Single Pushing Hands Builds Reflexive Power.

Place your hand on a hot stove and — jerk it away. That’s a reflex! For all the times it works, keep it: you’ll need reflexes later. Your body, your nervous system, crafted this technique for a long time. Use your current training strategies and single pushing hands to unleash the power of reflexes!

Three training methods promote vibrant self-defense: strategic, reflexive, and sensitive.

Strategic models employ set routines and applications to mock attacker behavior and defender technique. Good stuff, and every movement education employs it. Hard styles utilize this approach to a large degree. Faster forms, both one-person and two-person rely on strategic concepts. They hold the possibilities of near-full-power because random attacks are removed. Such drills improve an individual’s threshold of resiliance; they toughen you up!

Sensitivity models reduce fear-reactions and increase deep-body awareness. Slow forms, sticky hands, and soft, punch-absorption practices do this too. By learning to resist little, responding and flowing with attackers, a defender learns to coil around force and to redistribute force into an attacker. These drills and methods create proper responses and deeper inner power.

(Sometimes: because of choreography, strategic models of self-defense become unrealistic, and they may accidentally teach rigidity to bodies and fear-reactions to minds—an uh-oh reflex. Likewise, because sensitivity models utilize slow, soft motions to emulate realistic attacks, they become unrealistic, often teaching weakness to bodies and fantasies to minds by devaluing force and pretending toughness.)

Reflex training exists between hardened training and softened responses. Long-term reflex training represents a balanced approach. Unlearn conditioned fear-responses, and develop sturdy of body, mind, and spirit. Built-in to your spinal column, reflexes —like the hot stove reflex— cause action before you can think about, or cognitively process, events. Strategic methods go reflexive by adding random elements and by increasing perceptions; i.e. strategic methods become reflexive by inserting softness and sensitivity. Sensitivity methods go reflexive by toughening up, by adding some force and oomph to your work.

Single Pushing Hands releases innate, reflexive power by allowing one to practice either or both: structural, heavy hitting push-hands or soft, light, sensitive pushing hands.

Single Pushing Hands, utilizing the methods from the World Taiji Boxing Association,

1. builds circular strength
2. releases reflexive self-defense
3. sensitizes coordination, balance, and timing

How do we do it?

Pushing Hands, at a basic level, emphasizes structure, motion, and breathing. We look at the static setup to lock the structure, root the pattern, and process the breath. We examine the dynamic pattern to integrate our structure with our weaving pattern and deepening breath.

1. The Static Setup

Two people face each other, straight on. Square off, face to face, shoulders and hips square. This is an aggressive, face to face, scenario, and if we learn to cope with this set-up, other, less aggressive scenarios will be easier. Elbows bent at 100 degrees, each holds the left wrist in front of the breastbone. Left wrists touch. Right wrists hover, palm toward the ground, by right hips. We stand casually, in Taiji Fighting Stance, close enough to hit each other.

Taiji Fighting Stance I call Bus Stop Stance because it’s how I stand at the bus stop or while waiting in line. It’s casual. Some specific details follow: heels are hip-width apart. The forward foot is barely forward; the heel of the forward foot lines up, on the sideways line, with the rear toes. The forward foot turns inward 45 degrees. The rear foot points directly forward, at the opponent.

Basics of Taiji Posture never leave us.

1. Weight sinks into the heels.
2. Knees bend.
3. Pelvis tucks a bit.
4. Breathe with the belly.
5. Space remains in the armpits.
6. Chin tucks.
7. Crown of the head lifts up.
8. Tongue rests on the roof of the mouth.
9. Eyes gaze over the opponent’s shoulder.
10. Hands hold the Taiji Tile Palm.

Remember: each player’s wrist remains in front of their own respective breastbone, always. The other wrist hovers next to the hip, palm facing the ground.

2. The Dynamic Pattern

Starting with left hands and left feet forward, one player pushes the other.

The Pusher exhales and presses the left palm on the back of Receiver’s left wrist. The Pusher moves weight from right foot into left foot and twists the waist toward the right-front corner. The angle of the push is 45°. We learn to proper angles by using the proper angles over and over. Note also that the feet, because of the directions they point, bind the hips. The hips move very little, though the whole upper body–the ribs, breastbone, shoulders, and head–turns toward that front-right-corner. We develop powerful waist turning, twisting, and torque!

The Receiver inhales and receives the Pusher’s pressure on the back of the left wrist. The fingers of the left hand point toward the right shoulder; this rounds the upper back enough that pressure spreads across the whole back instead of focusing on the arm. Let some pressure build: don’t go limp; this develops arm strength and structure. The Receiver moves weight from left foot into right foot, while his or her loose waist (and whole upper-body) twists from front-right to front-left. Again, the waist torques in sensitivity and power.

Each hand rolls over. The Receiver’s palm rests on the back of the Pusher’s wrist. Now the Pusher becomes Receiver, and the Receiver, the Pusher.

Neither the Pusher nor the Receiver flex nor extend their arms. Well, just a little: the elbows remain at about 100 degrees, give or take 10 during the dynamics of pushing. The arms don’t move much at all. The only thing that happens in the arms, at the basic level, is that the wrists turn over. The weight change combined with the waist’s twisting-torque create the Pusher’s pressure and the Receiver’s resistance.

Press and Receive. Repeat 100 times. Change to right hands, repeat 100 times. Do it again tomorrow.

Enjoy.

Some are ridiculous, some are silly; all of them radiate from a lack of martial training. Martial training is a requirement in Tai Chi Chuan. Do it. Fighting and combat skills set the spiritual stage, the mental mood, and the physical atmosphere for proper confidence, clarity, and calm. Martial training tunes the body, mind, and spirit. Most misconceptions manifest in popular culture (and in pseudo-Tai Chi Schools) because instructors teach wrongly, poorly, incompetently, or deceptively. Get the truth. Don’t believe me. Read it, test it, know it.

1. It’s That-Yoga-Like-Thing. No way, not even close. This misconception spreads because people lack in-depth, sophisticated methods and materials for learning and understanding Tai Chi. Instructors at Colleges and Community Programs often lack deep experience in Tai Chi, though they believe they can teach it. Tai Chi teachers seek health benefits (they were told Tai Chi has health benefits), and they often include, in their curriculum, Yoga Breathing, Yoga Meditation, and Yoga Poses to supplement their lack of Tai Chi knowledge and skill. If they do this, get away. They might be bored; they certainly don’t know enough T’ai Chi to teach it.
2. T’ai Chi is for old people. Well, it is, but not exclusively. The geriatric reputation acquired by my favorite, intense, lively martial art is not deserving of this most Supreme, Ultimate, Death-Point-Striking Martial Art. My guess: pathetic or impotent Tai Chi teachers created this reputation. Damn fools really. How?…Why?…wonders I, guessing again:
   • greed — Tai Chi teachers got hungry for a new market of old, wealthy clients.
   • weakness: folks recovering broken hips use Tai Chi then teach low-grade Tai Chi
   • impotence. Yeah: maybe that.
   • trickery — it’s an easy path to Guru-Master-Sifu wherein one can spout Taoist rhetoric and acquire students who leap and hop when gently pushed. Add green money and big red banners: strike it rich!
3. It helps sick people. Sure it does, but not because they practice T’ai Chi Chuan: they’re moving around — that’s enough! Breathing and moving helps all bodies; that doesn’t mean they know authentic T’ai Chi. Better, more appropriate movements exist to eliminate sickness, recover from injury, heal trauma, and develop fitness. Simple things, like large arm circles, squatting, even push-ups, work better at recovering basic physical fitness. Do those: then come play Real Taiji.
4. T’ai-Chi is slow. This belligerent misconception drives negative health consequences into long-term practitioners. The indulgent marketing of Easy Tai Chi suggests something like You Can Remain Fat and Soft and Lazy with Tai Chi! Yes — we do Taiji slowly. Sure, it deepens our internal experience and manifests Key. Practice it slowly to reduce residual stress and tension, to smooth each joint’s motion and function, and to promote deep, long breathing. But too much slow equals too much Yin. Too Yin, too soft, too lazy — growing too Yin also means that your fantasies about your fighting prowess begin unfolding new and colorful visions of immense strength derived from supreme, ultimate laziness. Seek balance. Taiji is balanced Yin for Yang. Learn Fa-Jing shakes. Try Small San Sau.
5. Tai Chi is Spicy Tea. That’s Chai Tea. Chai Tea flows like Tai Chi, and they’re both liquid. Tai Chi’s hot like Chai Tea; they both steam. Chai Tea and Tai Chi get inside, warming the body and healing the organs. Oh, and, T’ai Chi Chuan, with potent martial applications and plentiful fighting drills and powerful combat forms: it’s spicy! Maybe they are the same.

The third section delivers deeper body movements and challenges our stretch reflex. Movements like Snake Creeps Down pound spring into your legs. Complex coiling in Lady-Weaves-at-Shuttles wrap the mind around four corners, and wild, whipping motions from Lotus Kick pop and lock energies in tight circles.

This third section is the final section. Thirds in the Yang Chen Fu Long Form are not thirds in terms of number of movements, but in terms of internal energy work. As such, this is the longest third, motion by motion. Each third demonstrates growth in stamina and development of inner body resources; in this one we go down and up from Snake Creeps Down into Rooster Stands on One Leg!

This Long Form develops health and healing in your whole body-mind-spirit. Learn it with Steven through RealTaiji; purchase and study Erle Montaigue’s Power Taiji to hammer this Tai Chi Chuan Form deeper into your sinews.

This is the finale of this flowing form. Each number on the following list begins and ends a posture. On the left side of the semi-colon, inhale; on the right side, exhale. This is a basic breath list, i.e. advanced form work changes the postures a little and the breathing a bit. If you have questions, please post comments, or call Steven Smith in Salt Lake City at 801-363-5757.

Use the Erle Montaigue video at the end of the list to empower your learning of this form.

Begin Third Section

0. This section begins right after the 2nd section’s Cross Hands…

1. Grip the Ball; Ride Tiger to the Mountain

Grasp the Swallow Tail

2. Arm Break (no breath); Draw Back; Squeeze

3. Sit Back; Press (often called Push)

4. Sit Back Ready; Fishes in Eight

5. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

6. Ward Off Hinge; Diagonal Flying SE

7. Ward Off Hinge; Diagonal Flying NE

8. Ward Off Hinge; Diagonal Flying SE

9. Sitting Block Turns North; Single Ward Off (left)

Grasp the Swallow Tail

10. Step right; Double Ward Off right

11. Draw Back; Squeeze (usually called Press)

12. Sit Back; Press (often called Push)

13. Sit Back Ready; Fishes in Eight

14. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

15. Cross Block Step; Fair Lady Weave Shuttles

16. Twist Turn Step; Fair Lady Weave Shuttles

17. Turn Step; Fair Lady Weave Shuttles

18. Twist Turn Step; Weave the Shuttles

19. Sitting Block Turn North; Single Ward Off (left)

Grasp Swallow’s Tail

20. Step right; Double Ward Off right

21. Draw Back; Squeeze (usually called Press)

22. Sit Back; Press (often called Push)

23. Sit Back Ready; Fishes in Eight

24. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

Wave Hands Like Clouds

25. Blocking Swipe; Closing Step Cloud Hands

26. Turn right (no breath); Opening-Step Cloud Hands; Turn left (no breath); Closing-Step Cloud Hands

27. Turn right (no breath); Opening-Step Cloud Hands; Turn left (no breath); Closing-Step Cloud Hands

28. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

29. Twist Feet with Leg Block; Snake Creeps Down

30. Hip Turn; Squeeze Forward

31. Rooster Stand on One Leg (left); Drop Back

32. Rooster Stand on One Leg (right) and Step Back; Repulse Monkey

33. Step Back; Repulse Monkey

34. Step Back; Repulse Monkey

35. Twisting Block; Parting Horse’s Mane

36. Lift Hands

37. Pull Down; Shoulder Press

38. Ward Off right; Stork Spreads Wings

39. Grip the Ball (right); Brush (left) Knee Twist Step

40. Single Weight (no breath); Threading; Needle Points at Deep Sea

41. Lifting; Fan Through Back

42. Turning Slap; Snake Spits Venom

43. Uppercut (no breath); Circle Fist; Step Forward Parry

44. Step Forward; Punch

45. Warding Hinge; Ward Off left

Grasp the Swallow Tail

46. Step right; Double Ward Off right

47. Draw Back; Squeeze (usually called Press)

48. Sit Back; Press (often called Push)

49. Sit Back Ready; Fishes in Eight

50. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

Wave Hands Like Clouds

51. Blocking Swipe; Closing Step Cloud Hands

52. Turn right (no breath); Opening-Step Cloud Hands; Turn left (no breath); Closing-Step Cloud Hands

53. Turn right (no breath); Opening-Step Cloud Hands; Turn left (no breath); Closing-Step Cloud Hands

54. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

55. Hold the Sky; High Pat on Horse

56. Step; Inspect Horse Mouth

57. Inward Crossing Hands; Press Outward

58. Heel Kick; Step

59. Step; Low Punch

60. Warding Hinge; Ward Off left

Grasp the Swallow Tail

61. Step right; Double Ward Off right

62. Draw Back; Squeeze (usually called Press)

63. Sit Back; Press (often called Push)

64. Sit Back Ready; Fishes in Eight

65. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

66. Twist Feet with Leg Block; Snake Creeps Down

67. Hip Turn; Squeeze Forward

68. Step Up; to Hold Seven Stars

69. Open Mind; Ride Tiger

70. Circle Swipe; right Toe Spin (clockwise) and Load Arms

71. Lotus Kick; Punch Ears and Shoot Tiger

72. Circle Fist; Step Forward Parry

73. Step Forward; Punch

74. Twist Back; Press Forward

75. Sit Back; Turning Strikes

76. Wide Step; Cross Hands

Close-Up

77. Circle Hands (downward, outward, upward) and Left Foot Touches Right Foot; Push Hands Down and Spread Feet to Normal Standing.

End and Final Third Third of Yang Chen Fu’s Long Form

Erle Montaigue’s Learn Tai Chi Free Part 27

You almost know it all: in Parts 27, 28, 29, you will finish the form. Master Montaigue does not repeat what you know already. Three videos consicely sum up this longest section.

This second third delivers vitality, unleashes kicking, coiling, and twisting powers of Taijiquan, and revs your fa-jing engine. The kicking movements of Separate-Legs and Heel-Kick drive us to deepen our balance. Cloud-Hands tightens Sung. Turn-around-and-Chop-with-Fist and Punch-Tiger-Left-and-Right wind us into hurricane intensity.

If every motion in your short form is the exact same speed, put down your Yin! This section contains the peak of the Yang Chen Fu Form: the crescendo, the climax, the potent spot. It’s subtle, but the motions feel sped up just a bit. It winds tight in the midst of Punching Tigers; it’s a whirlwind of delight. Funny, at  it’s basic level, it’s still slow, calm, and meditative. But inside—it’s wrapped tight.

This second section is another complete energy cycle inside your body. These thirds are not thirds in terms of number of movements, but in terms of internal energy work. As such, this is a long third, motion by motion.

The following complements your study of Erle Montaigue’s Power Taiji and your work with Real Taiji and Steven Smith.

Another inspiring list of movements where each number corresponds to one breath cycle (on the left side of the semi-colon, inhale; on the right side, exhale), learn bit by bit. Often in Taiji manuals, many breathing cycles and single motions get listed under one number because of the refrain-like repetition of movement sections. In this list however, each breath-motion is listed individually. Note also that this list represents basic breathing patterns; advanced form work reveals subtle adjustments in the postures and the breathing patterns.

If you have questions, please post comments, or call Steven Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA at 801- 363-5757.

Begin Second Section

0. This section begins right after the 1st section’s Cross Hands…

1. Grip the Ball; Ride Tiger to the Mountain

Grasp the Swallow’s Tail

2. Arm Break (no breath); Roll Back; Squeeze

3. Sit Back; Press (often called Push)

4. Sit Back Ready; Fishes in Eight

5. Sit Back Turning; Press (NW)

6. Rest Palms and Stand Evenly; Fist Under Elbow

7. Step Back; Repulse Monkey

8. Step Back; Repulse Monkey

9. Step Back; Repulse Monkey

10. Step Back; Repulse Monkey

11. Step Back; Repulse Monkey

12. Twisting Block; Parting Horse’s Mane

Lift Hands

13. Hands Sink (no breath); Turn North & Lift Wrists upward; Press Hand Edges Outward with Heel Stance

14. Pull Down; Shoulder Press

15. Ward Off right; Stork Spreads Wings

16. Grip the Ball (right); Brush (left) Knee Twist Step

17. Single Weight (no breath); Threading; Needle Points at Deep Sea

18. Lifting; Fan Through Back

19. Turn Around and Lock; Chop with Fist

20. Uppercut (no breath); Circle Fist; Step Forward Parry

21. Step Forward; Punch

22. Ward-Off & Hinge; Ward Off left

Grasp the Swallow Tail

23. Step right; Double Ward Off right

24. Draw Back; Squeeze (usually called Press)

25. Sit Back; Press (often called Push)

26. Sit Back Ready; Fishes in Eight

27. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

Wave Hands Like Clouds

28. Blocking Swipe; Closing Step Cloud Hands

29. Turn right (no breath); Opening-Step Cloud Hands; Turn left (no breath); Closing-Step Cloud Hands

30. Turn right (no breath); Opening-Step Cloud Hands; Turn left (no breath); Closing-Step Cloud Hands

31. Turn right (no breath); Opening-Step Cloud Hands; Turn left (no breath); Closing-Step Cloud Hands

32. Turn right (no breath); Opening-Step Cloud Hands; Turn left (no breath); Closing-Step Cloud Hands

33. Single Whip — Half-Hook Circle; Press West

34. Hold the Sky; High Pat on Horse

35. Step; Draw the Bow

36. Cross Hands; Press Outward

37. Separate Right Leg—Crescent Kick!; Step and Draw the Bow

38. Cross Hands; Press Outward

39. Separate Left Leg—Crescent Kick!; Heel Spin (counter-clock to East)

40. Cross Hands; Press Outward

41. Heel Kick; Hold Knee with Elbow

42. Step; Brush (left) Knee Twist Step

43. Grip the Ball (left); Brush (right) Knee Twist Step

44. Step; Low Punch

45. Turn Around with Arm Lock; Chop with Fist West

46. Uppercut (no breath); Circle Fist; Step Forward Parry

47. Step Forward; Punch

48. Warding Hinge; Ward Off left

49. Cross Hands; Press Outward

50. Heel Kick; Chop West

51. Step SE; Punch Tiger left

52. Step NW; Punch Tiger right

53. Step South; Punch Wind Through Ears

54. Cross Hands; Press Outward

55. Heel Kick; Chop the Knee and Punch Wind Through Ears

56. Cross Hands; Press Outward

57. Heel Kick; (right) Toe Spin (clockwise)

58. Cross Hands; Press Outward

59. Heel Kick; Circle Fist and Step Forward Parry

60. Step Forward; Punch

61. Twist Back; Press Forward

62. Sit Back; Turning Strikes

63. Step Wide; Cross Hands

64. Apparent Close-Up

End Second Third List

Erle Montaigue’s Learn Tai Chi Free Part 16

Here Master Montaigue shows Ride Tiger to the Mountain. Don’t worry, you’re ready; you learned the first third already. Watch his YouTube Videos through Part 26 for the full second section.

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.

Boost your learning speed by reading and digging through Erle Montaigue’s Power Taiji. Use the following list to supplement your process. And, at the end of this article, watch and learn with Erle’s free videos to learn this Form right now.

This is an exhausting list of movements. Each number corresponds to one breath cycle: on the left side of the semi-colon, inhale; on the right side, exhale. In many Taiji manuals, breathing and motions get bound by one number because of the incessant repetition of several sections of many movements throughout the form. Here, I list each breath-motion individually.

If you have questions, please post comments, or call Steven Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA at 801-363-5757.

Begin First Section:

1. Raise wrists; lower wrists

2. Block left; block right

3. Step left foot forward; Ward Off left

Grasp the Swallow’s Tail

4. Step with right foot; Double Ward Off right

5. Roll Back; Squeeze (usually called Press)

6. Sit Back; Press (often called Push)

7. Sit Back Ready; Fishes in Eight

8. Single Whip — Hooking Circle; Press West

Lift Hands

9. Hands Sink (no breath); Turn North & Lift Wrists upward; Press Hand Edges Outward with Heel Stance

10. Pull Down; Shoulder Press

11. Ward Off right; Stork Spreads Wings

12. Grip the Ball on the right; Brush (left) Knee Twist Step

13. Single Weight (no breath); Guard Heart; Play Guitar

14. Grip the Ball on the right; Brush (left) Knee Twist Step

15. Grip the Ball on the left; Brush (right) Knee Twist Step

16. Grip the Ball on the right; Brush (left) Knee Twist Step

17. Single Weight (no breath); Guard Heart; Play Guitar

18. Grip the Ball on the right; Brush (left) Knee Twist Step

Step Forward, Parry, Punch

19. Circle Fist (by left ear); Step Forward Parry (by right hip)

20. Step Forward; Punch

21. Twist Back Ready; Press Forward

22. Sit Back; Turning Strikes

23. Wide Step; Cross Hands

24. Apparent Close-Up

End First Section

Master Erle Montaigue’s Learn Tai Chi Form Free

Follow these YouTube Videos through Part 15 for the first third of Yang Chen Fu Form.

In Real Taiji we focus on fundamentals of T’ai Chi Chuan. Imagine big bricks and build the Tai Chi System of Fighting and Healing with

• form
• applications
• natural motions
• partner drills
• striking methods

While 5 physical fundamentals firmly found the fundamental foundation, advanced Tai Chi Chuan refines the fundamentals with finer points, fun, and finesse — c-back, explosive energy, eagle vision, dragon mind, death-point striking, healing energy, internal energy circulation, meditation, silk reeling, and weapon training, just to name a few. We focus on the fundamental foundation and we fine tune this subtle internal art by flirting with advanced training method of T’ai Chi Chuan.

Lifting Upward

Flirting with advanced Taiji draws out the Qi. Visiting with advanced concepts briefly but consistently, allows us to build experience with internal motions and lets us taste little tastes of Qi experiences.

Learn outlines of Dragon Prawn Boxing (the Vertical Methods) and practice just for a bit, concentrating not-too-precisely on the form of the motions, feeling more for c-back and eye gazing methods. Practice for 20 minutes; return to it later.

We tease our Tai Chi one little advanced experience at a time. Our little experience with Dragon Prawn Boxing may sink into our form. We might begin to feel our spine moving or discover, with our Eagle-Eyes, the unity of shadows. Motion in an opponent’s push-hands might be seen in shadow shapes, as they happen, easily.

Returning to the Dragon Prawn Boxing, we discover that’s it’s easier and that we can go faster with less effort. Little by little, we flirt with the Qi.

Attention Tension: Tunnel Vision

In contrast, narrowly or tightly focusing on advanced concepts, might suppress our ability to discover advanced Tai Chi energies.

Too much focus, too much attention (at-tension), and you chase off the Qi. If I, for example, focus wholly on Death-Point-Striking, I may learn the points and develop some aggressive energies, but it’s unlikely that I gain an ability to affect Acu-Points in a stressful environment; that’s why knockouts you see in seminars are done with cooperative victims.

Likewise, when softness and relaxation become the whole emphasis in Taijiquan generally or in Pushing Hands in particular, minds numb with fantasies of fighting without force. This soft-concept is not a Foundation, rather, it’s an advanced kind of finesse, or, in many case, it’s fantasy.

Stake the foundation of practice into

• natural motion exploration
• proper and detailed form movements
• visual and kinesthetic form applications
• repetitive tension-relaxation training
• light striking practices

Tease out Qi concepts and movements, with finesse, fun, tact, and precision, by flirting with one drill, one method, one experience at a time.

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

1. exploring natural joint motions
2. form practice (and some Qi-gong)
3. application visualizations
4. push-hands training (structural, not spaghetti-style)
5. striking practices

Classes and class components evolve and compound upon one another.

1. Range-of-Motion exercises. We explore motility —natural, spontaneous motion— and we therefore amplify the freedom and power of each joint and joint system easily and naturally. Our explorations are unweighted at first; if there’s time we may explore body-weighted range of motion exercises.

2. Yang Chen Fu Long Form. We practice complete energetic sections and study individual movements of this Long Form in detail, to your level. This form sinks deeper and grows fantastic as your experience with it evolves. Your motion, both internal and external, develops finesse, grace, and beauty.

3. Form Applications ~ Combat & Healing. Many traditional combat applications exist for the movements in this form; we cover many common applications and some not-so common exciting applications. We also encourage how-to-think-about and how-to-feel-through movements, i.e. we may, through visual explorations, discover application meanings. Each movement also contains personal health applications; the movements, done slowly, like Qi-Gong, set-up peculiar healing potential in organ systems. And individual motions contain healing concepts when applied to others. Whew! We have a lot to do, so we cover it in little bits in the direction that your interests and questions take us.

4. Reflexive Push Hands (non-competitive). Never neglected, this fine drill forms the backbone of internal development. Single Push Hands founds our foundational building blocks of our protective attack reflex and response. This is not softy nor tournament style Pushing Hands; rather, it’s a martial application of pressurized Pushing Hands (we keep pressure between players) that teaches us to react to attacks like we react when our hand gets too close to a hot stove. Whoosh — we react reflexively!

5. Striking Practice. We practice simple striking methods—like elbow strikes—to explore quick, coiling, explosive movements. These methods hot-wire our self-defense by creating attack prowess. All the striking we do in Tai Chi Chuan brings us into the eye of the hurricane and devastates opponents at close range, quick and easy. We develop Fa-Jing Power by exploring these explosive strikes.

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 Fantasy suppresses Truth and Word oppresses Knowledge.

Severed from Natural Existentials, bathed in Luxuries of the Modern Age, and (seemingly) protected by Law from Aggression and Violence, we discover difficulties in examining Fighting and Healing from Real Perspectives. Martial arts tournaments keep safe with rules, and healers make a killing (HMOs — don’t get me started!). Neither tie us to Reality nor tether us to the Heritage of Being-Human.

Over years, T’ai Chi Chüan has degraded in its Efficacy as Martial Art and, therefore, in its Potency as Healing Art. In this age, finding a Good Form is tough; seeing a Quality Form is tougher; discovering a Good Teacher, oh so, difficult. If you don’t know Tai Chi, instructors are lurking in every New Age publication. Watch out.

Taiji Practice: To-Do and Not-To-Do

Our practice becomes, in part, an attempt to Be Real. We deny Faith Healers and Qi-Fakers their power. If you Seek Instruction, watch for: does the Spine or Belly in Teacher initiate movement in Hands? Likewise, does the Form look simultaneously Beautiful and Devastating? Often it looks like one or the other: Quality Taijiquan demonstrates both.

Attempt to Touch Truth, to experience the Raw Nature of the World. The practice of The Supreme Ultimate Fist is one of Plunging into the Deep Corners of: the Body, the Mind, and Spirit Energies. Some of it’s so subtle and so surprising, it’s not easy. Easy Tai Chi is Not Tai Chi. This is never a Quick Process; Learn-Fast Tai Chi is just another Hoax exposing the Desperate and Fragile Mind of us Western Fools.

That Genius who invented, what I call (the World Taiji Boxing Association’s version), Yang Lu-chen Long Form gave us a Great Gift: a long, detailed, and sophisticated exploration of Body, Mind, and Spirit. It’s this practice that’s so important. Over and over, every time, that same Form is never the same.

Practice is, inevitably, bit by bit, right now, right here. Daily Practice (maybe 2-4 times daily practice) is more potent than Loyalty to our instructors, more poignant than Paying big bucks, and more powerful than long hours of Practice Once per month. Every moment that we connect to Taiji, is another spent discovering the Confidence, Freedom, Power, and Compassion that lurks inside.

Try it now….

Yang Lu-chen’s Long Form by Erle Montaigue

Part 1: Old Yang Style Learn Taiji Free

Part 2: Old Yang Style Learn Taiji Free

Go To Part 3: Old Yang Style Learn Taiji Free

Go To Part 4: Old Yang Style Learn Taiji Free

Immerse in the fundamentals of internal work. The emphasis in this workshop is self-awareness and healing potential. You will have a chance to dismantle belief systems and disrupt thought processes by exploring feeling-awareness.

• natural breathing
• reverse breathe
• tense
• relax
• find subtle waves
• examine cranial fluid waves in particular

We’ll use specific bits from World Taiji Boxing Association’s Yang Chen Fu’s Long Form; in particular, know Lift Hands and Cloud Hands. Qigong and a bit of ground work will deepen the breathing and the being-breathed sensations.

At my house: 130 S 1300 E, Salt Lake City, Utah. Call for details (801) 363-5757.

Do your best to know Lift Hands and Cloud Hands. Follow these basic versions by Erle Montaigue.

Lift Hands

Cloud Hands

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.

This basic-level Small San Sau workshop reveals Small San Sau’s easy repetitions and simple motions demonstrate powerful fighting and healing principles of Taijiquan, and it will also prepare you for Salt Lake City’s World Taiji Boxing Association Workshop, with Eli Montaigue, September 27 and 28, 2008 .

Basic Small San Sau — this workshop passed by you, but there will be another. When you’re ready, you can also schedule private lessons with me.

In this Small San Sau Workshop, explore…

• 21 Easy Steps
• 8 Repetitive Sections
• Easy, Powerful Striking Methods
• Healing Points, Healing Principles
• Random Attacking-Defense
• Eagle Vision

We’ll cover as much depth and breadth of this stuff as time will allow. During the workshop, get you form questions answered, particularly about Ward Off, Double Ward Off, Roll Back, Squeeze, Sit Back, Press, Sit Back Ready, Fishes in Eight, and Single Whip. Watch and learn…

The 22 Steps of Basic Small San Sau in 9 Sections:

I. Blocking Attacks

• 1. Block Left with Right Neck Attack; Relax
• 2. Block Right with Left Neck Attack; Relax
• 3. Block Left with Right Neck Attack…

II. Peng, Lu, Ji: Ward Off, Double Ward Off, Roll Back, Sqeeze

• 4. Peng/Hinge Block Right, Bounce-Backfist
• 5. Peng/Hinge Block Left, Bouncing Vertical-Backfist
• 6. Slam Right Arm, Scisssors Left Arm, Ji-Squeeze Floating Ribs

III. Press Application 1

• 7. Block Arm & Elbow on Right, Throat Punch
• 8. Block Arm & Elbow on Left, Throat Punch
• 9. Block Arm & Elbow on Right, Throat Punch

IV. Press Applications 2 & 3

• 10. Block Left & Tiger Punch, Arm Twist, Rib Slam
• 11. Circle Block, Arm Twist, Rib Slam
• 12. Pulling Elbows to Head Butt then Fajing Press!

V. Fishes in Eight

• 13. Fishes-in-Eight Blocking Twist, Left attack
• 14. Fishes-in-Eight Blocking Twist, Right attack

VI. Hook Blocking & Hook Punching

• 15. Hook Block, Reverse Hook Punch
• 16. Hook Block, Forward Hook Punch
• 17. Hook Block, Arm-Twist-Lock

VII. Hook Blocking & Palm Slamming

• 18. Blocking Hooks, Palm Slam
• 19. Palm-Slap & Hook Block, Palm Slam
• 20. Palm-Slap & Hook Block, Palm Slam

VIII. Abrupt Finish

• 21. Double Neck Slam, Finish