Forms For Freedom Archive
Form is an integral part of solo practice and meditation. If your style lacks form, you likely make up for it in other ways, like meditation forms. Learn a form: the longer, the better.
The First Complete Energetic Third of the Yang Chen Fu Long Form
The first third is an energetic warm-up. Warming the colon and lungs, energizing the stomach, liver, and heart, and revitalizing the central nervous system, this energetic first third introduces repetitive, refrain-like concepts of Grasp Swallow’s Tail, Single Whip, and Step-Parry-Punch.
This is an early Yang Chen Fu form: it maintains martial integrity. For example, Brush Knee Twist Step, in this version, utilizes weighted turning rather than removing weight from the turning leg. In various ways and for many reasons, an unweighted turn invites contortion at the knee joint. This form, by maintaining martial integrity, creates opportunities, unheard of in shorter “easy” forms, for fitness and joint health and mobility.
This early version also contains many motions unknown to many Yang Stylists: like Fishes in Eight! It’s a great form. After learning it, you’ll know why a long form is superior to a short form in many, many ways. Plus —learn this one and your transition into learning Grandpa Lu-chen’s form will be smooth and explosive.
Read Yang Chen Fu Form Part 1 »
Motility, Long Form, Applications, Pushing-Hands, Striking!
The system of Tai Chi Chuan begins and evolves through five methods: light, sensitive body exploration, properly executed form practice, amplified and visualized self-defense and/or healing scenarios, precise push-hands training, and coiling striking motions. Real Taiji classes include
- exploring natural joint motions
- form practice (and some Qi-gong)
- application visualizations
- push-hands training (structural, not spaghetti-style)
- striking practices
Classes and class components evolve and compound upon one another.
Read Class Contents: Taiji System »
Many Martial Systems and Healing Schools base their advertising or their dialogue on philosophical statements. Ideas of integrity and honesty resound in such schools, across the country, and these schools often proclaim Wondrous Abilities and Dramatically Peaceful Ideologies. Fantastic, hopeful visions saturate our Martial and Healing Arts.
Neither the philosophies nor the principles that guide our Institutions, Economies, or Nations are grounded. Religious fervor, manic profit motivations, and ideological agendas flood pulpits, corrupt corporate boardrooms, and blanket the news. And although Many Of Us search for Realistic Ideas, Compassion, and Acts of Kindness, we are, either through hope or despair, desperate for help.
Along comes Tai Chi Chuan and Yoga and a New Age. Sifus and Gurus and Masters demonstrate Apparent Powers by pushing students remarkable distances, contorting bodies, and reading into minds and futures. We live in an age where
- Fantasies suppress Truth
- Words oppress Knowledge.
The Short — Explosive — Tai Chi Chuan Fighting Form
Learn a short Taiji form. Small San Sau is a Quick-Fight Method from Old Taiji Masters. It shows exciting and intense fighting and healing applications of fundamental Taijiquan movements, derived from Yang Long Form, and inherent in all T’ai-chi.
We examine Ward-Off, Grasp Swallow’s Tail, Fishes in Eight, and Single Whip both at a gentle, easy stride (yin) and at a quick, cracking pace (yang). Balance your body-mind-spirit through calm twisting, relaxed coiling, centered shaking, and bounce-stepping.
