Tai Chi Article

The competition routine of Chen styleTai Chi Chuan is famous for its distinctive rhythm and the magnificent postures. When practicing, it is important to emphasize on the “spiral twisting force ” and the basic requirement of relaxing, agility and springing which are the special features of Chen style Tai Chi Chuan. The movements stress on the twisting of the torso . The twisting force of the upper and lower limbs are connected through the twisting motion of the spine and the changes of folding in the chest and the abdomen in order to obtain a full twisting force all over the body. For the upper limbs, twist the arm and wrist in coordinately like twisting a wet cloth dry. For the lower limbs, twist the ankles, the thighs and the calves in like driving in a screw. For the force, you should avoid over emphasize releasing the force which would result in displaying a stiff force or a false one. After releasing the force, it is imperative to maintain the continuity with the next movements without the severance in the force.

Methods to overcome such obstacles: In order to master the correct techniques of the force releasing, you should bear in mind that it is “from the extreme softness to the extreme hardness”. At the beginning, you should emphasize the extension of the body movements from the internal motions to the twisting motions and finally to the external releasing of the force. It is also important to specifically train the force releasing of individual movement and other supplementary exercises such as the exercises of the flexibility and the “pole trembling” exercise.

The hand forms of Chen style Tai Chi Chuan are also different from other Tai Chi Chuan techniques. The main difference is that the palm is in the form of a Chinese tile and slightly retracted inward with the thumb and the little, finger slightly folded and facing each other, and the tip of finger slightly pointed backward. This is in agreement with its attacking features and a distinctive difference of Chen style from others, so you should remember not to confuse it with other style of Tai Chi Chuan. The “Hook Form” of Chen style Tai Chi Chuan is also different as it is a natural clutching of all fingers. For the footwork, rubbing the moving foot with the stationary one before treading out is also a distinctive feature of Chen style. Sometimes the learners missed the rubbing motion, it is usually related to the strength in the footwork and the understanding of the “emptiness and solidity” besides the differences in the ground quality. In addition, accuracy regarding where and when the feet should rub against each other is also great importance. You should specifically train the footwork techniques separately, and should strengthen the legs and feet through practicing standing stances.