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.