Yang Family Tai Chi Discussion Board

Hello everyone: One thing I wanted to throw out there. Several posts have expressed the concern that sparring is counterproductive because of the emphasis on winning, or defeating the opponent. I think that the object in taiji sparring is to work on clearing the mind of these things. Participants sh...

Hi everyone: They do practice sparring at William C.C. Chen's school in NYC (with gloves on!), which I think is CMC lineage. I've also seen them practice at William Ting's school in Cherry Hill, NJ (which is Wu Ji Jing Gong style, not Yang, though). My first teacher was dead set against sparring on ...

Kal: I can't answer all your questions, but here are a couple of thoughts. 1. The craziest question a student ever asked me. A few years ago, I had one of those students who had some issues. You can always tell them because they tend to go a bit overboard. This one tatooed a large yin-yang symbol on...

Wish I could say I had a more structured approach for training each of the energies. Typically, we will practice the standard four-corners pattern for awhile and then flow into freestyle training. CFTC, I am intersted by your statement: "Our push hands mimic actual fighting scenario where if po...

Hi CFTC, Hi Yuri:

The methods you have described are the proper way to go. I confess to getting sloppy quite often, and when I do, having the session turn into a shoving match. I can always tell when I have practiced incorrectly because I am sore the next day.

Gene

I agree that zhan zhuang is very useful in developing a calm mind, good root, and exppansion in all directions - vital skills for push hands and taiji self-defense. I do it every day. I pause to note that there is a major difference between "no stepping" push hands and zhan zhuang, on the ...

A master can definitely bounce an uncooperative larger opponent, skilled in taiji, a good distance. I have personally seen it. Kan shr rungyi, dzwo shr nan. I have the same issue. But the reality is I don't (can't) push hands enough. Not enough partners, not enough time, not enough partners WITH tim...

Hi guys: Actually, I think Tracey is selling the Bozo shoe short. When you're about to be pushed out, you just detonate the explosive charge in the toe. Victory follows quickly. Gene P.S. I don't like the hard-soled kung fu-type shoes either. Too slippery, and kind of hard on the knees if you do any...

I've gotten away from the Yang style in recent years, but this observation regarding the rear foot is quite interesting. When I first learned the simplified form as taught by Master Bow-Sim Mark, she too had the rear foot turned in 45 degrees. Years later, she had evolved into turning the rear foot ...

Hello everyone: Interesting thread. One observation. Andrew states: "The problem I constantly face with being soft is that the incoming force from my partner will track into the core of my body (usually my chest area) and then once they are on my chest, I am stuck, and its only a matter of time...

Hello everyone: I got started with taiji back in 1992. (I had studied goju ryu in high school and tae kwon do in college.) I was looking for a way to help me handle stress (I have a law practice) and saw that there was a Kung Fu school in my town. The instructor there, Al Bender, showed me a simple ...

Hello Beegs: I'm not a Yang family member, but would like to try and answer at least part of your question. If I remember correctly, the 24-movement simplified form was created under the authority of the Chinese government in the 1950s, so that the populace would have a standard, more easily accessi...

Lodro: I do not know the 32 form, but can tell you that in any form the transfer can be difficult. One suggestion is to practice the transfer repeatedly using just your arms and hands (in other words, don't worry about the leg movements yet) until you develop the necessary feel. Another point to kee...

Hi Kalamondin: Thanks for the thoughtful post. I agree with your position on the placebo effect - if it works, who cares? (Or as John Lennon put it, whatever gets you through the night.) Interesting - the magnets I bought have a sticker on the north side instructing me only to use that side, and not...

Hello everyone: There's a guy who's been advertising in Inside Kung Fu for a course called "Magnetic Qigong." The concept seems to be that you perorm qigong exercises and zhan zhuang while standing on some fairly powerful ceramic magnets, which are purportedly therapeutic. Curious - and an...