Less Fecklessness

                               Grandmaster Wabu Young, with Great Grandmaster Wu Jianquan

          Wabu Young was the teacher of Master Stephen Hwa, who is my teacher   

Wu Jianquan was the Great Grandfather of Master Wu Kwong Yu (Eddie Wu was my teacher in Toronto Canada for a number of years and I became one of his first chosen disciples).  Wu Jianquan was an officer in the Chinese Imperial Palace Guard and taught the Guard along with Chinese Military.  Wu taught Young the "Small Circle" aka "Small Frame"  of which this Blog entails.  Although 5' 3" tall, Grandmaster Young was next in line for Master status of Gan Style Pek kwar Monkey boxing when he made the decision to study with Wu Jianquan (Wu Chien Chuan).  The study according to Grandmaster Young went on "night and day" at Young's home in Hong Kong, all of which took place during the years of Japanese invasion.

Correct Body Structure 

a video

 In my opinion: The sheer number and variety of styles, books, and videos with "feckless" talk on how to get "internal” in Tai Chi is a testament to the unfulfilled desperation of the search for it. What a great word: "feckless," and we can thank the Scottish and British for it (effects + less). In my opinion: Taking the time, as Master Stephen Hwa does in Classical Tai Chi, to explain how to "get it" shows that he cares about students, that they're important, and that what he wanted to communicate is also very important.  Master Stephen Hwa said his teacher Wabu Young could not understand why so many students are so feckless in their study of Tai Chi.

That is from many years of Tai Chi study, insights gained through observation, and an appreciation for the word "feckless," which I think fits this context perfectly. Meaning "lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible or ineffective," it accurately captures the hollow, superficial instruction that leaves so many practitioners feeling stuck.

The search for internal energy (Jin/Qi) in Tai Chi often turns into a wild goose chase because it is an internal sensation that cannot easily be seen from the outside. When teachers rely on vague, mystical, or "feckless" poetry without mechanical breakdowns, it leaves students in the unfulfilled desperation you described.

Master Stephen Hwa's approach in Classical Tai Chi is highly regarded precisely because he demystifies the practice by focusing on:

• Internal Discipline: Breaking down the specific movements of the internal organs, spine, and core (specifically the Dan Tian).

• Logical Mechanics: Moving away from abstract mysticism and instead explaining the biomechanics, leverage, and muscle releases required actually to feel and apply internal power.

• Student-Centric Teaching: Spending the effort to articulate how to achieve these states, which proves a genuine dedication to preserving the art and respecting the student's time and energy.

By providing a clear, reproducible roadmap rather than leaving students to guess in the dark, teachers like him bridge the gap between "talking" about internal power and actually cultivating it.

I hope you are currently studying Classical Tai Chi, If you subscribe I can answer comments or questions and can help look into specific biomechanical concepts Master Hwa teaches, or look up instructional materials and breakdowns of his internal discipline techniques. What specific aspect of his teaching has resonated most with your practice?