Chen Zhonghua Workshops

Please note the recent addition to our blog, in the left column: Chen Zhonghua Workshop Schedule. Currently Master Chen is making his Spring Tour of the US, providing the opportunity to attend his workshops in Arkansas, Tulsa, Milwaukee, and New York, as well as the annual Hunyuan World event in Georgia. More events are offered in Canada as well. Click on the links for further information as to the locations, times and other details. More information can also be found at Chenzhonghua.com

Paul’s Review: Fairfield, Iowa Workshop, July 29, 30

Paul, from Des Moines, has attended Master Chen’s workshops in Iowa for the past few years. This time around he took advantage of the opportunity by signing up for multiple private sessions. Listen to his comments with the following clips, as he conveys his appreciation of the experience.

Reviews: Fairfield Workshop, July 29 and 30

Attendees were most enthusiastic in their appreciation of the experience with Chen Zhonghua, at the workshop, July 29 and 30, in Fairfield , Iowa.  Following the video below, read on to hear from others who attended.

Read more:

Chen Zhonghua: Workshop in Fairfield, Iowa, July 29, 30

Chen Zhonghua will be visiting Fairfield on July 29 and 30. The event will be open to the public, offering Southeastern Iowa the unique opportunity to study with a world class master of Taijiquan. Master Chen’s last visit was a memorable experience for all who attended. (For a review of that workshop Fairfield Workshop Review, Dec 10, 2007)

For details on the July workshop please go to the following:

Chen Zhongua’s Online Workshops

At  chenzhonghua.org, you can check out a very innovative new program, offering “Online Workshops”. It will include direct contact with Master Chen, via video clips, online video with written instructions, mini lessons on concepts and techniques, and various other communications to enhance your progress. Right now, there is an offer to take advantage of the program for free. Some description of details follows

Fairfield Workshop Review

Gene Hess attended the Fairfield workshop, and collaborated with the organizers to compile a detailed summary of the weekend’s activities:

Chen Zhonghua: Workshop in Fairfield, Iowa, November 10, 11

Iowa will be the venue for a rare opportunity to learn from Chen Zhonghua, the second weekend in November.

Read on for details:

Daqingshan Full Time Program Video

OK. Here we go again, after almost three months training in China with Master Chen, in the full time Taiji program, and some time getting used to the Western world again. Here is some nice video footage, giving a flavor for what we enjoyed this summer, on Daqingshan Mountain, Shandong Province, China.

Followup:”Matching Power”, Where is the Center

Our last post, “Practical Application of Matching Power”, gave rise to the following comments and discussion with an astute observer, who appreciated the content. He raised some very interesting points which

Practical Application of “Matching Power”

The following clip, appearing on Practicalmethod, March 19, offers a glimpse of typical “indoor” secrets, often revealed by Chen Zhonghua, in his open teaching of the internal principles of Chen Taiji. The famous concept of “4 ounces” controlling 1000 pounds, the ideas of sensitivity, neutralizing, redirecting force—- all these are common ideas, often expressed in language which conveys something “mysterious”, or vague, or philosophical. Teachers often seem to portray “internal” as something “mental”, “spiritual”, etc., as if “separate” from the skill of applying mechanical and functional requirements of high level Taiji. Here it becomes apparent how Chen Zhonghua bridges this gap, in his lucid concrete demonstration of the truly internal nature of Hong’s Practical Method. Of special interest, the instructions shed some brilliant practical light on the function of balance, and how to establish center in practice with opponents.

On Gong

The following article is reprinted here with permission from Chen Zhonghua. It was first published on January 8, 2007, when Chen Zhonhua formally presented the material at the Premier Hunyuan Taiji International Symposium, in Beijing, China. In this presentation he offers some unique angles on the importance of practices for the specific cultivation of skill involved in co ordinated joint rotation. This perspective also adds a new dimension to the understanding of the concept of “gong”.

Chen Zhonghua Offers Full Time Taiji Training at Daqingshan, China

Chen Zhonghua has announced the dates and details of his upcoming full time training program, at Daqingshan Mountain, in China, from May 10 through August 11, 2007. This opportunity is available in one week increments, or monthly, as well as the for the full 3 month program. For further details,

Chen Zhonghua Interview on Hong Book, Part 2

Part 2 of the interview, with more video footage of Grandmaster Hong pushing hands, as he was approaching 90 years of age.

Chen Zhonghua Clip from “Basic Silk Reeling” Video

As a disciple of Feng Zhiqiang, Chen Zhonghua has also recorded instructional material such as his “Basic Silk Reeling” DVD and VCD. This is a clip from that instructional video for Taiji warmup silk reeling exercises.

Chen Zhonghua Course Offerings

For your information, opportunities for instruction from Chen Zhonghua:

1. There will be a full time taijiquan training course on Daqingshan Mountain in China from May 1, 2007 to July 30, 2007. For more information please go to: www.daqingshan.org

2. Master Chen Zhonghua’s 2007 workshop schedule is posted here for those who are interested:

http://142.179.193.231/Lists/Events/MyItems.aspx

Following are listings of items on sale, from the instructional catalog:

Chen Zhonghua Intro Video

In this clip, Chen Zhonghua is seen in various settings and segments of his instructional material, giving a good survey of some of his specialities as a teacher. Some form segments, some explanation of techniques, and some applications. His open interaction in working with students can be seen in some of the footage.

Q & A Response: Hong Junsheng’s Usage of “Grinding” in Silk Reeling Applications

A reader named chenquestion submitted a very interesting question in our Student’s Q & A and Comments  section. (Which is open to any and everyone for these types of questions or comments, by the way.) In comments 4 and 5, Chenquestion Says: he queried about Hong’s usage of the term “grinding” which he refers to sometimes as he explains circular movements during applications. He wondered if the term implied force against force. So here we can explore Hong’s ideas in a section from Volume one of Theory.

Chen Zhonghua: Upcoming Workshops in Arizona, Puerto Rico, and Vancouver

Following is information on upcoming workshops with Chen Zhonghua, teaching Hong’s practical method of Chen style Taijiquan:

“Mind-Intent” and Force: Hong Junsheng’s Perspectives

Reply to Wujimon: Focus for Form Practice, Point 3
Here we reply to Wujimon’s Point three, (go here for reply to points 1 & 2, and here, for original post) which raised some issues relevant to Hong’s valuable contributions to Chen Style Taiji theory and practice.

Reply to Wujimon: Focus for Form Practice, Points 1 & 2

In response to our latest post on Focus for Form Practice, Wujimon raised some very penetrating questions. This provides us with an opportunity to investigate some details connected with the points, for clarification Wujimon is seeking, and for deeper understanding for all of us. First, let’s review

Focus for Form Practice at Beginning Intermediate Level

During a class of private instruction, this past weekend, we found some focus techniques which proved very effective for helping a student progress in his practice. Hopefully, readers here will be able to benefit from exploring these concepts.

Torso Connected with Kua Rotation

There has been a lot of continuing interest in discussion of the kua, over at Neijia Formosa. The writers commenting on Song kua-sink the kua , comments 13-17, have demonstrated a fairly sophisticated understanding of subtle nuances of mechanics of movement. However, I would like to address some points in terms of what I would view as

Formosa Neijia Insights on Kua article

At Formosa Neijia, Chessman 71 has posted a very insightful commentary on our post Function and Usage of the Kua. In his post Song kua, pt. 2, (July 24th, 2006 at 12:57 pm) (Taijiquan) he has identified core principles in Chen Zhonghua’s teaching. Here we will further consider Chessman 71’s perspective.

Chessman 71 grasped this central point and excerpted it:

“Kua is the joint responsible for transmission of power.

Reply to Wujimon:Background for Kua article

wujimon Says:
(July 21st, 2006 at 6:07 pm) Wow.. It’s going to really take a bit of time to try and digest the content before I can even know what to ask!………shedding some light on the intricacies of the kua!

That is exactly how I felt in the process of conducting that interview. Actually, that process took place over a period of 2 years! The project

Form Practice Suggestions

Form practice is obviously well recognized as a vital component of Taiji training. Perhaps less recognized is the vast variety of approaches one might employ, in the days, weeks, months, and years of daily form practice. Following is just a sample suggestion for a conscious strategy one might employ to focus on during form practice, for specific areas of enhancement.