Yang Family Tai Chi Discussion Board

Jerry: thanks for this information. I imagine that there might have been a change of emphasis when Yang Cheng Fu adapted Ban Hou's form. Dr Yang Jwing-Ming of course teaches the Ban Hou form form and I believe he might be one of the few in the world still to do so. If his books are anything to go by...

Jerry: I see what you're saying but I think I was referring more in connection with belief or 'willing suspension of disbelief' to the more internal aspects - particularly embryonic abdominal breathing co-ordinated with the movement of yin and yang in the form. I think it's necessary to do some seat...

Jerry: I think this is in fact what Bohr meant too and would draw attention to the paragraph in the article where it says: 'Bohr developed a theory to explain this phenomenon, quite simply stating that since the hero never shoots first, the villain must decide when to shoot, which inhibits his movem...

Audi: 'And finally', while I'm still thinking about these topics, to illustrate the 'cocked wrist' block, as I can't conveniently find an image of anyone else doing it on the web, I am providing a link to a photo you might already have seen, of myself doing it, for what it's worth (low internal left...

Audi: again, I'm afraid I can't fully agree with your point about the power in the sword form coming essentially from the legs and I think a distinction has to be drawn here between the different natures of fighting with a blade and barehand combat. In the barehand form, of course the power is trams...

Audi: There are two reasons for keeping the blade vertical in these parries,viz i)the wrist being locked in this position contributes an enormous amount of inherent strength to the block or parry - you can try this out with an opponent; get him/her to lunge at you and block with the blade horizontal...

Of course it's trite to say that T'ai Chi is a defensive and reactive martial art that relies on such techniques as sticking, joining and following to neutralise opponents and turn their initial moves against them by these and other techniques. Speed is not necessarily of the essence, provided the s...

Well I've read all these postings now on the pros and cons of push hands and I don't really have a view on it either way, but I suspect the emphasis on push hands is exaggerated and I agree with one poster who said that it doesn't really train you in practical fighting as such but might contribute s...

Jerry: of course I didn't start doing T'ai Chi there and then on the platform - I couldn't walk for Heavens' sake!!! And of course I'm not advocating self-therapy for injuries and illnesses using internal TCM alone. Agreed, it's essential to see a doctor. What I'm saying though, is that if you have ...

Wu: I have to say, with due respect to other contributors, that personally I entirely agree with everything you have said here and can vouch for this from my own personal experience. If you read my story about healing my fracture in my previous message, I hope you will believe me where many possible...

I'm aware that I might not be believed but I can truthfully mention an incident that occurred to me about 7 years ago. I was late for my train, the normal gate onto the platform was locked, I climbed on top of it (it was about six feet in height), caught my right trouser leg on one of the uprights (...

Bob: for my part, I interpret this as meaning the co-rdination of embryonic breathing with yin/yang movements in the form and in push hands. Of course embryonic breathing was always regarded as the big secret of internal martial arts but there is much information on it now - for instance a very comp...

Bob: this is an interesting discussion to which I probably can't contribute a great deal, and once again, apologies for being away for a while (please see my replies on the weapons section re: sword for an explanation ...). All I think I can usefully say is that I was taught that NASB corresponds to...

Audi, in response to your second message (and again, my apologies for taking a long time to reply)the version of the Yang form that I do includes these same three leaps, starting with the sword held angled slightly upwards in front of the body. Yoy then take off from right foot and the sword then ci...

Bob: sorry to take such a long time to reply, but if you read my reply to Audi, I mention why I haven't been able to correspond for a while. I must say I thought that my observation on the timing of the arm and leg in fencing was fairly standard, but your friend sounds like a very advanced fencer so...