to understand how the Baguazhang predecessors taught and practiced, and the extent of their skills. I found the topic proposed by "Wu Soul" meaningful for exploring, inheriting, and promoting Chinese traditional martial arts, so I gladly accepted.

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February 19, 2024

forms

Learn Tai Chi Basic Required to Defend Against Opponents

Mental Aspect "When two people engage in combat, each harbors a desire to win. They quickly engage and strike with bravery, similar to an eagle swooping into a chicken yard. The fists must display imposing might from all directions, feet must tread the central earth, looking down on the opponent as if no one else exists. Dominate with spirit, conquer with skill, respond to the enemy with action, exhale with noise, disrupt the enemy's intentions, and bolster our own momentum. Head must butt, hands must strike, body must press, steps must surpass, feet must kick, spirit must intimidate, and breath must assault. Actions must be spirited, every move precise. Practice with emotion, use with inherent form. Aim for 'internal spirit, external ease.' Calm the mind, consolidate the breath, gather the spirit. A calm mind keeps the breath from rising, maintaining a good state of relaxed and sinking form. Consolidating breath prevents spirit from leaking, creating a profound momentum. When exerting force, this increases strength

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March 20, 2024

BeginnerGuide

Can it still fight? Unveiling the truth behind the evolution of Tai Chi

The simplification and focus on health aspects have greatly influenced the transmission of Tai Chi's martial arts and techniques. The more challenging and bias-prone Taoist qigong has been diluted, replaced with the safer, modern practice of push hands. 1. **Background of Traditional Martial Arts Not Evolving into Combat Sports** Tai Chi, and traditional martial arts as a whole, have encountered significant difficulties in contemporary times. Originally combat-oriented, traditional martial arts have shifted towards sports, fitness, and health in the modern era. However, with the rise of various attractive fitness programs, the market for traditional martial arts has shrunk. In recent years, traditional martial arts have been under scrutiny.

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March 19, 2024

BeginnerGuide

After Practicing for a While, How to Further Improve Your Tai Chi Level?

After a period of training, the body becomes appropriately supple, the central Qi (energy) increases internal strength, and the mind gains clear awareness. Subsequently, a natural sense of relaxed heaviness emerges, along with intuitive sensitivity and a soft yet resilient power. The effect of these conditions, in terms of Tai Chi terminology, is called "Jin" (force). Experiencing this force and then learning various pushing hands techniques and further studying the skill of "understanding Jin" can lead to sudden enlightenment.

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March 17, 2024