Posts Tagged Yang Chen Fu Form
The Intense Third and Final Section of the Yang Chen Fu Long Form
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!
Read Yang Chen Fu Form Part 3 »
The Vital Second Section of the Yang Chen Fu Long Form
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.
Read Yang Chen Fu Form Part 2 »
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.
