If the body is clumsy, then in advancing or retreating it cannot be free; therefore it most be agile. Once you raise your arm, you cannot appear clumsy. The moment the force of the opponent touches my skin and hair, my mind is already penetrating his bones. When holding up the arms, the chi (breath) is threaded together continuously. When the left side is heavy, it empties, and the right side is already countering. The chi is like a wheel, and the whole body must naturally coordinate. If there is any uncoordinated place, the body becomes disordered and weak. The defect is to be found in the waist and legs. First the mind is used to order the body. Follow the opponent and not your self (your own inclination). Later your body can follow your mind, and you can control your self and still follow the opponent. When you can follow your opponent, then your hands can distinguish and weigh accurately the amount of his force, and measure the distance of his approach with no mistake. Advancing and retreating, everywhere (the coordination) is perfect. After studying for a long time, your technique will become skillful.
Red.: from Five Character Secret (Calm, Agility, Breath - to gather the chi, The internal force - the complete chin, Spirit - Shen concentrated).
Reference: T’Ai Chi Ch’Uan Ta Wen, Questions and Answers on T’Ai Chi Boxing Chen Wei-Ming ( Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo & Robert W. Smith ) North Atlantic Books 1985
ISBN: 0938190776
Page: 52
by Wang Xuanjie (Translated by Chen Shengtao)
DACHENGQUAN is a set of barehanded exercises for health-keeping and combat. It was developed by my instructor Wang Xiangzhai in Beijing in the 1940s. The following anecdotes about him will help you learn something more about Wang and his dachengquan.
When Wang Xiangzhai created dachengquan half a century ago, wushu which waspopular among the folk was not much to the original and had become a showpiece rather than a fitness exercise and combat skill. To preserve thequintessence of traditional Chinese wushu, there was every need for allmartial artists to pay attention to the prevailing deviation and makeconcerted efforts for a renewal. His determined resolution strengthened ashe saw the Japanese invaders beating their victims of occupation for fun inBeijing. “We are a great nation,” he said indignantly. “How can we put upwith such insults?”
Then, while absorbing strong points of various schools of wushu, he createda style of barehanded exercises-dachengquan. To spread the newly- emergingroutine far and wide, Wang recruited a large number of youngsters and gavethem lessons personally. His aim was very clear and that was to help boostthe morale of the Chinese people and counter foreign pugilism. He issued astatement in a local newspaper and declared that he was ready to take on anyrivals including those coming from foreign countries. Continue reading ‘Anecdotes Of Dachengquan Founder Wang Xiangzhai’
(Ichuan, Dachengquan, Yiquan, exercise, qiqong, chikung, breathing, energy)
The Mighty Warrior Exercise Stand with the feet about double shoulder-width apart and toes pointing ahead. Bend the knees while lowering the body to stand in a horse-riding posture. Raise the arms sideways to form each an angle of about 60 degrees with the torso, the palms facing the ground and fingers apart. Keep the torso upright, lower abdomen loosened, chest held in, and the eyes looking into to the far distance with restrained concentration. Stand still for some time.
Move the arms upwards to shoulder height, and straighten the legs. Press downwards with the palms while bending the knees back into the horse-riding position. Repeat the procedure. The arm movements resemble those of an eagle’s wings, hence the exercise is also known as the Spread Eagle exercise. Repeat for no more than 360 times at a time.
Regular practice of this exercise will cause the vital energy to penetrate every part of the body and finally form a unique strength. Once this is required, with some simple instructions, one will be able perform wonders assisted by the control of breathing, such as cleaving a rock with one palm, hitting a stone tablet with the head, breaking an iron chain with deep breathing, letting a car running over the body. What he will be able to achieve the will be diametrically different from that put on by those sham kung fu masters under the name of controlled breathing.
Reference:
Dachengquan by Wang Xuanjie
Hai Feng Publishing Co. May 1988
ISBN: 9622381111
Page: 78
by Wu Yu-hsiang (Wu Yuxian) (1812 - 1880)
sometimes attributed to Wang Chung-yueh
as researched by Lee N. Scheele
The hsin [mind-and-heart] mobilizes the ch’i [vital life energy].
Make the ch’i sink calmly;
then the ch’i gathers and permeates the bones.
The ch’i mobilizes the body.
Make it move smoothly, so that it may easily follows the hsin.
The I [mind-intention] and ch’i must interchange agilely,
then there is an excellence of roundness and smoothness.
This is called “the interplay of insubstantial and substantial.”
The hsin is the commander, the ch’i the flag, and the waist the banner.
The waist is like the axle and the ch’i is like the wheel. Continue reading ‘Expositions of Insights Into the Practice of the Thirteen Postures’
Spread. To spread means that we mobilize our chi spread it over our opponents energy and prevent him from moving.
Cover. To cover means that we use our chi to cover our opponents thrust.
Check. To check means that we use chi to check our opponents thrust, ascertain his aim and evade it.
Swallow. To swallow means that we use chi to swallow everything and neutralize.
These four character transmission represents what has no form and no sound. Without the ability to interpret energy and training to the highest perfection, they cannot be understood. We are speaking here exclusively of chi. Only if one correctly cultivates the chi and does not damage it, can one project it to the limbs. The effect of this on the limbs cannot be described in words.
(attributed to Wu Yü-hsiang)
Reference:
Tai Chi Touchstones: Yang Family Secret Transmissions by Douglas Wile
Sweet Chi Press, April 1989
ISBN: 091205901X
Page: 27
This is the push-hands sequence of Wardoff, Rollback, Press and Push. The action is that of sawing. When you saw, the force at both sides should be equal; then the action is smooth. If one side tries to change the force, the saw’s teeth will bind. If my partner binds the saw, then even if I were to use force I would not be able to draw it back. Only if I push it will saw smoothly as before. This has two meanings for the push-hands of T’ai Chi Ch’uan. The first is to give up oneself to follow others. In following the opponent’s tendency you can learn the marvelous application of hua chin (neutralization) and tsou chin (yielding). Second, “If others move slightly, I move first.” This refers to the situation wherein my opponent uses force to push me and I obviate his attack by pulling back first. If the opponent uses pull I preclude this by pushing first.
The principle in the example of pulling the saw brings great clarity. Through it, I suddenly comprehended how to practice the idea, “if others move slightly, I move first.” If I am familiar with this, then the push-hands is controlled by me and not by my opponents. The rest is obvious.
( Red.: It’s said; “If the other does not move, I do not move. If the other has the slightest movement, I move ahead” proverb taken from the Taiji Classic “The understanding of the Thirteen Postures” )
Reference:
Cheng Tzu’s Thirteen Treatises on T’ai Chi Ch’uan by Cheng Man-Ch’ing, Martin Inn
North Atlantic Books,U.S., May 1985
ISBN: 0938190458
Pages: 90-91
Relax the chest.
Raise the back.
Enclose solar plexus.
Protect the cheekbones.
Lift the head.
Suspend the solar plexus.
Loosen the shoulders.
Sink the elbows.
Be evasive.
Avoid conflict.
Reference:
Tai Chi Touchstones: Yang Family Secret Transmissions by Douglas Wile
Sweet Chi Press, April 1989
ISBN: 091205901X
Page: 27
( tai chi, principles, head, posture, structure, energy, unification of body )
Technical Methods and Postures
Head Upright
To prop up the head is to raise the crown of the head properly. In Taiji Quan, make sure that the head is upright, the crown flat, the neck straight and the chin drawn in. It is required that the baihui acupuncture point at the crown of the head is propped up gently as if lifted up by a robe. At the same time, the crown of the head must be kept so flat that a bowl of water placed on it would not spill. To keep the head upright and the crown flat, the neck most be straight and the chin drawn in. But if overdone, this position will make the neck stiff and the movements unnatural. Therefore, in propping up the head, excess effort should be avoided. It most be natural. Once the crown of the head is raised properly, the energy will be summoned and the movements will become steady and sturdy.
Reference:
Basics of Taiji Quan by Li Xingdong
Foreign Language Press, Beijing Jan 2000
ISBN: 711900171X
Page: 14
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