Large v Small

 

Large Frame Tai Chi

Tai Chi Large/Small 

Dr. Hwa,

I purchased your videos several years ago, and while I do the Yang, large movements, traditional form, I am more interested in the mechanics and concepts.

Then I purchased your book, Uncovering the Treasure, and liked it so much that I bought copies for the other students in our class.

This weekend, I discovered your exercise series on YouTube and want to thank you. It answers many questions about the basic internal movements underlying the external movements. Your videos help me substantiate these movements with students who need more encouragement.

Thank you - MM"

Dear MM, Please bear with me as I write this after viewing your letter once again. 

There is a saying in China, 内传小架,外传大

架, which translates to "small frame reserved for family insiders; large frame for everyone else". This reflects a traditional distinction between the small frame (small circle) and large frame forms, where the small frame is considered an internal discipline passed down within families, while the large frame is taught more broadly to the public.

You said: “It answers many questions about the basic internal movements underlying the external movements.”

I think you are on the right track but it is important to remember differences as well as what one assumes is “…underlying the external movements…”!  I say “assumes” and Master Hwa once advised people

The mechanics of  Small Frame Classical Tai Chi are fundamentally based on internal discipline, where all movements originate from the torso and core muscles, rather than from the limbs. This principle is central to the style, which emphasizes small, compact movements and the generation of internal energy through precise neuromuscular control. 

The small frame is not merely about reducing movement size but involves a distinct internal approach, such as "folding the body at the spine" and maintaining a deep tuck of the rear end to generate power and balance.These mechanics are designed to be practiced with a small step size, allowing for the integration of the torso's energy into the limbs.

While the core principles of internal movement and torso-centric power are applicable to all Tai Chi, the specific mechanics of the Small Frame, including its emphasis on minimal step size, fluid transitions between postures, and the integration of internal energy through exercises like silk reeling, are most effectively realized within the small frame context. 

The style's unique teaching methodology, developed by Hwa using his engineering background, is specifically tailored to break down these advanced movements, which are considered preparatory for the deeper internal discipline of the Small Frame. Therefore, while the foundational concepts of internal energy and body alignment can inform other styles, the specific mechanics of Stephen Hwa's Small Frame Classical Tai Chi are inherently tied to its small frame structure and cannot be directly or fully replicated in a large frame practice.

Droop & Slinky (Sink)

 

Droop & Sink Vertically

Video Link

A student some time ago asked me via email: "How does the second generation of Wu's family change the posture from the original upright posture of Yang's Tai Chi to a straight lean?"  Perhaps one answer is to ask why ask this question before you practice instead of practicing and finding the answer for yourself?  I was thinking about what you said on "lean" in the forward posture.  As we know very well, there is indeed much commentary as you say along with youtube video. I decided to look up exact definitions of English "lean". Then I said why not look up what Chinese translation of "lean is" and so...I find it ironic that other Tai Chi has so much commentary from allegedly reading the Tai Chi Classics and interpretation of Chang San Feng's edict to not "lean". Yet the simplified Chinese translation is 靠 or kào which in English is translated as "Lean" using a striking force with shoulder or body. The irony is "lean" is one of the 8 postures that Tai Chi is noted for. Also, the very same postures that they tout as needing to be done in the "perpendicular".

Hi Jim: "We just have to continually plug at it. To change the preconceived thinking of such a large portion of the tai chi practitioner is a herculean effort!"

It's interesting that I once compared the “sit back” of postures to the action of a “Slinky”.  I reiterated this to students and they thought it a mere humorous analogy. It is important to remember there are no static postures in Classical Tai Chi.  What the skeptics fail to reckon is the pelvis will both lengthen and contract continuously with correct sit back. There are numerous videos that demonstrate the movement of a Slinky and it is a perfect analog for continuous extension/contraction.

 Of great help in using the core is relaxing the waist. The nitty gritty of Classical Tai Chi lies in the control how, when and where the core turns and the body shifts.

 In the Tai Chi Classics: "The source of command for all movements lies in the waist". This really implies waist relaxation but the question is how?  For this we must learn to allow to droop and vertically sink the rear of the body, namely the buttocks. The picture of the derriere not protruding. To droop the buttocks is to allow the buttocks to sink vertically so that they do not protrude.

As you sit back, lengthen the tailbone toward the floor, which helps "open the back" and release tension in the lumbar region. This creates a neutral pelvis position—neither overly tucked nor arched.

Most of the students I have taught in Classical Tai Chi come to the discipline holding the hips in a position where the buttocks are in an anterior tilt.  What is an "anterior" tilt? When I ask them to stand with their back to a wall, they readily see that the small of the back is usually an accentuated curve, an anterior tilt.  It is, of course, unintentional that the hips are positioned in this manner. With this, the waist is very tight and difficult to turn freely. 

It was finally with my own personal study of Classical Tai Chi that I found how essential it was for the hips to be tilted forward, which is called "tucking" the pelvis or a "posterior" tilt.  In the world of Tai Chi "stances", or "frames" (the size of things), Classical Tai Chi is incredibly compact but is the poster child for the cliché that good things come in small packages. The tailbone is stretched down in a process in which the spine is stretched both downward and upward if the rules about "stretching the head" are followed correctly.  When I have my students stand with their backs to a wall, they readily see and perhaps for the first time, that the small of the back can be straightened. Taking one hand and sliding behind, the student said they could not move the fingers between the back and the wall. The video link shows Master Stephen Hwa doing exactly what I describe. 

Classical Tai Chi is not an "Analog"

Tai Chi is Tai Chi PLUS " xyz  "is a common thread these days, yet there's Yang, Wu, Wu's, Chen, etc., etc., then there is  

the advertising claim that

tai chi alone is capable of bodybuilding. Scammers use misleading ads, often featuring AI-generated or heavily photoshopped images of muscular individuals, to promote apps or programs that typically require traditional weight training for a "bodybuilding" physique

 

In my classes and discussions I also hear comments that "Internal Discipline is LIKE belly dancing, so I will dust off my belly dancing dvd", "Internal Discipline is LIKE isometrics or IS Isometric exercise", "Tai Chi is LIKE Yoga, like upright Yoga", etc., etc. "Why put stupid music to a marshal art , I love wu style but it's no good music is a distraction for the real thing , and please add the application s to all the form ,I do wu style but there's 119 moves to this ,""Please put the application in ie yes the fighting part the real bit"

These are all wrong because the art is not an "analog" and therefore is not subject to "analogy".  This is due to the concept of "Yi", the martial intent of movement. Read on to see what my teacher Master Stephen Hwa says to Lori N. when she calls it dance and subjects it incorrectly to being an "analog" and therefore analogous to dance. 

From Forum 6, October 2003, Lori N. writes:
"I just completed my first lesson -- the walk. Very tricky but also very fun. “

“This is going to be exactly what I have looked for so long. I have always loved to dance but never enjoyed performing for people. This dance of Taiji will be that dance I have been needing for so many years!"

MASTER HWA’S RESPONSE:
"I am glad you have made a good start. It is important that you feel fun and challenged while you doing it. Your comments about Tai Chi as a kind of dancing is what prompted me to write about the topic Yi  click here for article on – the martial art intent. I remember my teacher became unhappy when someone referred to Tai Chi as an exercise. Again, the “intent” is lost when it was called as an exercise. "

 Most people are now learning Tai Chi, probably for reasons other than for serious martial art applications. So the question is, how much should we emphasize the martial art aspects of Tai Chi? 

Certainly, Tai Chi Form movements make more sense and are easier to remember if they are corroborated with the martial art origin of the movements - why there are these sequences of movements, and what the positioning of the body and timing ofthe movements mean. 

Besides this aspect, there is a more subtle but powerful reason why the martial art aspect of Tai Chi is essential. I shall discuss that below:Tai Chi Form should be practiced with “Yi” (martial art intention). “Yi” is not something complex and elaborate. It is single-minded and somewhat intuitive, with the desire to deliver the internal power externally through hands, arms, and feet, whatever the movement is. If the hand is moving forward, then the Yi goes to the palm and fingers; if the hand is moving laterally in a blocking movement, then the Yi goes to the leading edge on the side of the hand; etc. 

Once the practitioner masters the “Yi”, it is no longer a conscious effort anymore. It becomes subconscious and comes naturally whenever the practitioner moves. 

At this stage, when you play the Form, you have both the internal energy and Qi (nerve signal - a simple-minded definition) circulating in the torso of your body. With the “Yi” as a catalyst, the Qi can flow to your hands and fingers while the internal energy continues to circulate in your torso until you need it for anapplication. Then the internal energy will follow the Qi to the arms, hands, and fingers for delivery.

External martial arts such as Karate also practice a solo form called Kata. Kata allows the practitioner to study movements at full power and speed, and enables the student to move with the enemy in mind. So, both Tai Chi form and Kata are practiced with “Yi”. But Kata is practiced with a tensed up arm moving with power and speed, while Tai Chi is practiced with a relaxed arm and moving at a slow speed. The “Yi” in Tai Chi is therefore purely mental.

For some students, “Yi” is relatively easy to develop. It is almost natural to them. For some students, it is pretty challenging to be consistent – other intentions creep in subconsciously from time to time. Students who have studied dance or are interested in dance face such problems. Usually, the fingers become very warm after playing the Form even in cold weather. 

One of my students here, who had already achieved good internal movements, complained about cold fingers. Upon close examination, she frequently had small flourishes in her hands and fingers. After reducing that flourish, her problem with a cold finger improved. Extraneous motions, or nerve signals, along the path of Qi, such as the shoulder, elbow, and arms, have the same effect of disrupting the flow of Qi between the body and the fingers. People who use their hands intensively, such as dancers, typists, and piano players, could have such problems. 

They need to keep localized nerve activity dormant and let the body's Qi take over. This is a good reason to learn the Classical Tai Chi Square Form, from which the practitioner will get used to movements with steady arms and hands without localized impulses. 

The focus here is on the arms and hands, not on the legs and feet. The reason is that during form playing, the lower limbs have definite functions to perform, and their energyand Qi are already integrated with that of the torso. During Form playing, the upper limb’s function is entirely abstract and mental, and is easily distracted."

 Jim Roach on Square Form: Some practitioners reject the Square Form because it challenges their existing habits or requires sustained effort to master. Rather than adapt, they may dismiss the form as impractical or overly rigid, attributing their difficulty to the method itself rather than their own learning curve. With its precision it is the insurance that subsequent generations will do the Form correctly!

"YI" (martial intent)  

Have "martial intent (Yi)" when practicing

 

 

 

Martial Intent "Yi" in Classical Tai Chi is martial intent for all of the Forms.  I also recommend practicing individual postures and inserting "intent" into one posture at a time.  I recommend trying to put intent on the entire form as well as practicing each posture individually. It is time consuming but necessary to do both. Of course individual postures will get numerous repetition, perhaps the form a couple of times. Your time availability will determine how many repetitions for each. 

 Essentially, you are relearning each posture the same way you learned to memorize the form, one posture at a time. The only difference is the insertion of martial intent.  Remember if the side of the hand is leading that is where the intent is, if the palm of the hand is leading, that is where the intent is and so on for each part of the body that leads. Also make sure that intent is done with internal discipline but that the intent is purely mental.

 

Not all "Tai Chi" is Tai Chi.  In my classes and discussions I hear comments that "Internal Discipline is LIKE belly dancing, so I will dust off my belly dancing dvd", "Internal Discipline is LIKE isometrics or IS Isometric exercise", "Tai Chi is LIKE Yoga, like upright Yoga", etc., etc. 

These are all wrong because the art is not an "analog" and therefore is not subject to "analogy".  This is due to the concept of "Yi", the martial intent of movement. Read on gentle reader to see what my teacher Master Stephen Hwa says to Lori N. when she calls it dance and subjects it incorrectly to being an "analog" and therefore analogous to dance. 

From Forum 6, October 2003, Lori N. writes:
"I just completed my first lesson -- the walk. Very tricky but also very fun. “

“This is going to be exactly what I have looked for so long. I have always loved to dance but never enjoyed performing for people. This dance of Taiji will be that dance I have been needing for so many years!"

MASTER HWA’S RESPONSE:
 

"I am glad you have made a good start. It is important that you feel fun and challenged while you doing it. Your comments about Tai Chi as a kind of dancing is what prompted me to write about the topic Yi  click here for article on – the martial art intent. I remember my teacher became unhappy when someone referred to Tai Chi as an exercise. Again, the “intent” is lost when it was called as an exercise. "

 Most people are now learning Tai Chi, probably for reasons other than for serious martial art applications. So the question is, how much should we emphasize the martial art aspects of Tai Chi? Certainly, Tai Chi Form movements make more sense and are easier toremember if they are corroborated with the martial art origin of the movements - whythere are these sequences of movements, and what the positioning of the body and timing ofthe movements mean. 

Besides this aspect, there is a more subtle but powerful reason why the martial art aspect of Tai Chi is essential. I shall discuss that below:Tai Chi Form should be practiced with “Yi” (martial art intention). “Yi” is not somethingcomplex and elaborate. It is single-minded and somewhat intuitive, with the desire to deliver the internal power externally through hands, arms, and feet, whatever the movement is. If the hand is moving forward, then the Yi goes to the palm and fingers; if the hand is moving laterally in a blocking movement, then the Yi goes to the leading edge on the side of the hand; etc. 

Once the practitioner masters the “Yi”, it is no longer a conscious effort anymore. It becomes subconscious and comes naturally whenever the practitioner moves. 

At this stage, when you play the Form, you have both the internal energy and Qi (nerve signal - a simple-minded definition) circulating in the torso of your body. With the “Yi” as a catalyst, the Qi can flow to your hands and fingers while the internal energy continues to circulate in your torso until you need it for anapplication. Then the internal energy will follow the Qi to the arms, hands, and fingers for delivery.

External martial arts such as Karate also practice a solo form called Kata. Kata allows the practitioner to study movements at full power and speed, and enables the student to move with the enemy in mind. So, both Tai Chi form and Kata are practiced with “Yi”. But Kata is practiced with a tensed up arm moving with power and speed, while Tai Chi is practiced with a relaxed arm and moving at a slow speed. The “Yi” in Tai Chi is therefore purely mental.

For some students, “Yi” is relatively easy to develop. It is almost natural to them. For some students, it is pretty challenging to be consistent – other intentions creep in subconsciously from time to time. Students who have studied dance or are interested in dance face such problems. Usually, the fingers become very warm after playing the Form even in cold weather. 

One of my students here, who had already achieved good internal movements, complained about cold fingers. Upon close examination, she frequently had small flourishes in her hands and fingers. After reducing that flourish, her problem with a cold finger improved. Extraneous motions, or nerve signals, along the path of Qi, such as the shoulder, elbow, and arms, have the same effect of disrupting the flow of Qi between the body and the fingers. People who use their hands intensively, such as dancers, typists, and piano players, could have such problems. 

They need to keep localized nerve activity dormant and let the body's Qi take over. This is a good reason to learn the square form, from which the practitioner will get used to movements with steady arms and hands without localized impulses.

The focus here is on the arms and hands, not on the legs and feet. The reason is that during form playing, the lower limbs have definite functions to perform, and their energyand Qi are already integrated with that of the torso. During Form playing, the upper limb’s function is entirely abstract and mental, and is easily distracted.

"YI" (martial intent)   a link to an article

Put a “lid” on uncontrolled movement

 

 A Bumblebee cannot light or leave it

A video

Some folks, and some Tai Chi aficionados, say the precision of the Classical Tai Chi Square Form is more Robotic than their own Tai Chi. Actually, "more is better" because the differentiation of localized impulses (recognize your random and/or uncontrolled movement) in the body while doing Square Form is easiest to make when the stimulus (that square form provides) is smallest. 

In my take on the Tai Chi Classics, if I hoist a 50 lb. barbell over my head, I won't feel any "differentiation" if a bumblebee lands on the barbell. If I am holding a piece of ribbon, I would feel the "difference" if the bee landed on the ribbon. The same thing happens when I hear, see, smell, etc.  If someone with a blaring stereo in their car pulls up next to me, I can notice a change in the music's stimulation only when they lower the volume; the change is really significant. This is a physiological law, and it also applies when the stimulus is minimal to start; only then can we detect small changes.

As precise and robotic as they appear, the movements of the square form are actually small in their own right, articulating at the joints as they do.  This stimulates the student's senses with their "smallness" and increases sensitivity to movement, which can translate into better movement in the Round Form.  In other words, Classical Tai Chi Square Form is not stimulating the whole body as much as ”run of the mill” Tai Chi is wont to. The Square Form thereby “puts a lid” on localized impulses that result from unbridled, and, for beginners, most often random, movement, manifesting as changes in their movements. 

With square form, one can observe the effect the movement had on the sides of the body, neck, shoulders, pelvis, and more. One also has the opportunity to make corrections and improve overall body structure.  Observing those changes will lead to decreased muscle tension in the body; this is called the delineation of Yin and Yang, which moves and what does not move at any given time.  

The effect on the brain is a reorganization of the motor cortex and tuning of the nervous system. If you take a moment to analyze the body at the start and after the square form, you can feel that certain portions feel weightless; one has achieved relaxation.  Again, differentiation, or "delineation," works best with a small stimulus. Now we begin to see that the saying "... when one part moves... the whole body moves..." in the Classics is merely an observation of incorrect, unhinged movement, NOT an instruction on how one should move.  After all, an infant will move an arm, and the whole body will move. Human beings naturally get additional neural synapses as they mature. One reaches for the coffee creamer and hopefully, their entire body does not lurch out of the chair.

Classical Tai Chi in The Google Age

 

 Learning Internal Discipline 

A video

 

How to Learn Internal Discipline 

 A video

In the Google age of instant information and rapid, conspicuous consumption, Classical Tai Chi, with its “Internal Discipline”, draws attention to the value of becoming genuinely competent by assimilating internal movement and concepts rather than rushing through the learning process. Many practitioners note that mastering tai chi requires more than just watching videos.

 

The deeper aspects of Classical Tai Chi—such as internal energy, mindful movement, and the integration of mind and body—are developed over years of consistent practice and can often be learned through digital instruction, which can provide corrections and explanations that in-person instruction cannot.

 

This slow, deliberate approach aligns with Classical Tai Chi’s roots in Taoist philosophy, which encourages self-reflection and patience. Although apps and online tutorials are available, the important caveat is that practice itself is not easily mastered through quick, superficial learning.

 

Many students new to the art believe that the true essence of tai chi lies in its outward form. Classical Tai Chi is rooted in cultivating internal discipline, a process that takes time to mature. The world is used to immediate results; Classical Tai Chi stands as a reminder that meaningful progress often comes from patience, presence, and sustained effort.

 

A practice like Classical Tai Chi is indeed wise, as it emphasizes deep understanding over superficial learning. Hwa, a student of Grand Master Young Wabu, who was a direct disciple of the legendary Wu Chien Chuan, teaches a form rooted in the principles of Internal Discipline, which involves using internal movements and internal power to direct and empower external movements.

 

This approach is considered essential for achieving the actual health benefits and martial arts applications of Tai Chi. Many practitioners find that the depth of Master Hwa’s instruction, which includes detailed explanations of the torso’s role in movement and the integration of internal energy, is rare and highly valuable. Students have good reports about the comprehensive nature of his online video courses:

 

https://classical-tai-chi.teachable.com/ 

 

and the book, Uncovering the Treasure, 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Uncovering-Treasure-Classical-Internal-Energy/dp/1449917895/ref=sr_1_1

 

The reports are that the book and online course provide a complete and systematic methodology that eliminates guesswork and offers a clear path to mastery.

 

The focus on internal discipline, such as the "Torso Method," helps practitioners connect their movements to their core, leading to a more holistic and effective practice. The Torso Method is a very complex approach. Given the complexity and depth of this approach, taking time to learn and internalize these principles is crucial for long-term progress and genuine understanding.

 

Uncovering the Treasure: Classical Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy & Health

This foundational book by Dr. Stephen Hwa distills decades of research into a coherent and practical guide. It introduces the "Torso Method"—the core concept that internal movement must lead external form. Readers praise its clarity, especially when compared to the vague or mystical language commonly found in other Tai Chi literature.

 

The book doesn’t just describe movements; it explains why they work, making it ideal for analytical minds and long-time practitioners disillusioned with incomplete teachings.

 

 

Classical Tai Chi Practice Stands Out in the Google Age of Immediate Understanding

 

While YouTube tutorials and quick online guides offer convenience, they often miss the subtle, internal mechanics that define authentic Tai Chi. Master Hwa’s teaching fills this gap by:

• Demystification of internal energy through the biomechanics of Round Form
• Prioritizing precision over aesthetics through Square Form
• Building health and martial power through correct structure and movement
• Preserving a lineage from Wu Chien Chuan via Grand Master Young Wabu  

 

As students noted:

J. R., New York 

The longer I'm with Tai Chi, the more I'm impressed by a teacher's ability/desire to explain things to students rather than the variety of forms they teach. What Stephen Hwa teaches online and by book is the best explanation I've come across in 30 years of practicing and teaching Tai Chi, and I've told him that. I should add that it is now my 50th year of practicing and teaching. I have been with Master Hwa since 2003.  He has instituted an online "Teachable Course"  which is excellent.  It has the use of 2 cameras in many of the lessons which is a real plus.  https://classical-tai-chi.teachable.com/  The prices are really great in an era where in-person instruction often takes private lessons and many $$$.

 

T. M., Virginia

I am shocked that I can learn from your DVD so readily. I was apprehensive about learning from a DVD, since my previous lessons with a teacher in a class had not gone very smoothly. Your teaching is so thorough and orderly. DVD's capabilities of play in slow motion repetitively at will and from different angles are more suitable for learning than classroom learning.

 

T. C., Washington

The key element, for me, is the "Internal Discipline" which Dr. Hwa presents so clearly. In my experience of trying out different taijiquan styles and teachers, this information and guidance on "internal discipline" is scarce. If you study Wu style with him, you're very fortunate. I had no idea that a direct student of Wu Jianquan's was lived and taught here in the U.S. I first read about Young Wabu in an article that appeared  in "Qi" magazine.