Who writes this Blog?

I am with Master Stephen Hwa in Rochester, NY, 2006 and as his senior student I became his first certified teacher. 

 I am the author and driving force behind the Classical Tai Chi Blog. 

The role is multifaceted:

• Author & Instructor: I’m a certified teacher and practitioner of Classical Tai Chi with over 50 years of experience, 23 of those under his tutelage, and I use the blog to share personal insights, practical advice, and detailed technique corrections. 
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• Lineage Holder: I am fortunate to be the senior student of Dr. Stephen Hwa, who was a direct student of Yang WaBu, a disciple of Wu Chien Chuan, the founder of Wu style Taijiquan. Besides being one of the 1st disciples of Wu Kwong Yu, Classical Tai Chi places me within a direct lineage to the art's origins. 
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• Preserving Principles: Through the blog, the aim is to focus on preserving and explaining the core principles of Classical Tai Chi, emphasizing internal mechanics, proper alignment, and the circulation of internal energy, often referencing the Tai Chi Classics. 

My training background in Classical Tai Chi is rooted in two key lineages:

• I began studying Tai Chi in 1976, learning both the Yang and Wu styles. 
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• I am a direct student of Master Stephen Hwa, Ph.D., a leading figure in Classical Tai Chi and a student of Grandmaster Young Wabu. 
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• I also studied directly with Wu Kwong Yu (Eddie Wu), the great-grandson of Wu Chien Chuan (the founder of Wu style Taijiquan), and was formally recognized as one of his disciples in a ceremony. 

This dual mentorship under Stephen Hwa and Eddie Wu sets a place within a direct and respected lineage of the art. 

Master Stephen Hwa profoundly influenced my practice by introducing me to the underlying principles of "Internal Discipline" that unify Tai Chi's complex. As I said, I was immediately "fascinated" when I began studying with Hwa in 2003. Master Hwa’s analytical and scientific teaching methodology emphasizes core-driven movement rather than external muscle tension, and provides the deep, principled understanding I sought. This mentorship revealed to me "how deep this wonderful art is" and solidified my commitment to preserving and teaching Classical Tai Chi in accordance with these fundamental internal mechanics.

I have applied Master Stephen Hwa's principles of "Internal Discipline" by focusing my training on core-driven movement and eliminating extraneous actions. That training is to ensure all motion originates from the abdomen and back, not from isolated limb actions, and is practiced with a specific "martial intent" (Yi) for each movement. 

It is work to eliminate "localized impulses"—small, unconscious tensions or flicks in the hands, fingers, and feet—that disrupt the flow of internal energy. This includes fully relaxing the toes when lifting a leg, allowing the lower leg to hang naturally, and ensuring movements are crisp and deliberate, especially in the Square Form. With Square Form, one uses pauses at the end of movements to check alignment, relaxation, and mental focus. 

Intuition? Not always…

In Classical Tai Chi (Wu Style Small Frame), one may intuit that all movements are internal whereas in fact they are external, yes that’s “intuition” for you. 

Contrary to this “intuition,” the small circle is counterintuitive. "Counter-Intuition" refers to the practice of Internal Discipline, where external movements are strictly prohibited if they do not originate from the body's core. 

Intuition? Not always video link!

Unlike many forms that focus on flowing arm movements, Classical Tai Chi methodology emphasizes that the limbs should remain relatively still or "engaged" while the torso does the work. 

Counter-Intuitive Principles

• Core Over Limbs: Standard intuition suggests using the shoulder muscles to move the arms; however, the Art teaches that the abdominal and back muscles must move the arms.
• Pulling, Not Pushing: While most people naturally push off the back foot to move forward, Classical Tai Chi requires using the front foot to pull the body forward by engaging the core.
• Stillness as Movement: The "Square Form" training method is designed to teach the student to keep most of the body perfectly still while moving only one specific part—a concept described as harder to master than the movement itself. 

Correct Body Structure

Classical Tai Chi structure is built on the interaction of Yin and Yang within the torso to generate internal power. 

• Internal Junctions: Every movement has a "junction" where a moving part (Yang) works against a stationary part (Yin). In authentic internal movement, this junction must reside in the torsorather than the joints (shoulders, hips, or knees).
• Quadrants of the Body: Movements often utilize only a "quarter" of the body (e.g., the upper-left quadrant) while the other three-quarters act as a solid supporting structure.
• Vertebral Folding: Instead of simple waist turning, the structure uses "folding along the vertebrae," where one side of the back folds in while the other remains stationary to create torque.
• Engaged Arms/Legs: Arms and shoulders must follow the core with minimal independent motion. Moving an arm independently is considered a "weak link" that disrupts the flow of internal energy.

Training Progression

1. Square Form: A "blueprint" for beginners that uses distinct, paused movements to ensure correct internal discipline without taking shortcuts.
2. Round Form: The continuous, fluid version where the pauses are removed, but the internal core-driven mechanics remain identical to the Square Form

Classical Tai Chi is "Non-Intuitive"

 

The psychology of practitioners who study a demanding, disciplined style like Classical Wu Style Tai Chi—which emphasizes Internal Discipline, structural integrity, and martial application—yet challenge their instructors, often stems from a combination of ego, incomplete understanding, and the unique challenges of learning complex, non-intuitive movements. 

 

Tao Te Ching also provides "Non-Intuitive" wisdom in Chapter 2.

When everyone in the world sees beauty,

Then ugly exists.

When everyone sees good,

Then bad exists.

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "Non-intuitive" describes

something not easily understood, learned, or grasped through instinct or common sense, often requiring conscious effort or explanation. It indicates a lack of immediate clarity or self-explanation. Common synonyms include unintuitive, counterintuitive, complex, and subtle

Based on principles of martial arts psychology and the specific context of Classical Tai Chi, here is an analysis of that behavior:

 

1. The "Mid-Journey" Illusion of Knowledge

• False Confidence Phase: Studies of student progression show that after 1–2 years, students often develop a "false sense of understanding". They have mastered basic forms and feel confident, yet lack the depth to realize how much they don't know regarding Internal Discipline.
• Misinterpreting "Softness": Because Classical Tai Chi focuses on relaxation rather than brute strength, beginners may mistakenly believe that any application of force or structural alignment is "incorrect" or "not real Tai Chi," leading them to challenge instructors who are teaching the necessary structural conditioning. 

 

2. Defensiveness and Cognitive Dissonance

• Framework Mismatch: Students who have learned a different, perhaps "softer" or more dance-like version of Tai Chi often become defensive when confronted with a "classical," harder, or more martial approach. Challenging the teacher is a way to defend their previous, less effective training.
• Ego Defense: The process of learning Tai Chi requires relaxing and letting go of the ego. When a student's ego is tied to being "good" or "advanced," they may act out when corrected to protect their self-image, rather than embracing the "empty cup" mentality required for learning. 

 

3. Misalignment of Goals (Martial vs. Wellness)

• The Pursuit of "Magic": Classical Tai Chi emphasizes that internal energy  is generated through strict alignment and physical training, not magic. Students looking for an effortless or purely spiritual practice may argue with a teacher who forces them to do the difficult physical work required for real internal power.
• Disdain for Proper Structure: When a teacher emphasizes the precise mechanics required for martial application, a student focused only on light exercise may feel this is unnecessary or "wrong," which can lead to conflict. 

 

4. Psychological Barriers

• Self-Sabotage: When faced with the difficulty of training their bodies to move in new ways, students may sabotage their progress by arguing with the instructor to avoid the uncomfortable, humbling reality that they are not progressing as fast as they think.
• "Imposter Syndrome": Paradoxically, some students who argue do so because they are insecure and, once they feel the "deeper levels" of training, feel the need to argue to cover up their fear of not being able to achieve it. 

 

Stephen Hwa’s teaching emphasizes that true understanding requires strict adherence to internal principles over the long term. Those who tell teachers they "know better" often possess a "fixed mindset," believing their current, limited understanding is the pinnacle of the art.

Seeing the truth about knee use

Link The truth about knee use

 

“Seeing the truth is a gift”

Knee injuries do not happen only to older people.  

People often resist using logical principles, even when they get clear feedback and advice from experts. This is a big problem.

Over the past 50 years, I studied with five teachers. Four of those experiences were rough, and one led to chondromalacia patella, which means my knee cartilage softened. When I asked questions, I often got short or even unfriendly answers.

 

In 1978, sports doctors diagnosed my knee problem. They asked me to show what I was doing and warned, “…omigosh, that can get worse…”.  Some teachers never explained how to avoid injury. Only Master Stephen Hwa who is a noted Chemical Engineer, gave clear, science-based answers in simple, caring language. He became my fifth teacher 23 years ago. 

 

I once told him, '…I was reading about your accomplishments, and I saw what you did just with your patent for wiper blades. That alone tells me you understand the science regarding shear force and torque…'

 

Re. Engineers and knee injuries in Classical Tai Chi

An engineer, even without medical training, would likely understand knee torque and displacement. These ideas are based on mechanics and physics, which are central to engineering.

 

Here's why:

• Core Principles: Biomechanics is the study of how mechanical principles apply to living things. It uses engineering principles such as Newtonian mechanics, kinematics, and dynamics to understand the human body. Engineers learn these topics in their training. Education in physics, Newtonian mechanics, kinematics, and materials science provides a direct and powerful lens for analyzing biomechanics.
• Torque (rotational force) and displacement (change in position or angle) are basic ideas that engineers use all the time. Using these concepts to understand the knee is a natural step for them.
• Engineers use math, modeling, and problem-solving to study complex systems. These skills help them understand the forces and movements in the human body. They sometimes create computer models of the musculoskeletal system.
• Engineers may not know as much about anatomy or the body's healing process as doctors do, but they understand force and motion very well. That’s why engineers often team up with orthopedic surgeons for research, prosthetic design, and surgical planning.

Classical Tai Chi focuses on preventing knee injuries, which often happen because of poor technique or twisting. With more than 40 years of experience, Master Hwa teaches that doing Tai Chi correctly should make your knees stronger and healthier, not hurt them.

 

These are the main ideas and techniques for keeping your knees safe in this method:

Key Principles for Protecting Your Knees

• Move from the Waist: In Tai Chi, the twist should start at your waist, not your knee. Turning from the waist helps protect the meniscus from strain.
• Knee Alignment: Your knee should always line up with your toes. It should never drop or twist inward when you shift your weight.
• Proper Weight Transfer: Shift your weight smoothly, without rocking or bobbing. Otherwise, you might put too much pressure on your knees.
• Continuous Internal Movement: The movements should flow smoothly, which helps your joints move safely.