Silent Tao » Tai Chi http://silenttao.com The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:05:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Chen Tai Chi Chuan Video Teaching Commentary http://silenttao.com/2011/11/chen-tai-chi-chuan-video-teaching-commentary/ http://silenttao.com/2011/11/chen-tai-chi-chuan-video-teaching-commentary/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:54:45 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=815 Our new DVD Chen Tai Chi Chuan: Original Forms and Exercises includes detailed teaching commentary as well as demonstrations of the original style of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan). This new video trailer shows a portion of the commentary on the elbow (Zhou, 肘) technique of Chen Tai Chi. Enjoy the video.

]]> Our new DVD Chen Tai Chi Chuan: Original Forms and Exercises includes detailed teaching commentary as well as demonstrations of the original style of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan). This new video trailer shows a portion of the commentary on the elbow (Zhou, 肘) technique of Chen Tai Chi. Enjoy the video.

]]> http://silenttao.com/2011/11/chen-tai-chi-chuan-video-teaching-commentary/feed/ 0 Chen Tai Chi Chuan: Original Forms and Exercises DVD http://silenttao.com/2011/10/chen-tai-chi-chuan-original-forms-and-exercises-dvd/ http://silenttao.com/2011/10/chen-tai-chi-chuan-original-forms-and-exercises-dvd/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:51:18 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=797 Our new Chen Tai Chi Chuan DVD is now available. We’ve worked hard to bring you a DVD that is usable for beginners and interesting for more advanced practitioners. This DVD contains eight complete Tai Chi practice sets based on the original style of Chen Tai Chi as taught to us by Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong, [...]]]> Our new Chen Tai Chi Chuan DVD is now available. We’ve worked hard to bring you a DVD that is usable for beginners and interesting for more advanced practitioners. This DVD contains eight complete Tai Chi practice sets based on the original style of Chen Tai Chi as taught to us by Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong, 19th Generation inheritor of Chen Taijiquan. Enjoy the video trailer for this DVD.

陈氏太极拳：传统套路和基本功

Contents

1 Warm Up                 热身

2 Post Standing           站桩

3 Silk Reeling              缠丝

4 Four Directions        四正手

5 Four Corners            四隅手

6 Five Steps                五步法

7 Thirteen Postures     十三式

8 First Form (36 Moves)         三十六式

9 Teaching Commentary         分解教学

]]> http://silenttao.com/2011/10/chen-tai-chi-chuan-original-forms-and-exercises-dvd/feed/ 0 Day 5: Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong in Xian China http://silenttao.com/2011/08/day-5-grandmaster-chen-quanzhong-in-xian-china/ http://silenttao.com/2011/08/day-5-grandmaster-chen-quanzhong-in-xian-china/#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:11:18 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=802 Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong (陈全忠) is my Chen Tai Chi (陈氏太极) teacher. Today our students had the chance to meet him in person for the first time. At nearly 90 years old, he is the senior most Chen Tai Chi Grandmaster in China and has practiced the art his entire life.

Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong with TCCII [...]]]> Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong (陈全忠) is my Chen Tai Chi (陈氏太极) teacher. Today our students had the chance to meet him in person for the first time. At nearly 90 years old, he is the senior most Chen Tai Chi Grandmaster in China and has practiced the art his entire life.

Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong with TCCII Students in August 2011

He greeted our students and gave them a demonstration of his version of the Chen Tai Chi form. Grandmaster Chen learned from his father and several other teachers. He is the only living master to have learned directly from a 16th generation master.* Because of this it is believed that his version of Chen Tai Chi is the oldest one in existence.

The Tang Dynasty style courtyard of our hotel in Xian.

That afternoon our students enjoyed climbing the Xian city wall. There is nothing quite like doing stairs after several hours of horse stance training, so we took our students to climb the Xian city wall after lunch. Since that wasn’t enough for the hardest core group, they finished off the day with a visit to the Wild Goose Pagoda and shopping at the nearby marketplaces. When the day was done, we enjoyed the peaceful courtyard of our Tang dynasty style hotel.

Here is a three part video series based on the question and answer session Grandmaster Chen had with our students.

* Note: Although Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong learned from a 16th generation master and would ordinarily be considered 17th generation he is called 19th generation because Chen family blood descendants keep their family’s genealogy generation number. He is significantly older than the other 19th generation Chen masters such as Chen Zhengli and Chen Xiaowang.

]]> http://silenttao.com/2011/08/day-5-grandmaster-chen-quanzhong-in-xian-china/feed/ 0 Day 4: Learning Chen Tai Chi and Curses in Xian China http://silenttao.com/2011/08/day-4-learning-chen-tai-chi-and-curses-in-xian-china/ http://silenttao.com/2011/08/day-4-learning-chen-tai-chi-and-curses-in-xian-china/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:54:59 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=777 The Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin were intended to protect him in the afterlife.

Emperor Qin (秦始皇) is legendary for uniting China, burning the books, burying the scholars, and building the most impressive tomb for himself in the known world. Our students got to check out a little of his handiwork at the museum [...]]]> Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin

The Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin were intended to protect him in the afterlife.

Emperor Qin (秦始皇) is legendary for uniting China, burning the books, burying the scholars, and building the most impressive tomb for himself in the known world. Our students got to check out a little of his handiwork at the museum for his terra cotta warrior (兵马俑)  army in Xian (西安). His tomb is close by, but it has not been excavated yet. When asked about it, the official answer is that it is so large and deep, there are too many technical barriers to excavation. But unofficially it is rumored to be well protected with traps and curses. No one seems willing to find out if this is true or not.

After a trip back in time to see the relics of a dead empire, we went to study one of China’s most important intangible cultural heritages. My teacher, Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong (陈全忠), welcomed our group to study Chen Tai Chi (陈氏太极) at his school. His son Chen Xili and his grandson, Chen Bin, performed demonstrations of Chen Tai for our students. Afterwards they held a special private seminar for them.

Enjoy this video of Master Chen Xili demonstrating a combination of old frame (Lao Jia, 老架) and new frame (Xin Jia, 新架) Taijiquan form movements.

]]> http://silenttao.com/2011/08/day-4-learning-chen-tai-chi-and-curses-in-xian-china/feed/ 0 Yang Tai Chi Slow and Fast Forms http://silenttao.com/2011/05/yang-tai-chi-slow-and-fast-forms/ http://silenttao.com/2011/05/yang-tai-chi-slow-and-fast-forms/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 17:52:51 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=697 Video comparison of Cheng Man Ching’s 37 Form or Yang Tai Chi shown slow and fast. The slow version of the form is the commonly seen public version. We practice a fast version of the form as well. This form is called by various names: the indoor form, family form, secret form or combat form. [...]]]> Video comparison of Cheng Man Ching’s 37 Form or Yang Tai Chi shown slow and fast. The slow version of the form is the commonly seen public version. We practice a fast version of the form as well. This form is called by various names: the indoor form, family form, secret form or combat form. The slow version of the form comes to us from Dr. Tao Ping Siang, an indoor student of Cheng Man Ching.

This method of the form is not so much a secret as it is uncommon. Certain adjustments are made to the form to enable it to be done faster, with more obvious martial intent. These include the speed of the form, changes in the stepping method, a slight curve of the spine, additional of Fa Jin and more direct movement patterns.

Here is a video showing the first eight movements of the form performed two ways:

]]> http://silenttao.com/2011/05/yang-tai-chi-slow-and-fast-forms/feed/ 0 Chen Tai Chi Chuan Seminar Part 5 Four Directions http://silenttao.com/2011/02/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-5-four-directions/ http://silenttao.com/2011/02/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-5-four-directions/#comments Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:11:43 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=589 The Four Directions (四正手) of Tai Chi Chuan describe the four major energies expressed in the art. These are Peng, Lu, Ji, and An. These energies combine to create all the major techniques in the style. Part 5 of our Introduction to Tai Chi video series explains the meaning of these four terms.

]]> The Four Directions (四正手) of Tai Chi Chuan describe the four major energies expressed in the art. These are Peng, Lu, Ji, and An. These energies combine to create all the major techniques in the style. Part 5 of our Introduction to Tai Chi video series explains the meaning of these four terms.

]]> http://silenttao.com/2011/02/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-5-four-directions/feed/ 0 Chen Tai Chi Chuan Seminar Part 4 Yin Yang and Kung Fu http://silenttao.com/2011/02/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-4-yin-yang-and-kung-fu/ http://silenttao.com/2011/02/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-4-yin-yang-and-kung-fu/#comments Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:00:18 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=586 Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) is based on Yin and Yang theory. Taiji refers to the two poles of Yin and Yang, especially the interrelationship between them. This relationship is called the Yi principle – or change principles. One of the meanings of Kung Fu is “skill obtained through hard work.” Both of these topics are discussed [...]]]> Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) is based on Yin and Yang theory. Taiji refers to the two poles of Yin and Yang, especially the interrelationship between them. This relationship is called the Yi principle – or change principles. One of the meanings of Kung Fu is “skill obtained through hard work.” Both of these topics are discussed in part 4 of our Introduction to Tai Chi Seminar.

]]> http://silenttao.com/2011/02/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-4-yin-yang-and-kung-fu/feed/ 0 Chen Tai Chi Chuan Seminar Part 3 Silk Reeling Principles http://silenttao.com/2011/01/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-3-silk-reeling-principles/ http://silenttao.com/2011/01/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-3-silk-reeling-principles/#comments Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:33:34 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=567 Silk reeling (Chan Si) is one of the key body mechanics of all styles of Tai Chi. Chen Tai Chi is particularly known for its silk reeling. This video explains the three key principles of silk reeling. Although we discuss it in the context of Tai Chi, these same principles also apply to Xingyi and [...]]]> Silk reeling (Chan Si) is one of the key body mechanics of all styles of Tai Chi. Chen Tai Chi is particularly known for its silk reeling. This video explains the three key principles of silk reeling. Although we discuss it in the context of Tai Chi, these same principles also apply to Xingyi and Bagua.

Chen Tai Chi Introductory seminar in Washington DC. (陈氏太极拳 Chen Taijiquan) This is Part 3 of the video which answers questions received during the break. This segment introduces the principles of silk reeling (缠丝, Chan Si) which is one of the key body mechanics common to all styles of Tai Chi. Silk Reeling is also found in Bagua and Xingyi. Seminar taught in December 2010 by Shawn Cartwright, TCCII Execuctive Director. He is a 20th Generation indoor student of Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong, Xian China.

The music featured on this video is “Fisherman’s Song at Dusk” from “The Rising Moon” by Ms. Bing Xia, Gu Zheng Solo Audio CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/BingXia

]]> http://silenttao.com/2011/01/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-3-silk-reeling-principles/feed/ 0 Chen Tai Chi Chuan Seminar Part 2 Posture Principles http://silenttao.com/2010/12/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-2-posture-principles/ http://silenttao.com/2010/12/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-2-posture-principles/#comments Fri, 31 Dec 2010 01:57:28 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=449 Here is the second part of our introductory videos taken during our recent Qigong and Tai Chi Certification seminars.

Chen Tai Chi Introductory seminar in Washington DC. (陈氏太极拳 Chen Taijiquan)This is Part 2 of the video which answers questions received during the break, including posture principles (无极站桩 Wu Ji Zhan Zhuang) and similarities between Chen, Yang, [...]]]> Here is the second part of our introductory videos taken during our recent Qigong and Tai Chi Certification seminars.

Chen Tai Chi Introductory seminar in Washington DC. (陈氏太极拳 Chen Taijiquan)This is Part 2 of the video which answers questions received during the break, including posture principles (无极站桩 Wu Ji Zhan Zhuang) and similarities between Chen, Yang, Wu, Wudang styles of Tai Chi. Seminar taught in December 2010 by Shawn Cartwright, TCCII Execuctive Director. He is a 20th Generation indoor student of Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong, Xian China.

]]> http://silenttao.com/2010/12/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-2-posture-principles/feed/ 0 Chen Tai Chi Chuan Seminar Part 1: Introduction http://silenttao.com/2010/12/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-1-introduction/ http://silenttao.com/2010/12/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-1-introduction/#comments Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:36:57 +0000 Shawn Cartwright http://silenttao.com/?p=454 We’ve created some introductory videos from our recent Qigong and Tai Chi Certification seminars.

Chen Tai Chi Introductory seminar in Washington DC. (陈氏太极拳 Chen Taijiquan)This is Part 1 of the video which answers questions received during the break, including difference between Chen, Yang, Wu, Wudang styles of Tai Chi, origins and lineage. Seminar taught in December [...]]]> We’ve created some introductory videos from our recent Qigong and Tai Chi Certification seminars.

Chen Tai Chi Introductory seminar in Washington DC. (陈氏太极拳 Chen Taijiquan)This is Part 1 of the video which answers questions received during the break, including difference between Chen, Yang, Wu, Wudang styles of Tai Chi, origins and lineage. Seminar taught in December 2010 by Shawn Cartwright, TCCII Execuctive Director. He is a 20th Generation indoor student of Grandmaster Chen Quanzhong, Xian China.

]]> http://silenttao.com/2010/12/chen-tai-chi-chuan-seminar-part-1-introduction/feed/ 0