Square & Round Form Compared

 Several general characteristics between the Classical Tai Chi Square and Round Form 

国

Classical Wu Style

Square

and Round Form

Stephen Hwa

Produced June 2016

Classical Wu Style Tai Chi Square and Round Form

Youtube Video

Round and Square Form Video

Reference found at Amazon: “Uncovering The Treasure: Classical Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy & Health” Stephen Hwa, Ph.D

Page 44, 45

“I want to compare several general characteristics between the Square and Round Form. Not every move in Square Form is internal. It is preparatory training for the Round Form, which is internal in all its movements. Every movement in the Square Form has a clear starting point and ending point with a stop between the moves. The movement between these two points is usually in a straight line and done very crisply and resolutely. Directional changes are usually carried out at these two points. 

These characteristics are opposite to the Round Form, which should have a continuous movement with no apparent starting or ending point. The hand movements are mostly rounded with few straight-line movements.

Therefore, directional changes do not appear at a point but are incorporated into the movement itself as a smooth curvature. Also, the movement in the Round Form should be deliberate and thoughtful instead of crisp and resolute. 

People are often surprised at the direct opposite requirement between the Square and Round Form. This is not unique. Just think about how one learns the art of calligraphy. One first learns how to write in print form, then learns the cursive.

Generative summary

The Square Form also avoids using upper quarter-body movements and other advanced internal movements. These advanced internal movements will only be taught in the Round Form. As a result, some of the movements in the Square Form are different from the Round Form. In the Round Form, the hand does not contact the body. However, there is no such restriction in the Square Form.

I have emphasized the differences between the Square and Round Forms in the above discussions. Actually, there is more sameness than difference. The Square Form fully develops the Internal Discipline of lower body movements. Lower body movements are the foundation of Tai Chi. Poor footwork and poor lower body posture will prevent one from learning Internal Discipline later. It is logical to learn the lower body movements first. In fact, a Square Form lesson by itself is called 'Tai Chi Walk. This should be the first lesson for the student.

Upper Body Turning a Lesson

Example of  a Move Using Internal Discipline

Upper Body Turning a Lesson  a Video

(Reframed from Uncovering The Treasure: Classical Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy & Health

by Stephen Hwa, Ph.D.)

This is submitted as a first lesson for students who are new to the art and as reference for all.

 

Turning the Upper Body

 

Try to stand two feet parallel to each other, about shoulder-width apart. Then, turn the body without moving the feet. Most people who have not been trained in classical Tai Chi will turn at the hip, carrying the torso with it, while the legs will twist following the hip.

 

This is a weak external move without much power, and the body structure has poor balance and stability. In Classical Tai Chi, the turning move is carried out at the waist using the power of the abdomen and back, while the pelvis and the legs essentially are not moving, providing a stable framework and grounding. When this move is done correctly, a strong internal energy flow in the waist region can be felt. This move is classified as a half-body body, upper half vs. lower half. The upper body is yang (moving), while the lower body is yin (not moving). The yin-yang junction is at the waist.

 

For the beginner, the difficulty lies in the mental discipline in which all attention has to be concentrated on the core region. Any attention on the shoulder and the turning move will be partially initiated from the shoulder. One can see whether or not the shoulder is involved by making the move in front of a mirror. When done correctly, there should be no sensation feedback from the shoulder and arm. The yang part of the body, i.e., upper chest, shoulder, and arm, is relaxed, just following the movement of the waist. 

On the other hand, the yin part of the body has some complex, small, and powerful moves. The portion of the core just above the pelvis, together with the buttocks, exerts a counter-twist to keep the pelvis stable.

In other words, the upper abdominal muscle turns in one direction, carrying the yang part of the body, while the lower abdominal muscle turns slightly in the other direction to stabilize the pelvis.

 

“Qi”? ; “What Qi”?

Qi and internal energy video

 We can all pretty much make large circular movements using arms and legs.  Infants and kids can do it very well, with no Tai Chi. It does not endow you with the skills necessary to reach many angles of movement however. 

Classical Tai Chi is a small frame/small circle Tai Chi. The mechanics of a small circular movement shows one can reach every angle and reach it faster. An analogy that appeals to me is of putting a Porsche engine in a BMW. It is because of those smaller circles of internal moves and the establishment of neural/energy pathways. 

The question a long ago teacher, also a Tai Chi teacher/Mechanical Engineer in the “70’s” asked rhetorically is: "Qi? What Qi?" Master Hwa, a Chemical Engineer, with excellent mechanical understanding and the patents to show it told me about Qi or the lack thereof. If one has no energy/neural pathway established by physical internal discipline, there is no Qi. 

As a student of the last 20+ years, I know from Tuishou (private push hands) with Master Stephen Hwa that he can move in 3 dimensions, reaching all angles. Smaller circles mean being able to push along the x, y, and z-axis. I never got that in 20 years previous Tai Chi. I can assure any martial artist that working with his Neigong (internal work) lessons ensures you get Neijin (internal energy) so that “internal work/discipline = Internal energy ." A bonus is that your internal physical movements get smaller, "tighter," and smaller circles can cover all angles, which is not available with the large movement of external training.

What's your strategy to counter other martial arts?

 Classical Tai Chi comparison to other martial arts Video

 

I concern myself with "cutting" or "lengthening" my own line rather than comparing it  with "others"!

With Master Hwa!  This was very powerful and one I like to do for myself!

Before I met Master Hwa, I was a disciple of the Wu Family and yes, they are really good with Tai Chi as a martial art.
 

 

"What is your strategy to counter other martial arts?"

 

Is Tai Chi a martial art or not?

 

While tai chi is acknowledged as a martial art by those who have done their homework, its perception on the internet as a form of self-defense is often overshadowed by its reputation as a health and wellness practice. That may well be a question with no answer because martial applications are endless in number. So,these are non-rhetorical questions that you need to ask and answer for yourself.  

 

First of all, how good is your Tai Chi, how much do you practice, do you have practice partners or are you confined to Form practice, etc.?

 

What specific qualities or techniques in Tai Chi contribute to its effectiveness in martial applications? 

 

How do individual skill level and training differences impact the comparison between Tai Chi and other martial arts? 

 

In what ways could Tai Chi practitioners develop strategies to counteract other martial arts styles effectively?

 

"How can such a soft, slow-moving Tai Chi Form be preparation for martial arts?". 

 

I guess some people missed this chapter in Master Hwa's book, for he says this and then explains.  At about 4:30 of the video, we hear even a long-time student repeat the same, refrain:  "How does Tai Chi fare against Brazilian JiuJitsu?". You can listen to the refrain echoed in what seems like a thousand YouTube videos; in those same videos, you will sometimes hear the fighting capability of the individual asking the question. 

 

 

Speaking only for myself, I have never been bothered by this question; there are far more essential questions I ask of Master Hwa.  I flew to Florida over the weekend of May 11, 2013 (the Jet Blue tickets were my birthday present from my wife Barbara) and spent a great, long weekend visiting with my teacher, Master Stephen Hwa, and Eva.

 

After I wrote thank you emails, I sent a handwritten card of thanks to Master Hwa and Eva for their generosity and hospitality.  While I was there, he would come to the apartment at least 2 times a day and spend hours with me on my form; one might say I lived with him.  We ate all our meals and walked together; the training went nonstop. I asked questions about my form, and he never wavered in giving answers.   I had hour after hour to question and do my form for him.  I never thought of saying: "How does Tai Chi fare against (insert your  martial art)?" 

 

It may be because I finally realize that in my heart, there is no end to it, and more importantly, I cannot put an end to it, for it truly is endless.  How do people miss hearing him say: "There are no winning strategies, applications, etc. (insert your martial art), there are only winning executions of those strategies, applications, etc."? Listen to  4:30 of the above video in response to: "How does Tai Chi fare against Brazilian JiuJitsu"?   

Master Hwa: "You know this is all individual. We practice the form and can reach a particular stage called Mastery. You know you can learn and do the form so that every move is internal, that you don't have to think (about what comes next). You know, at that stage, you are mastering the form, BUT with martial arts application, there will be no mastery.  With martial arts applications, there is endless improvement.  So it's harder to compare one to the other.  "

 

 

"When the first Tai Chi master went to Beijing, most Tai Chi was in the countryside, and people didn't know that much. So he went to Beijing, where he liked challenging people and beating up everybody. So he went to one master there and wanted to challenge him, "Oh, I know you are better than me now," the master said.  The challenger said, "Please, let's just do some". He just wanted to try it out on other martial artists.  Sincerely, he begged the guy not just to build the name. "Let's do something"

"So in that sense, at that time, he beat up everybody; there is no other martial art that can beat him; certainly, at that time, consider your knowledge; that is another thing people do not know about Tai Chi. So people may not have developed a way to counteract it."

 

 

"Now, if you know Tai Chi, like in the fight between Wu Gong Yi and the other guy. Now, both sides know each other's art very well.  Now, I'm sure they both develop a strategy to counteract the other guy's strength. Now, the other guy, if you watch the fight video (click here for LINK). Now I know (pointing to me) you watch it many times, you find (the other guy, an "external" White Crane martial art) he changed the way; in other words, he doesn't use momentum, body momentum at all. He knows Tai Chi is good for counteracting momentum and body momentum. Body momentum is what Tai Chi is good at defending against.  And he just chopped away, using his arms, so there is no body momentum. There was just a flurry of arms without body momentum. Indeed, in that way, he cannot develop all the power. At least he tried to avoid being thrown by the Tai Chi. If Wu Gong Yi is not using Tai Chi, you cannot blame him because he is not using body momentum. 

 

 

So, at that time (and even on YouTube), people said Wu was not using Tai Chi.  He does not use Tai Chi, so he has to block it every time.  So he uses this (on the side of the hand)  and hits him (on the arms) after a while.  So, after a while, the guy's arms got tired because the muscle got hit.  So he went in and hit his nose (he walked into Wu's blocks, and his nose started bleeding profusely).  You cannot blame him for not using Tai Chi because the other guy does not use body momentum (he moves, I move; if he does not move, I do not move).  So the guy did this with his arms, and Wu did this to block him and block his chops. One of his hands he cannot raise or something."

Learn the “Internal Dynamics”

Master Stephen Hwa teaching “Fold the body like a book”. Inhibit one side of the body from moving while moving the other side.  Master Hwa and Sifu Jim Roach in Rochester, NY. 

Take away (inhibit) movement to gain movement (internal discipline) A video in which the “Folding” aka Half Body Movement is taught at 5:00!

Ms. E. Marie Koepsell, quoted from her publication “Learning the Internal Dynamics of Tai Chi,” states: “As a reference point for correct movement, Master Hwa uses the example of the movement of children, who use much more of their torso for initiating action. He says when children use their arms or legs, the motion originates from the torso, the most substantial part of the body.”

Core strength in children improves stability and balance, which are crucial for everyday activities and sports performance. A study published in the NIH database investigated the effects of core strength training on core stability in students, finding that after a 4-week training program, parameters of core stability improved, particularly in quiet sitting positions and sudden perturbation tasks.

Another study published in the NIH database explored the effect of core stability exercises on hand functions in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The research demonstrated significant improvements in hand functions after incorporating core stability exercises into the treatment program.

Regarding “improvements in hand function…”Master Hwa has also said the arms and legs should be treated as appendages that must be taught to move in coordination with and under the direction of the torso. "As we start aging,” according to Master Hwa, "less and less of our movements come from the waist and back. We hold our middle stiffly, and more of our movements originate from the shoulders and the hip joints. This puts pressure on joints, and we lose strength and mobility. “ 

Repeating what Master Stephen Hwa said: 

“…when children use their arms or legs, the motion originates from the torso, the most substantial part of the body…”! Physiology also says children’s movement development starts from the core of their body and progresses outward. This process is known as the “cephalocaudal pattern,” meaning that babies first develop control of their head and neck muscles and then gradually gain more control over their arms, legs, and other body parts as they grow.

The core muscles, including the abdominal and back muscles, are crucial for gross and fine motor skills. They provide stability and support for the spine, enabling children to maintain balance and posture. Strong core muscles are essential for walking, running, jumping, and sitting upright. Without a stable core, children may struggle with tasks that require fine motor skills, such as writing or cutting, because their energy is focused on maintaining balance.

One might then say learning Classical Tai Chi is like “…a return to childhood…”. 

Such a “…return…” is more like sculpture, taking things away from movement to accomplish movement rather than adding more movement. This results in initiating movements from the body's internal core, such as the abdomen and back, rather than from the limbs. For example, when taking a step, the movement is driven internally from the abdomen and back, transmitted through the pelvis to the legs, rather than the foot moving independently.

This internal movement is characterized by the idea that a moving part of the body (yang) works against a stationary part (yin) that provides support and power for the move. This interaction between yin and yang is essential for achieving balance and vitality in Tai Chi practice. In classical Tai Chi, this process involves inhibiting certain movements to accomplish certain other movements. Inhibiting specific movements is a key aspect of the practice, particularly the concept of “internal discipline.” 

Folding

The folding move involves one entire side of the body, arm, torso, and leg, moving as a unit. In the example shown in Video at 5:00, the right side of the body folds or unfolds by keeping the left side of the body stationary. The stationary part provides support, some power for the move, and grounding. The left side of the body is yin, and the right is yang. The yin-yang junction is at the spine. One can visualize the spine as a hinge, so each side of the body, like a door, can fold or unfold using that hinge. This is also a half-body move, right side vs. left.  From 5;00 to end of the YouTube video

See Uncovering the Treasure by Stephen Hwa Ph.D at Amazon

P. 5. 

Uncovering the Treasure

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

This move in Tai Chi classics is described as

"upper and lower body following each other”

上下相隨

Another classical description is, " hand follows the foot, elbow follows the knee, and shoulder follow the hip". This is an important example of how to make a move but still keep each side of the body' alignment intact. 

This move can be achieved only when the turning power comes from the waist and the entire back's muscles. If one uses the upper body power for this move, the lower body will not likely be able to follow upper body's move The left foot will likely be lagging behind the move to form a twisted structure on the left side of the body, greatly reducing the power of the move.

From 5;00 to end of the YouTube video, you can also observe the “Folding”effect on what is a “half body movement”. In fact he uses the term “Folding”. You hold one side still while moving the other side. You “inhibit” movement in order to do movement!

Classical Tai Chi Internal Disciplined Abdomen/Core Contraction

 Classical Tai Chi Internal Disciplined Abdomen/Core Contraction

How to contract abdomen/core to develop internal discipline Master Hwa Video

NIH referenceNIH REFERENCE ARTICLE

Contraction releases “Myokines” 

Classical Tai Chi Grandmaster Wabu Young, disciple of Wu Chien Chuan was quoted by Master Stephen Hwa as saying “…Tai Chi is not exercise…”!  To paraphrase Grandmaster Wu who also said “…every movement in tai chi has the complementary parts of Yin and Yang, …Yang is movement, Yin is stillness and that makes a “Yin/Yang Junction”; …when it is IN the body core it is an internal move, when outside the core it is an external move…”!

 

Thus: We will say that contracting the abdomen/body core with your study of Classical Tai Chi using its intense “Internal Discipline”can lead to the release of “myokines”! Myokines are proteins produced and secreted by muscle cells in response to muscle contraction. Myokines play a role in muscle physiology and can exert systemic effects on other tissues and organs.

When the abdominal/core muscles contract, they can release myokines, contributing to muscle hypertrophy, glucose and lipid metabolism, and other physiological processes. For example, the contraction of the abdominal muscle, aka the core muscles, can be practiced to engage the core correctly, as described in the Classical Tai Chi  context provided in great detail by Master Stephen Hwa. This engagement releases myokines, contributing to overall muscle health and function.

Ref. NIH: “Some specific myokines that have been identified include pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4). PEDF is a contraction-regulated myokine, although its serum levels can decrease after intense exercise. Additionally, 52 novel myokines have been identified that are not previously described as being secreted by skeletal muscle cells, indicating a complex and extensive network of muscle-derived factors.

In summary, contracting the abdomen can release myokines, which have various beneficial effects on muscle and other organs, contributing to overall health and well-being.

Myokines are peptides produced and released by skeletal muscle cells in response to muscular contractions, and they play a role in regulating metabolic functions.”

Classical Tai Chi, as beneficial to martial prowess and health that involves slow, circular body core movements (internal discipline), can be considered a form of abdominal/core contraction that stimulates the Myokine release. 

• Myokines: These are cytokines or small proteins produced by skeletal muscle cells during abdominal/ core voluntary induced contraction. They have autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine effects, meaning they can act on the muscle itself, nearby cells, or throughout the body. Myokines are involved in associated metabolic changes, tissue regeneration, and repair, among other functions.
• 
  
• Classical Tai Chi and Abdominal/Core Contraction: Classical Tai Chi involves movements that can engage various muscle groups, intensely including the abdomen. While Classical Tai Chi is not considered intense “exercise”it still involves muscular contractions that can potentially stimulate myokine production. The practice of Classical Tai Chi can improve muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, which may contribute to overall metabolic health.
• 
  
• Potential Benefits: While specific studies on the direct effects of Classical Tai Chi on myokine production are limited, the “Internal Disciplines” intense ability to engage muscles and promote overall health suggests it could contribute to the beneficial effects associated with myokines.