tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62681802011-07-31T04:22:22.458+08:00Taiwan Taijiquan Sojourn 臺灣太極拳の旅居Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.comBlogger631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-68239898515264332008-09-01T06:35:00.002+08:002008-09-01T06:40:09.117+08:00

Today I'm going to start another 100 day workout. It's going to be a bit different this time round with the focus being on reps. Reps ingrain basic movements into one's system. The idea is to do 100 minutes practice each day for 100 days, which guarantees a cool 10,000 minutes of practice.As you can see my blogs have changed from theorizing to actual practice of late, less of the armchair warrior

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-58216152790513735432008-07-09T22:13:00.001+08:002008-07-09T22:14:05.933+08:00

Today is the 100th day of the one hundred day challenge and it certainly has been an interesting and somewhat chaotic 3 months. To put it simply April was easy, May was tough, June was easy again, and well July has been just working up to the end.The most difficult thing really is consistency of training, there are simply too many distractions in life to guarantee a training session can be

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-76777396100159334072008-06-09T22:12:00.001+08:002008-07-09T13:40:50.038+08:00

30 days to go...:-)

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-11847086415875952222008-06-01T18:58:00.016+08:002008-06-02T23:52:25.892+08:00

Last week we went to visit Master Guo Changxi [郭常喜] a 'famous' swordsmith in the south of Taiwan. We visited his museum and his workshop. He's best known outside of Taiwan as the maker of the sword 'Green Destiny' from the movie 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon'.It was a rush visit and it was also very hot that day, all that combined with a spate of tiredness, I was in no fit state to really

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-49370525933378042822008-05-30T12:12:00.003+08:002008-05-30T12:15:39.182+08:00

Today is my birthday and also day 60 of the 100 day challenge. But no special celebrations for me just keep going as usual.:-)

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-1019547149809957582008-05-20T13:36:00.000+08:002008-05-30T12:12:15.568+08:00

Today is half way day. I have switched to early morning training, which I'm particularly bad at, just because it is cooler and more peaceful. The weather is starting to get more humid and hot in Taiwan and I find training uncomfortable, especially standing, during the afternoons.That means that I have to get to bed earlier and train myself to get going in the morning, which is a little tough, but

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-37076833835905693982008-05-10T22:45:00.005+08:002008-05-11T08:53:08.314+08:00

...now that I've reached day forty the biggest realization is that I'm spending more time in actual practice than just simply theorizing about Taijiquan practice. Now I have little time to write blogs as all my spare time has been spent working out. I've lost about two kilos since I started the one hundred day session and I expect to lose another one or two kilos by the end, which will bring me

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-63397585318237325882008-04-30T13:21:00.004+08:002008-04-30T13:38:18.193+08:00

I would be a liar if I said that the last ten days hadn't been a little tough. I think the problem was that I started to break the routine and try to train late and go to bed late. With hindsight this was a mistake, so I'm back on track keeping to a stricter routine getting all my training done during the day [where possible] and then to bed by a reasonable time. Things seem to be settling down

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-32177614713561274072008-04-20T08:33:00.005+08:002008-07-09T22:15:30.927+08:00

...and the most difficult day so far was yesterday as Saturday night is my wife and I's traditional curl up on the sofa and watch a movie time. It was very tempting to break the 100 day rule, but I managed to keep it all under control.As far as the training routine goes all is well, tiredness from work being the only distraction, but all manageable at the moment.So, I'm looking forward to next 10

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-22744743708864849032008-04-10T22:57:00.007+08:002008-07-09T22:15:54.447+08:00

Just a quick report to say that the first ten days have been pretty easy so far, just another 90 to go. I'm going to break it down into 10 day sections and post a blog as each section is completed, in that way I can motivate myself forward. I'm also trying to treat each new day as the first day [to keep it fresh] and try not think too much about how far I have to go.I don't have a plan B for if I

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-69124870779451935442008-04-05T07:43:00.007+08:002008-07-09T22:17:29.688+08:00

From April 1st I've started a one hundred day training session, which simply means that I have to do a scheduled session of Taijiquan everyday for 1.5 hours. Doing one hundred days is part of the Chinese martial arts and traditional medicine culture, and the toughest part for most guys is the part where you have to avoid sex for the whole period.All is going well so far, but it's early days yet;

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-50345940412677414172008-03-05T08:13:00.007+08:002008-07-09T22:18:03.543+08:00

It's around a year since I started learning and practicing a new style of Taijiquan, switching from the Dan Docherty style to a traditional Yang style. The transition has not been easy so far and is not going to get any easier in the future from what I can see. So where have I got to in one year? Well I’m still a novice in basic training and will remain so for some time to come I believe. I’ve

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-26307141033674136682008-01-23T09:35:00.004+08:002008-07-09T22:18:35.802+08:00

I'm discovering the importance of warm up and stretching. In the old days, before moving to Taiwan, I would simply launch into vigorous training with little or no warm up and rarely do any stretching. I had started to take an interest in stretching before I left the UK, but only in an experimental sense, not as part of my daily exercise routine.Warm up and stretching prepare the body for exercise

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-25749158664404701392008-01-14T13:15:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:43:56.336+08:00

I like the Wu style fast frame that Ma Yueliang was famous for, and this appears to be a very nice performance. The Wu style fast frame is said to be a development of the frame that was taught to Wu Quanyou by Yang Banhou. And it certainly does contain many characteristics that were typical of Yang Banhou's style, so I see no reason to doubt the Wu family claim.It is full of energy and vigour

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-88000337353675573252008-01-13T11:28:00.003+08:002008-04-20T08:44:08.344+08:00

Being an English teacher here in Taiwan has naturally caused me to draw comparisons between the nature of language learning to the study of Taijiquan.With the internationalisation of the English language, the language has become more complex and many new variations have appeared, and as we all know this has also happened to Taijiquan over the last one hundred years or so, as the martial art has

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-52752859272793599462007-12-22T23:25:00.004+08:002008-04-20T08:44:47.360+08:00

What interested me about this video is that it's rare to see Yang style movement done with so many spirals and such fluidity. I particularly like the movements that start at around 1:10 with arm rotation and then at 1:23 with sinking and rising horizontal spirals.This set is allegedly part of the Yang Banhou [楊班侯] transmission, but for me it's impossible to say whether that is true of not. The

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-67140781405936400642007-12-16T09:50:00.002+08:002008-07-27T16:08:23.974+08:00

I was just asked by a Taiwanese friend why I wanted to learn Taijiquan [太極拳], and this answer came out which I think was pretty succinct and clear. So I decided to post it here and share it with my readers, just so that you can understand a little about my personal motivation."For me, I want to challenge myself and learn an excellent gongfu system and do it well, because I'm not a natural fighter

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-6344307439785633582007-12-14T20:29:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:45:16.399+08:00

There has been a fair few pages written on the Emptyflower Forum with regards to the video that I posted on this blog.As far as the video goes, the three of us were all beginners in those days with no more than a couple of years of experience under our belts. Of course the techniques look basic and the forms are a bit lacking in substance and quality.As Dan himself would say, "If you judge me by

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-71712221781959691222007-12-12T12:22:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:45:28.224+08:00

As an English teacher here in Taiwan a fare percentage of my teaching time is spent explaining aspects of irony in the English language, and one particular area of interest is the use of the Oxymoron.An oxymoron is a self-contradictory phrase where the meanings of each word in the two word couplet appear to contradict each other, but still manage to make sense.Typical examples include ‘alone

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-54427370967582565302007-12-09T07:30:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:45:47.677+08:00

Today is the 1st anniversary of our arrival in Taiwan, and here are some examples of what I've learnt so far...I've learnt that Taiwan is a small island with an identity crisisI've learnt that some Taiwanese people are really TaiwaneseI've learnt that teaching English is fun but not funnyI've learnt that taijiquan is cool after allI've learnt that standing still is interestingI've learnt that a

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-90631068366562121152007-11-28T12:22:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:46:06.983+08:00

My right knee has been giving me some problems for the last couple of years and I've tried to ignore it as much as possible. But under a little pressure from wife, I decided to let the doctor take a look at the local hospital. The service in Taiwan is pretty brisk compared to the UK, where it can take months to get anything done at all. I was in and out, X-rays taken, problem diagnosed and

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-21755090395331187752007-11-07T22:17:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:46:29.700+08:00

When tidying up stuff in preparation for the move to Taiwan I came across an old video tape of a TV programme that I was involved in way back in 1991. The programme was a local cable TV station that was just starting out and eager to find something interesting for its daytime TV channel.The guy I was training with at that time had just been to a Pushing Hands competition in China and won I seem

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-15120734156867788522007-10-21T14:53:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:46:46.507+08:00

Using my usual rough translation style [please DO NOT expect word-for-word translations from me] I have finally taken the first Taijiquan related article that I posted back in 2004 and given it a Chinese to English translation.The article is actually pretty interesting as the name Wudang Six Section Sword Form [武當六路劍法] bears an uncanny resemblance to the Yangs' Old Six Section Hand Form name [老六路

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-71059535575725999782007-10-20T20:25:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:47:06.306+08:00

Once a typhoon has passed in Taiwan the weather always seems to cool down [at least in Taichung]. Especially after Typhoon Krosa the weather is now particularly cool with a nice breeze blowing in the evenings, which is a boon for training. At last I can now practice without being bathed in running sticky sweat.Back in the UK we look forward to the Summers, because they are a relief from the long

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-50503523465285621022007-10-19T07:42:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:47:39.770+08:00

Due to popular demand this blog is back online. But I have taken out some of the very old blogs that now seem to be not relevant to my current studies and practice, or simply not correct. The blogs will concentrate on my Taijiquan related experience here in Taiwan, until I return to the UK.

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-929811421640762852007-09-09T14:20:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:47:57.685+08:00

An interesting photo said to be taken during the late 1920s just before Yang Shaohou died [he doesn't look well in this photo].It looks like a get together of the Taijiquan big boys of that era. I have marked the ones that I recognise, although there maybe other famous faces in there somewhere.Some people suggest that the various styles of Taijiquan were developed somewhat separately, but this

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-43165308743945046992007-09-08T15:44:00.002+08:002008-04-20T08:48:11.855+08:00

The breathing technique [sink the chest, raise the back] described below by Yang Chengfu has always been a bit of mystery to me before and denied by many to actually exist, perhaps in reality few ever learnt it properly. Li Yiyu previously attempted to explain the method in more detail and how it is actually applied in combat.含胸拔背：含胸者，胸略內涵，使氣沈于丹田也。胸忌挺出，挺出則氣擁胸際，上重下輕，腳跟易於浮起。拔背者，氣貼於背也，能含胸則自能拔背，

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-74846888710056778682007-08-24T14:07:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:48:25.646+08:00

The concept and practice of Fajin seems to have much controversy surrounding it, so I would like to share with you a little of my experience. But, first we have to ask ourselves what is Fa [發] and what is Jin [勁]?Fa in this situation means 'to emit' or 'send out' and Jin in the world of Taijiquan is the result of developing the skill of using internal energy or Qi [氣] to boost the power of

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-12336630128936756012007-08-19T12:59:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:48:39.438+08:00

Recently I've been training with my teacher up in the mountains around Taipei. There was a group of us up there utilizing a wooden structure used as a weekend retreat for a training venue. Surrounded by the humid mountain air and the rasping sounds of countless cicadas made for an atmospheric experience. The real experience though was when the thunderstorm came in the afternoon, in the mountains

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-49873100890777174192007-08-18T11:10:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:48:59.294+08:00

After practicing Zhanzhuang for six months it's now time to move on to some moving exercise. My teacher has now taught a routine for us to practice for another six months [just as a warm up by the way], but that does not mean the Zhanzhuang practice is over. We must now practice them both back to back, with the objective being one hour for each, one hour standing and one hour moving [ultimately

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-53897887025707009942007-08-17T10:50:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:49:40.866+08:00

I've always liked the word "maverick". It means "a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates".I've often thought of myself as a bit of a maverick practitioner of Taijiquan, but I've never really thought about why? Why do I feel uncomfortable with the notion of aligning myself with a particular school or club.

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-60743286589512809572007-07-04T16:29:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:49:54.225+08:00

Just been reading a post by wujimon, "look for a teacher not a style", very interesting indeed!I agree with this statement 100% "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear". And he is right "a good teacher will show us how to discern the answer for ourselves", after all tacit knowledge is best passed on by sharing experience [hints and tips], and not usually by hands-off instruction [the

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-12193703061196092822007-07-01T16:29:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:50:10.676+08:00

Currently I'm no longer a practitioner of Taijiquan, but a practitioner of Wujizhuang. If you are a regular reader of this Blog you'll already know that I've quit practicing my previous style of Taijiquan and concentrating on learning a new style from scratch.There are three main reasons that I've quit practicing my old style, firstly I'm in Taiwan to learn something new in the right

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-35308296240731675942007-06-26T07:39:00.002+08:002008-04-20T08:50:22.904+08:00

Having to rely on self-discipline for motivation can sometimes be a little tough, but perhaps makes one stronger in the end. Today I completed my first ninety minute Zhanzhuang session, which is a goal accomplished [but not the end goal]. I have been struggling with the mind stuff for a few months now, but have lately been inspired by an article I was reading on the Internet about Tian Zhaolin.

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-12350405078213031402007-06-23T19:44:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:50:37.144+08:00

According to the Yang family's own manuscript Taijiquan [太極拳] goes by another name, that is Zhijue yundong [知覺運動] or 'an exercise [system] for [developing] self-awareness'. What did the Yang family mean when they wrote those words?Actually what made me think of all this was when I was reading a BBC article about Buddhist meditation. The article explains the processes and goals of meditation much

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-55862181866808997172007-06-21T14:42:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:50:50.620+08:00

My teacher said to me recently that one of the keys to understanding Taijiquan is attitude of mind, this is one of the first things to learn. I have heard and read this many times from various teachers, but I think that today is the first time that I've really understood what it means, and how to achieve some level of stillness of mind. Not because of an achievement, but because of a failure. The

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-59426866640601414312007-06-17T10:36:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:51:02.728+08:00

A rather appropriate Zen story I thought :-)A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly, "I am devoted to studying your system. How long will it take me to master it." The teacher's reply was casual, "Ten years." Impatiently, the student answered, "But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-15230618721370803452007-06-11T10:13:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:51:15.820+08:00

As you may or may not be aware the free flow of semen and the random use of the male sex organ were highly frowned upon by Daoists. Not necessarily because they considered undisciplined sex to be immoral, but because the loss of semen was directly correlated to the loss of the essence of life itself. The simple equation being "the more you lose, the more likely you are to die young" and as a

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-64347488550923988582007-06-06T22:01:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:51:27.324+08:00

Contrary to popular belief there are still Yang style practitioners who can handle themselves and are teaching Yang style in its unadulterated form [or as near as you are likely to find in this day and age].I have to tell you that where I come from "modern" Yang style Taijiquan is ridiculed for its ineffectiveness as a martial art, so I'm very surprised to find myself a "Yang style convert", but

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-1143097406305123152007-06-03T20:21:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:51:40.565+08:00

In my "simple" world I like things [at least in their basic form] to be clear and concise, so that it's easy to get to grips with the fundamentals; thus I've created for your "entertainment" a clear and concise lineage diagram that shows the core Taijiquan masters that are considered to be the pioneers for all the modern stuff that we see and practice today.I have purposely left out such

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-37921706374078438142007-05-30T13:38:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:51:52.886+08:00

Giving up one's old martial art practice in order to concentrate on a new one, is a lot like giving up on a long standing relationship. There is a sense of guilt and a feeling of what will I do without those old routines and methods that have become a part of me over so many years, just as with an old relationship one gets to feel comfortable, even if it's no longer fulfilling.But the time has

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-86842973355061485712007-05-22T23:01:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:52:06.888+08:00

The weather is slowly heating up in Taiwan and on top of that the humidity levels are increasing too, which is making it increasingly uncomfortable to practice. Even Zhan Zhuang which of course requires "no" external movement clearly uses a considerable amount of energy when standing for one hour or more.When doing active exercises and stretching, my body now quickly breaks into a sweat as it is

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-15256830741473586702007-05-20T20:34:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:52:18.859+08:00

Having spent the last three months learning how to stand "erect" [at least I'm feeling fairly confident about it at the moment] it's now time to work on the meditation aspect to the process of learning Zhan Zhuang. Actually the meditation technique I have been taught is simple on the face of it, but difficult to do in practice, and I have yet to "still" my mind for more than a few minutes at a

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-13343529848681698022007-05-19T14:12:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:52:32.049+08:00

I've been having some strange dreams of late possibly influenced by my IMA practice and my wife's obsession with watching the new martial arts fantasy series on TV.Last night's dream was brief yet terrifying. I was walking out of my work place at the YMCA, it was late at night and dark under the covered sidewalk. Suddenly a dark figure appeared from behind a pillar, a tramp, with typical long

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-61724545829734257472007-05-03T14:04:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:52:44.350+08:00

Perhaps those Daoist recluses were not so daft after all with regards to diet. With the goal of extending life for as long as possible, thus increasing the chances of perfecting the self-cultivation process, many experimented with diet. Observing those that were overweight would generally die younger and the belief that it is "Qi" that really gives one life, they set about devising ways of living

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-78078245903617817572007-04-16T22:19:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:52:56.596+08:00

I am not sure how true this story is, but it is certainly plausible that it did happen. Two of my Taijiquan heroes are said to have met in real life and had a minor showdown during the early 20th century. I found this story on a Chinese website and have translated it as best I can. Some of the Chinese is in classical form [especially the verse at the end] and I don't profess to be an expert, so I

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-46829204184166084192007-04-14T19:01:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:53:09.801+08:00

Actually until very recently I thought that my posture was pretty good and upright. After many years of practicing Taijiquan [太極拳] I would have expected it be so, but all of that is changing rapidly.Starting Zhan Zhuang [站樁] practice is giving me a new insight into how well I stand. Learning how to stand well seems to be something that I wasn't doing well at all, or at least not to a required

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-48498951100521429772007-03-29T20:59:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:53:22.099+08:00

Being in a philosophical mood of late, I have decided write a short story about my Tai Chi journey so far. My meeting with a new master feels like the end of a long journey to date, and the beginning of the next phase of my understanding of the ancient art of "Chinese Shadow Boxing". I am not really sure which Westerner coined that phrase to describe Tai Chi, but although it is an archaic

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-81684617765137258292007-03-17T20:58:00.002+08:002008-04-20T08:53:33.008+08:00

How to define epiphany? It is "a sudden intuitive leap of understanding, especially through an ordinary, yet striking occurrence", that is what has happened to me on my latest visit to a Tai Chi master. Living in Taiwan has offered me an opportunity to see and experience the intangible in tangible form, and I intend to pursue it and understand it more.A true master can demonstrate the Tai Chi

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-70737934891755990722007-03-12T09:38:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:53:44.948+08:00

Yang Shaohou [楊少侯] (1862-1930)I feel very fortunate to have been introduced to a teacher who is a second generation practitioner of Yang Shaohou's style in Taiwan, it's a very cool yet tough style to learn! And thankfully, there appears to be no cross-fertilization from the Yang Chengfu 楊澄甫 (1883-1936) side of the Yang family lineage.It is widely known Yang Shaohou had few real disciples and

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-20121152265312467212007-03-03T19:23:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:53:56.709+08:00

There are six main players in the initial popularisation of the martial arts now collectively know as Tai Chi Chuan they are as listed below: -1. Chen Changxing (1771-1853)2. Chen Qingping (1795-1868)3. Yang Luchan (1799-1872)4. Wu Yuxiang (1812-1880)5. Yang Banhou (1837-1892)6. Wu Quanyou (1834-1902)In order to simplify things, you could look at them as being symbolic of three generations of Tai

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-70012275622158319812007-02-25T22:20:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:54:56.864+08:00

To be honest it is not often that I see a skill in Tai Chi that I am jealous of these days, but I have to say that when I saw this Zhaobao master, my heart wept. Such power , such delivery and all done with such composure. Does anyone know where I can learn to do this in Taiwan? I know that you can say that if his opponent moved in concert with him and attempted to turn and yield, then he could

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-68275443694389136882007-02-10T21:48:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:55:11.788+08:00

Things have settled down a bit now in Taiwan, I am now having a little more time to actually practice Tai Chi "properly". Recently I rediscovered relaxation! Partly inspired by an excellent performance of Chen Panling's 陳泮嶺 99 style Tai Chi form, that I saw the other day. The performance wasn't actually the complete form, but nevertheless the relaxation, control and intent were all very

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-90523943095627294312007-02-04T17:25:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:55:24.845+08:00

I often wonder about the transformation of Chen style to Yang style and why would Yang Luchan bother to change what he had learnt from Chen Changxing so dramatically, including most of the names of the styles and the whole essence of movement and application etc. After much reading from Chinese sources, I came to this conclusion (based on the fact that Chens openly admit to mixing and matching in

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-267717338209549292007-02-03T19:03:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:55:37.752+08:00

Today we made an impromptu visit (introduced by another friend) to a small martial arts school for kids out in the suburbs of Taichung. Expecting to just go along to watch our friend's kids practice their Wushu, I had not prepared myself in anyway to demonstrate a form. But, more importantly, I learnt something new today, or at least you could say that the situation here in Taiwan has became more

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-23717535655062354742007-01-10T10:15:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:56:03.779+08:00

After sleeping on a very hard bed in a very cold and noisy "hotel" room in Nathan Road, our first night in Hong Kong was not the luxury normally associated with Hong Kong's image of opulence. But, for less than 20 GBP a night and a friendly service to boot, what else could we expect in one of the world's most expensive cities.The morning call came as requested, by a women clad in pink pyjamas,

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-80223386794783935912007-01-02T22:05:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:56:27.591+08:00

One of my objectives during my stay in Asia is to visit as many Internal Martial Arts (IMA) masters as possible, but I not sure yet how realistic that plan is. Taichung in Taiwan was home to a very famous IMA master called Wang Shujin, inadvertently I have visited two of his disciples on two separate occasions.Once was three years ago when I was introduced to a master by Serge Dreyer, I visited

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-34344291332546982782006-12-22T11:26:00.002+08:002008-04-20T08:57:38.484+08:00

The challenge for us is to find work and establish a new life in Taiwan, there are risks, but I think that this is my last chance to make a go of it in Asia. As Muhammad Ali once said "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life"I have created a link to the Ilha Formosan Life blog, where I will attempt to write down our experiences. As I have only just got a

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-22928913554609286382006-10-08T02:56:00.000+08:002007-09-09T13:24:47.550+08:00

Due to my wife only possessing a Taiwan passport it appears that it is going to be trouble for us to stay in Hong Kong as originally planned, so we are going to brace ourselves and head into China proper.We are planning to leave the UK at the end of November. It looks like we are going to head for the ancient city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, because of its proximity to Shanghai and its

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-1142797168968295802006-03-22T03:35:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:58:26.787+08:00

The expression "走火入魔 Zou Huo Ru Mo" or in literal translation "Walk the fire, enter the devil" is often used to describe those martial artists that have left the "real" world and entered into a world of being possessed by fantasy and the power of myth and legend.Recently, I was reading an article about Wang Peisheng where he described his single minded approach to training that lasted for a five

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-1128451503731065992005-10-03T08:01:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:58:45.848+08:00

Tai Chi Chuan is based on the changes of Yin and Yang.The changes of Yin and Yang imply harmony of effort or force, meaning that the attacker's strength is harmonised with, rather than opposed. It is yielding to the attacker's force, but more than that it also means adding to that same force. In other words it could be said to be an active form of compliance.This is what is known as using

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-1088543881926648712005-09-18T01:30:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:59:08.025+08:00

Many Tai Chi masters claim to be exponents of the Tai Chi Jian or straight sword as taught by Yang Luchan to the Manchu Imperial Guard of the mid-19th century, and at times further claim that their style utilises the techniques of the Chinese Jian for use on the battlefield.Now, I thought that it was widely known amongst experts in the field of Ancient Chinese Weapons that the Chinese Jian has

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6268180.post-1072905146169213972004-01-01T05:07:00.001+08:002008-04-20T08:58:06.011+08:00

I found this article that describes an old guy from Tianjin, China who claims to know Zhang Sanfeng's original sword form, and has even been invited by the Daoist monks of Wudang Mountain to teach them how to do it! Maybe this is the "real" Tai Chi! Should we all go there to learn this style too? It would certainly be interesting to see if the style that he knows resembles in any way the Tai Chi

Ralphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634066164460342260noreply@blogger.com