I think I’ll go ahead and get this off my chest. The following is a short video clip of me, Taijiquestion, doing some Chen-style movements:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JDk_e_SlV_k&feature=related
People have been pretty good to read my blog, comment, refrain from comment 
, advise, and generally put up with me on the internet. So here’s a peek at some personal background if you’re interested.
I’m not really looking for comments here. I know enough about taiji (I think) to make some critique of this, both pro and con. It’s not terrible, and it’s not that good. In fact, it’s just a guy trying stuff out and managing to not completely screw up. Some points:
I’ve never had a Chen taiji lesson… or even seen a genuine Chen performance in the flesh. If you think that makes me something of a charlatan, I can accept that. Don’t bother telling me.
When I started working on this stuff, Chen taiji was not at all well known. Things are changing though.
I had actually stopped practicing “Chen” for several months, but then an occasion came up that I wanted a vid, so I brushed-up for a few days and shot 3 reps, this being #3 if I remember correctly.
I can actually do the stomps, leaps, and fajings (at least, novice versions of them). But I painstakingly smoothed them out of my routine, aiming instead for a smoother, gentler version. Also I blended in some various influences from various Chen masters, for various reasons.
I bow to the many folks out there who have managed to put a great deal more time and sffort into their MA practice than I, so far, have. Thanks to many of you for guiding me in various ways. Wish I had a good Yang style video of me but… I don’t. My blog tells the complete genesis of what’s up with me & taiji. Here’s an extra dose of honesty, just a middle-aged guy with good knees, a Chinese suit, and some kung fu lite. Still on the taiji quest every day, no plans to change.
June 8, 2008 at 8:41 pm
You move smooth. You’re better than Chen Man Ching (this is not sarcasm, I mean it). I know; he did Yang Style. But it’s Taiji nevertheless, and you do it well.
Consider this (though you may know it)…you’re body begins the motion and your hands do it. In order to really make that happen, for the length of each move, your wrists should change.
Every other joint changes fluidly; that’s the easier part. The common error though is that people focus so much on the hands, the wrists change statically, at the end or beginning of movements. They should change throughout each motion.
Good job learning from…what did you learn it from? books, videos?
My last bit: Fajing is not not-smooth. It’s explosive! Quick-smooth. In hard styles the motion ends; in Taiji fajing is an abrupt change in speed, not fluidity. So smooth your fajing in.
Peace.
Steven Smith
June 9, 2008 at 7:30 am
Dang, Steven, you submitted a comment I just can’t resist. I was prepared to delete any flames.
Don’t know about being better than the Professor, but that’s OK. It takes confidence to press on in these arts, I don’t think we can progress if we truly believe we suck. So it’s good to see the yin-yang of the glass that is half empty, half full.
Have to find something that we can build on, just as every great structure needed that first simple but essential cornerstone.
Yeah, over a period of several years of constant study and experimentation I cobbled together the first half of the Chen 56 Forms, using books, videos, blogs, websites, my existing movement skills, and the movements I do at my daily work.
The hands twining is something I tried to study a lot but made little meaningful progress in. There as in many other areas, a good teacher could have made the difference; and quicker no doubt.
What you say about fajing does sound right in tune with what I know of Chen technique. But in aiming for connectedness I went in for a more Yang-style flavor to my Chen. Then I started Yang classes, and put the Chen aside. Currently I’m trying to go back and grow the meditational (for lack of a better term) and intentional aspects before I try to learn more forms.
Thanks for your input.
June 11, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I see that a viewer named Cagirz has commented on my Youtube “Chen demo”. I honestly hadn’t planned to initiate a discussion about this clip, but apparently I didn’t disable comments… and I certainly can’t complain about people making valid comments to published material.
This one seemed pretty good:
>>>”you need to brush your feet against the ground more and lower your stances, it seems you can feel the qui and you are concentrated, but you are not doing chen. i think sun style will fit your “feeling” much better. thanks for your video. “<<<
My reactions:
One’s taiji journey can have plenty of ironies. As with virtually all the elements of Chen Style, I was ga-ga over “brush steps” and the concept helped me to learn about taijiquan. But another source got me thinking about the benefits of picking up my feet. In fact, this video was made just about the time I started to blatantly redefine the relationship of my stepping feet with the ground. What you see here is me try to avoid any brushing or dragging.
“…seems you can feel the qi and are concentrated…”: as with Steven’s comments, I’m going to take this with a grain of salt precisely because it’s favorable. I think the potential was there for sure even in this rusty performance, but needing tons of work. I’ve tried to put in that work during the past year; though with Yang Style.
“…but you are not doing Chen.” I think this hits the nail on the head for a variety of reasons. Chen form gave me something to sink my teeth into, but without a teacher I never got the taste.
“I think Sun style will fit much better.” Interesting, rather perceptive I would say. Thanks Cagirz for making these observations.
June 12, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Your blog is real nice reading, but your effort in training should be guided: please get a teacher and train in a group more often!
June 13, 2008 at 7:07 am
Yes, thanks, that’s the trajectory I’m on.
First came fooling around by myself. Then came a class environment with nice flavor and good vibes, but no corrections offered at that price, at that level. So next step should be an environment where bonehead mistakes are not excused, but addressed.
I’m in no hurry. If my hobby was sailboating or coin collecting, I would still have to work it into my actual daily situation. The appeal of MA is that there’s always a way to get some kung into your day. I can’t sneak in a sailboat that easily! But seriously, thanks for your good wishes, Bai yiming.
June 15, 2008 at 1:59 am
Ya, take your time and enjoy yourself!