1. HEALTH AND STRENGTH WITH TAI CHI 1. What is an internal martial art?

 

 Video Link

From Stephen Hwa's book: "Uncovering the Treasure, Classical Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy and Health" @ Amazon, Streamlined Online course at Teachable and Overview from the DVD series. Thanks to Master Stephen Hwa for his permission to publish this video here. This video is from Master Hwa's streamlined online course. The video link is to an "unlisted" version; only students with the link can see the video. 

 

Introduction "There are so many books, classes, and styles of tai chi today. There is talk of internal energy in many of them. Yet, the definition could be more precise, and the route to achieving it is unexplained. Join me in uncovering the crucial missing pieces to truly understanding Tai Chi, i.e., the internal energy that powers Tai Chi movements and the learning program to develop such energy. How various components in the Tai Chi teaching program, such as Large Frame and Compact Frame Form, Square and Round Form, silk reeling exercises, etc., fit into the learning program are discussed in detail. It will show that Tai Chi's abilityto mobilize the body's energy and deliver it efficiently s one of the prime reasons distinguishing it as a martial art. It is the cultivation of this internal energy that produces the most significant health benefits of Tai Chi."

Internal Exercise for Power and Vitality

  

Video link

Connecting arm to core "advanced"

Explanation of the Movements Section 1: Connecting Arm Movements with the Movement of the Torso (Upper Quarter Body Movements)This choreographically simple movement requires subtle and demanding neuromuscular control. It is the most advanced Internal Move in Tai Chi.

 Articulating basic and essential concepts (such as lowering the shoulder - by dropping the elbow and how to connect the elbow to the abdomen) and making them accessible by demonstration and metaphor ("stick-shift). The instruction is generous and insightful and shows a craft-like path to becoming consciously competent. The student demonstration is quite helpful - as a contrast and teaching. 

 

About 15 years ago, filming Tao of Martial Applications, I asked my teacher Master Stephen Hwa Ph.D. Chemical Engineer “People from large and medium frames want to use internal discipline; why not?” Stephen Hwa: “The mechanics are different” So I wrote this: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐢 “𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦” 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐢 “𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦” 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞.”

Key Points In Beginning Part Of Round Form Youtube video

Key Points in Beginning Part of Round Form video link 

Correction of common mistakes of beginners learning Tai Chi Round Form.

 Thanks for this, Master Hwa. The "common mistakes" are indeed endemic.  There is indeed lots of "outward arm movement" in Tai Chi. If one has learned other Tai Chi, It is hard to remove from the "subconscious" when learning "internally". 

 

I gave up the "other" Tai Chi and those mistakes I learned when I began studying with you in 2003. I gave up the Karate, Taekwondo, and Tai Chi I had learned previously when I began studying with the Wu Family in Toronto, mid "the 80's", I was told I had to because I was teaching it. 

 

I know your teacher Young Wabu was told to give them up and gave up the martial arts he had learned previously when he began studying with Wu Chien Chuan.  I think there is an imperative people do not think of and that is what they learned previously is "subconscious".  So when I studied in Toronto, for instance, I had a hard time not kicking like I did with Taekwondo and it created many problems in learning Wu's Style Tai Chi.It really showed up in "free sparring".

 

 

 

 

Daily walking and how to benefit from Tai Chi

 Daily walking benefit video link

 

 "𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬" 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Classical Tai Chi (a moving Qigong) NY & Ca. Sifu and certified teacher since 2003, Jim Roach:  Each Tai Chi style of 4 I did since 1976 (as Wu Family disciple and teacher too) did not do this, but with Master Stephen Hwa since 2003, I do. Excellent video and editing on how modern-day homo sapiens walk. My understanding of Australopithecus afarensis makes me think their strong musculature in the core contributed much to how old walking is described in this video. I also understand that they could throw rocks very well and, in large groups, defend themselves from predators and take down prey. Throwing rocks very well was undoubtedly attributable to the core dexterity and strength discussed in the Sports and Tai Chi videos on Youtube. One thinks a 12-year-old kid has that strength and agility. In contrast, their Dad, in older age, could not throw a baseball as fast because of (Uncovering the Treasure quote) "...internal rigor mortis...".

Master Hwa in Uncovering the Treasure, p. 66: Once, I was giving a workshop and teaching attendees the Tai Chi walk, and one person said, "Oh, this is how tribal people walk." I wonder if all humans walked like this while we humans were still living in an unpaved world. If we didn't, we would all be limping due to stepping into a hole in the grass or slipping on the mud flats."
Sifu Jim R. :