NICE CHEN!

Just found this on YouTube.  Really good — soft, flowing, strong, elegant.  Don’t know who this is offhand but he’s a real contender at the least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fl59-Ky6Bc

 

LEARNING IN CHINA

2007 Chen Zhonghua Photos

After some lovely still shots, Master CZH gives a typically powerful lesson/ explanation of how taiji does a lot with a little. Ties in with numerous new posts on the Practical Method blog.

 

DONG STYLE

Tung Yingchieh (1898-1961)

Here, this is a good one. Dong Yingjie, as I learned the name. As far as I can see, the Dongs took the pure YCF form and amplified its elements, to ensure a strong continued transmission. What do I mean by this? I’m not certain myself, but I want to find out as time unfolds.

 

SHAOLIN / CHEN

I found this while looking on the Web for contemporary Yang style video clips that I like the look of.  I’m about ready to give up.  I have some great historical clips posted here already.

But here’s this Shaolin school in Canada with a highly trained Chinese master in charge, and on this page you can see him doing “Shaolin Chan Tai Chi” (aka Chen Style, as you’ll see).  http://www.shaolintemple.ca/videos.php

Surely I’ve mentioned before that Chen’s resemblance to Shaolin is what got me fired up to learn taichi in the first place?  Great styles all: traditional Shaolin Quan; Chen Taijiquan; Yang Taijiquan.   To name a few.           

 

118 Yang-Style Taiji (fast) - 1

Thanks to Formosa Neijia for finding this. Since I’m trying to learn the Yang long form, I am grabbing this for a good quick visual reference. Wang Yu-sheng’s stance looks very low to me, for Yang style. I have no wish to emulate this. But it is quite a strong, interesting presentation overall.  For more expert commentary, visit the place where I got the info: http://formosaneijia.com/2007/wang-yu-shengs-yang-taiji/

 

陳式太極拳競賽套路 56式 Chen Style traditional 56 form for tournament

Another 56 demo. It’s interesting to me because it’s so extreme. Very overt silk-reeling; stances so low (you’ll see!); yet with an “offhand” bloody fast fajing that I find oddly attractive. Good thing I didn’t see this clip when I was starting up with Chen, it would have messed with my head real bad!

 

Double Dragon Alliance Masters in China

Can’t resist this, though I need to stay focused on YCF form. But note the intricate hand movements; the height of the hands; the stepping. Previously I would have thought this form to be a bridge between Chen and Yang styles. This is Master Ren Gang (see my post “I Don’t End at My Skin”).

 

Fu Zhongwen (1903-1994) [2of2]

Credit where credit’s due: YouTube is awesome! The modern world hath its benefits.

 

Fu Zhongwen (1903-1994)

Three’s a charm! I hope these heirlooms will help me to join with the river already flowing. Rest in peace, Master Fu.

 

Fu Zhongwen Yang-style Form Part 1

Very, very interesting, both to study in itself, and to compare to the Wei Shuren clips I have seen.