Legendary Master Wu Chien Chuan demonstrated how to protect spine and back.

Legendary Master Wu Chien Chuan demonstrated how to protect the spine and back.  Youtube link

Grandmaster Wu Chien Chuan is doing a forward, push forward, leaning move. The picture with the red curved line, and the subsequent video, with a directional red arrow, shows a common posture that many Tai Chi practitioners use nowadays. This type of structure occurs when many practitioners attempt a “ forward push forward lean “ posture. 

Please, notice his body has a bend in the region of the Lumbar spine and hip joint area. So any stress or weight coming down will concentrate on that bent area. It is called a “stress concentration area”, There is such “stress concentration, especially if a student with such structure is doing sparring exercise and applying a force to the opponent or an opponent is applying a force to him. This additional force will all concentrate in the stress concentration area in that bend. So a wrong move like this could easily squeeze the disc from his Lumbar area and alter its position. 

Grandmaster Wu, his body structure is a straight line in this posture. He was actually stretching his body from his neck down to the Achilles heel of the back foot. That body is stretched, and the spine is also stretched so the force is coming down from his body. The force is transmitted down through the spine, through the leg to the heel, and absorbed by the ground.

This book is an introduction to a vast topic

 A very well-written review by an unknown author on Amazon: "I have had an interest in Tai Chi for years. I came across Stephen Hwa's material online a little over 2 months ago and I felt it was a bit different than what I had read about Tai Chi. I bought his introductory and martial arts application DVD and then received this book then purchased his forms DVD set.

This book is an introduction to a vast topic. It is given in a concise yet casual, easy-to-read style. It is not meant to teach the entire Tai Chi form but the principles that the form is based on. "Classical Tai Chi" is the form transmitted to Stephen Hwa from his teacher Young Wabu from his teacher, the very famous Wu Chien Chuan, son of Yang Luchan, the founder of Wu style Tai Chi. This form uses "small circle" or "small frame" movements which rely on more use of "internal discipline" versus most other forms.

Internal discipline in my humble understanding is the use of "core" muscles in the abdomen and back to add remarkable power to the already maximally optimized mechanics of Tai Chi moves. The small movements actually allow the core muscles to kick in and increase the power of the moves. Conversely, large frame movements are great for strengthening the limb muscles but may dissociate their movements from the core. The core movements elicit an unusual sensation of flow through the torso and in the body which feels like stretching and tingling like an energy flow.

Based on my current understanding it would take years of practice to learn to fully harness the internal discipline, yet I have noticed even a beginner like myself can benefit from the appreciation of proper mechanics as taught in Classical Tai Chi and the first awareness of the use of our torso muscles in coordination with the limbs. I believe both beginners and advanced students of Tai Chi will benefit from the mystique-free insights in this book. However, I feel that experiential confirmation of benefits may elude those who do not continue to explore the art and science. This knowledge is applicable to daily life and is free of dogmatic rules and so should be enjoyable to those who like to understand what they are learning."

Peace

IMPORTANCE OF MARTIAL ARTS INTENT TO INTERNAL ENERGY AND QI FLOW

IMPORTANCE OF MARTIAL ARTS INTENT TO INTERNAL ENERGY AND QI FLOW VIDEO 

太极拳 ( Taijiquan / Tàijíquán ) is composed of these characters: 太 (tai), 极 (ji), 拳 (quan) and translates to English as "Tai Chi". The "Chi" in the Han pinyin is pronounced "gee" and is not the same as (气 the "vital energy" QI FLOW that Master Hwa talks about here). The difference in pronunciation between "ji" and "Qi" is the position of the tongue on the palate. One might say that in the West "Tai Chi" is pronounced incorrectly and is not "chee" like Cheese but is more like "gee".

When one learns "Tai Chi", that learning must be good for the purposes of health and martial art. So there is much to be learned about practicing Tai Chi with Martial Intent or 意 "Yi"

"Importance of Playing Tai Chi Form With Martial Arts Intent to Internal Energy & Qi Flow"

I find it fascinating that Classical Tai Chi (Taijiquan) was once so highly regarded as not only the most capable but also the most polished martial art of its time. The royal families of China were undoubtedly protected by individuals who were extremely proficient in the art. When the sun set on the need for personal martial skills the door opened so that the general populace could be taught.

One does not hear the use of the word "Quan" along with Tai Chi in most classes today, however, I always heard it used in my study of Wu's Style at Wu's Academy in Toronto, Canada. A statement might be: "It is time to do our chuan" (Wade Giles) which would precede the group playing the form as a whole. I wonder if the term is still used because I see a store full of so-called "competitive" and "shortened" versions being touted.

However, with the teaching of the world as it were, the degradation and demise of the art thus began. What we have nowadays as a supposed "legacy" is in the majority of cases merely a shallow and insipid caricature. I am not impressed whatsoever by even the most "athletic" performances as competition routines, to say nothing of so-called "new age" Tai Chi.

Importance of the "Back Foot"

Importance of the "Back Foot" 

 

A Review of Tai Chi walking 

 

Body Forward Lean (import of back foot during push hands)
 

Along with several other requirements a proper forward lean posture requires the back foot to be firmly on the ground. Let's emphasize the import of "Tai Chi Walk" in order to do good "Push Hands": 

 

When one demonstrates Tai Chi Form to students, their attention will always be attracted to the upper body movements first and neglect the "foot work". The back foot's heel is to be firmly on the ground and creates problems when it is not. The head, the body and the back leg form a straight line in the lean forward. Under this structure, you will feel a strong stretch from the top of the head down to the Achilles' tendon and heel of the back foot. The stretch of the back foot counter balances the leaning forward ability of the body, thus allowing one to lean forward even more. 

 

While doing Tai Chi walk, the upper body is kept relaxed with two hands hanging limp on the side of the body. This is the first lesson on how to keep clear a differential between the energized and the relaxed parts of the body working side by side. Even in such simple case, many students have trouble
keeping the upper body relaxed in the beginning. This exercise teaches the proper body posture, feet positions, body weight distribution, and unique walking dynamics. In addition, it is a very effective exercise, tuning every aspect of the lower body including the lower back.

 

The three main characteristics of this
exercise are:
I. using core power for leg movements, such as
lifting and stretching the leg
2. keeping the body's center of gravity under
control, not allowing the body to fall forward as
in the common walking motion
3. pulling the body forward or backward not pushing
by the leg.

 

The last move involves primarily the use of the power of the core (described as contracting abdominal muscle inward) together with the pull of the lead foot to move the body. A longtime student, Bill, describes the sensation of this move as if the body is being sucked forward or backward. This is the crucial step for converting the walking motion into an entirely internal movement.
 

Normally, during walking, one uses the back foot to push when walking forward and the front foot to push when walking backward. The pushing motion by the leg muscle is entirely external and it also engages both feet stuck to the ground until the body completes its move. In other words, it is a double weighted move. In the case of pulling forward instead of pushing forward, the back foot has no responsibility for pushing. It is free to be lifted and moved thereby improving the mobility of the
person.

 

 The same is true for the backward walk. This is one of the advantages from a martial arts application viewpoint. Certainly during applications, there are situations favoring "push" or situations favoring "pull". For example, when an opponent is coming at you, you want to adhere (stick) to him and sit back to neutralize the incoming force. You certainly do not want to add to his incoming force by pushing your body back with the front foot. Instead, you want to use the back foot and core to control the pull back and at the same time plant the front foot's heel on the ground to absorb some of the incoming force by pulling on the body. "Push" is a natural move and It is further developed and strengthened in the Large Frame Form. On the other hand, "pull" with the core is a learned technique for almost everyone I know and is only developed in the Compact Frame Form.

 

 

Sticking to the opponent in "Fa Jing"

Sticking to the opponent in "Fa Jing"

If one wants to get better at Tai Chi, it requires sensitivity to opponents' movement, the ability to ting jin, stick to the opponent, and intelligence under pressure. I see no reason why any of that cannot be maintained into old age. Even Western Boxing's clinch (before it became the disgraceful stalling tactic it is now) could be said to have once relied on some semblance of sensitivity. Even with that, the bout between Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes went to grappling and trapping range 10 times in the first three minutes...once every 18 seconds. This means "practicing push hands and sparring to develop sensitivity and finesse" with a variety of opponents.

How can anyone expect to develop sticking from just practicing the form?   I see no place where Master Hwa promises a "flowering" of self defense ability. Additionally, no one ever promised folks "Pie in the Sky" in Classical Tai Chi and on the contrary the limitations of what we do have been spelled out even more than I got at Wu's Tai Chi Academy.  Learning to stick to opponent in close quarters   This step requires a willing and trusted partner and ones own willing participation. How to learn to spar with Tai Chi, particularly  if one can find an other style martial art partner , particularly one who is physically stronger then they will find the guy will just ram down your centerline and smash you out of the way. . Then you have  to stick with his smashing, not run away.

 

As one gets older, they are no longer going to be the fastest or strongest so they have to rely on feeling out the opponent.  If one can't beat with speed then you  have to stick.  This does not mean you are not going to get hit.  In his fight with a Hard Style opponent, Wu Gong Yi was limited by rules not to stick, if he could, then I think things would be much different and perhaps not "called a draw". 

 

It is indicative of modern-day Tai Chi where mistakes are made,  if no one is there to correct, it ends up being good exercise but it is definitely not Tai Chi. Classical Tai Chi has to be good for both health AND martial purposes. The martial teaches one to "stick" by first touching then following the opponent's movements. In many Internet pictures of “Tai Chi” practitioners are not being corrected when arm , legs go in wrong directions (which muddles your senses and one can infer they are training to follow only themselves, not an opponent) is indicative of modern Tai Chi.  A good example of sticking shown in the video of Master Hwa is that in certain instances Tai Chi trains one to vigorously follow the opponent.

Tai Ch Form for Power

 

Grandmaster Wabu Young: “I know you, you do not know me” no doubt to a student who did not “get it” what Form does vs what Push Hands does. 

 ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴠɪꜱɪᴛ ᴍʏ ᴄʟᴀꜱꜱ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴀᴛ ʙᴜꜰꜰᴀʟᴏ ꜱᴛᴀᴛᴇ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴛʏ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀꜱᴛ 4 ᴅᴇᴄᴀᴅᴇꜱ ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ! ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴀʀᴛɪᴀʟ ᴀʀᴛ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ "ᴋɪᴄᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜᴛᴛ" ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴅɪꜱʀᴇꜱᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ HIM. ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, "...ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴇᴛ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ᴘʜʏꜱɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ..."   "ᴀʟꜱᴏ, ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱᴇʟꜰ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇᴍ"? 

ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴘᴜᴢᴢʟᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, "...ɪꜰ ɪ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴇ ᴀ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ꜰᴀꜱᴛ, ꜱᴛʀᴏɴɢᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ..."  ɪ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴꜱᴛʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ᴏɴ ʜɪꜱ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀ,, ᴜᴘᴘᴇʀ ᴄʜᴇꜱᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ. ɪɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇꜱ, ᴀ ɢᴇɴᴛʟᴇ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴜꜱɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ ꜱʟᴏᴡ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʀᴀɢ ᴅᴏʟʟ.   ʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, "...ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴇᴇᴍꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ; ʜᴏᴡ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ..."?   “…glad you asked, Tai Chi Form…develops power….spar and push hands…sensitivity and finesse…”!

Proper alignment and structure

"Proper Alignment and Structure in Classical Tai Chi"

Discussion and why its a Treasure from Uncovering The Treasure: Classical Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy & Health Paperback – May 12, 2010
by Stephen Hwa (Author)



Master Hwa correcting for proper structure and alignment. In the photos below, there is a correct structure with a straight line and there is an incorrect curved line. 

"The other topic discussed in great detail in this book is the body structure or alignment in Tai Chi Form and ts applications. Proper body structure or alignment is essential to the mobilization and delivery of energy and qi flow. It is also essential to maintain healthy joints in the body for the long haul. Therefore, some of these discussions delve deep into the nitty-gritty of the movements not usually seen in other Tai Chi books which usually emphasize the ethereal aspects of Tai Chi.

I sense there is an unspoken belief among modern Tai Chi practitioners that as long as one has the right mental state, almost any movement is a Tai Chi movement. As a result, infinite varieties of Tai Chi Forms sprout everywhere. Those early Masters who developed Classical Tai Chi Form must have had in-depth knowledge about body mechanics and its effect on joint health and energy transmission and generation in the body. They meticulously incorporated their knowledge into every move in the Tai Chi Form. After all, a bad posture will stop internal energy generation and qi flow. No mental state or wishful thinking can overcome that.
That is the reason why I pay so much attention to the details of the movements in the discussion.

The material in this book is based on the teaching from my teacher Young Wabu, who was a student of the legendary master Wu Chien Chuan. From the beginning, I was attracted to Young's teaching not only for its impact on my body's well-being but also for its logical, rational, and scientific approach. Fifty years of studying this art is truly a road of discovery. I am constantly surprised by discoveries of its benefits, its power, and its exquisite structure created by Masters of the past.

At first glance, it appears to be very complex, but gradually it becomes simpler because every element in it, no matter how minor it is, follows certain rules, and these rules form a logical structure with calculated, scientific reasoning behind it. Every element is optimized toward two objectives; martial art applications and health benefits. As a result, every element is tightly coupled with other elements even though they may appear to be unrelated. The entire structure is rooted in Chinese philosophy. It is truly a world heritage treasure."

 

 

90th Birthday Celebration of Family

Jerry Dennerline

Professor of History and Asian Studies

Amherst College

Wrote the following (italics) about the Hua Family. Jim R. "We now live in California, and our property has numerous "California Pepper Trees."  I recently discovered that swarms of Bees love those trees.  My interest in apiculture is totally piqued. As Master Hwa's 90th birthday approaches this month, I'd like to take this opportunity to post information about a book I bought in 2016  that I thoroughly enjoy now even more. "

( Stephen Hwa family surname is Hua. This is a book about his family and Hua Yizhi, noted as the "Father of Apiculture in China." )

"Hua Yizhi was both a remarkable man and the product of a unique society in a remarkable time. Heir to a family tradition of classical study, literary and artistic excellence, and local social engagement and leadership that endured for several centuries, he melded the values inherited from this tradition with the perspicacity of a modern agrarian entrepreneur. Surviving both the loss of his parents and the cataclysmic political events of the early 20th century in the small town of Dangkou in Eastern China, he expanded on the recent commercial, educational, and charitable successes of his grandfather's generation to become one of the region's most respected advocates of scientific and socially responsible rural development. A pioneer of scientific beekeeping in China as well as a sponsor of universal modern and progressive education in rural communities, he not only earned the nickname of "China's Bee King" but also helped chart his community's path through the darkest years of war and social violence to a more hopeful future. Cao Zhi Ding deserves credit for his devoted attention to factual detail, based on both archives and interviews, in balancing his abundantly evident respect for Hua Yizhi and bringing his story to life."

When you watch Tai Chi, just watch

 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuaAe9nON9n/...==

DID YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU WATCH THIS OR ANY VIDEO FOR THAT MATTER, THE VIDEO STIMULI THAT ARE NOT CONSCIOUSLY PERCEIVED CAN STILL BE PERCEIVED LATER?

Jim R. said: Maureen Keough missed some key points because she tried to do something from a Teachable video AS she was watching. Don’t be intimidated by the challenge of how much there is to learn. Take the time to sit and watch, then watch any video repeatedly in one sitting.

Maureen said: I am trying now to watch when I am watching and to practice when I am practicing. I hope that makes sense!

Master Stephen Hwa: Yes, definitely, you need to just concentrate on watching-visual learning will subconsciously improve your movements

An experienced birdwatcher recognizes many more details in a bird's plumage than the ordinary person. Thanks to extensive training, he or she can identify specific features in the plumage. This learning process is not only dependent on conscious processes. Previous research has shown that when people are rewarded during the presentation of visual stimuli that are not consciously perceivable, they can still perceive these stimuli afterward.
https://medicalxpress.com/tags/learning+process/
https://medicalxpress.com/.../2021-03-brain-subconscious....

The Science of Tai Chi from an Engineer

Youtube link to video 

I talk about this video: "Master Hwa has said his background as an Engineer helped him learn. I'm sure that background helps him pass on Classical Tai Chi so it is not lost to the sands of time. Here he talks about Springs as intrinsic musculature that uses Internal Energy through the methodology of Internal Discipline. He also speaks of springs while "...in the springtime of life..." at 89. When a force applies to linked springs, the same pressure applies to each spring. So, your arm is linked to the shoulder and the core, not the hip joints. When three springs connect in series, the result is a longer and flimsier total spring, depending on how much force is absorbed or deployed. That applies if springs are the same size. However, an "arm" is weak, a "shoulder spring" is somewhat stronger, and a core/waist/abdomen&back "spring" is the strongest. Since the springs have different spring constants, the displacements are different. So, pushing with internal energy from the core delivers the strongest force first, and the "weaker" springs fall into place to deliver Fajin (a burst of power)."

I told him: "Very thought-provoking, thank you, Sir! The closed captions instead of default are quite thoughtful. I think this will be the “gold standard” for Tai Chi regarding Scientific thought. The analysis and subsequent redesign to accurately reflect the science you learned from your teacher is quite an accomplishment. Not only that, but as shown in the content and presentation, it seems to reach all levels for the betterment of others and is quite admirable."

Internal Movement

 A primer on internal movement for internal rigor mortis!

The Tai Chi Classics say:

“A feather cannot be placed, 

a fly cannot alight 

on any part of the body.”

Some reasoning why we move slowly in Classical Tai Chi forms a rule that works for all varieties of sensory perception, including sensations of muscular effort. So, imagine you are holding a one pound weight in your hand while blindfolded. If a fly or a feather landed on the weight you would not know the difference, but if a little bird landed you would know. Now imagine holding a fifty pound weight.  You wouldn't be able to feel the little bird landing. It would have to be an eagle. The point is that when you increase the weight from one pound to fifty pounds, you become about fifty times less sensitive to changes in the amount of muscular force you are using to lift the weight.

Why do we care? Because if you want to make your Tai Chi movement more efficient, you have to be aware of when you are working too hard. If you slow down and thereby increase your ability to sense differences in muscular effort level, you increase ability to sense and correct any extra movement and unnecessary effort. You will be much better able to sense and inhibit this inefficient moves by moving very slowly and easily. By contrast, if you move fast and hard, you will never be able to sense and correct the problem.

There is a variety of ways to do simple movements in life, different angles for the joints to assume and literally different muscle activation patterns to execute them. As you age, you will likely use less and less of these movement possibilities until you are stuck in a narrow range of options. For example, there may be a chance you have one or two thoracic vertebrae that almost never turn to the right. You had an operation and just stopped moving that way one might say “internal rigor mortis” has set in. 

You are wondering about this, good!  The answer is yes!  Classical Tai Chi can put you back in touch with with an increase of movement options, so you can start “living in the springtime of life”.