~Stretching
~Loosening
~Taiji Walking
~Finding Full & Empty
~"Beginning" Posture
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The new Karate Kid movie w/ Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith involves them traveling to train at Wudangshan. There are a few clips of the mountains (and the Dragon Incense Burner) in the new trailer, below.
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New Material:
1. Single Step Drilling Method
2. SSDM (above) Straight Pushing Strike
3. SSDM Double Pushing Strike (separating)
4. SSDM Double Pushing Strike (Rotating outward)
5. Walking in a circle (arms open)
6. Power from root
7. Rooting in Turning Method.
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My instructor, Zhou Xuan Yun, recently posted a sword form video from a Chinese New Years event. I wanted to pass it on, showing the beauty of Wudang Sword Style.
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Image via WikipediaThrough your training at Hundred Schools of Thought Martial Arts, your Baguazhang training will be rooted in a few practices of Baguazhang which Instructor Michael A. Vollero has practiced. The majority of this training is based in the Yin Style--including the forms, drilling methods, and overall approach--with influence from other Baguazhang systems and various Taijiquan systems for the approach to combat Instructor Vollero subscribes to. Because all forms of Baguazhang are so vastly different, it is important to understand the undertaking this course will put you through.
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Today's orientation class covered a great deal of materials. Make sure to practice at least the form aspect, and try to incorporate the breathing methods discussed whenever it comes to mind. Everything will be reviewed at our next class meeting.
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Representative Strengthening Posture -- Remember this posture should have the arms in front of the shoulders, and the back should be rounded while the chest is concaved. The posture twists, but the knees stay wide, and both feet have pressure. The side you're turning towards should have the majority of your weight, and that hand is on the inside during application.
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"In the north, Shaolin is respected.
In the south, Wudang is revered."
In the south, Wudang is revered."
Wudang is most famous for their Taijiquan, which sometimes overshadows the diversity of martial arts found in these secluded mountains. At Wudang the students begin their training with their own styles of traditional wushu (kung fu). These build the necessary skills for children's innate Yang energy, and condition/discipline their hearts and bodies for the world outside the monastery. Realizing the longterm investment and commitment one must have in their Taijiquan practice, students are offered a more external martial art to begin, which slowly teaches the students how to convert this Li force into Qi. Here is the internalization process most martial arts begin to practice after high levels are reached in ranking systems.
The initial stages of the Wudang Gongfu curriculum offered at Hundred Schools of Thought Martial Arts are similar to most styles. Beginning with basic stretches and exercises, the student finds their way into stance work. Along with this are stretching kicks and core strengthening standing postures. After a student is confident in these skills, they move on to learn the basic punching and kicking methods. These are uniquely full-body, and teach the martial artist how to appropriately deliver force. After much practice, the student can begin to use less and less physical force, and more and more internal.
Form training will begin once the basics are covered, starting with Jibenquan. This basic set utilizes a student's need for agility and fluid body motion. All the techniques involved are drilled and practiced with partners for application to appropriately comprehend the style's usage of these movements.
From here, students are then brought into the rotation of currently trained forms. Since each Wudang set can be considered it's own style (within the general basics covered with Jibenquan), the currently trained form is offered to all current students. In some cases students will drill separate forms in the case that the current skill set is too advanced.
Training consists of regular strengthening postures and standing meditation. Courses also include Qigong and breathing skills, necessary for internal martial arts. Regular drilling and reviewing are necessary for students to develop high level skill, along with constant sensitivity training and application work.
Students will be introduced to many methods of skill development and strengthening/conditioning for internalizing their power. Students are requested to practice outside of class regular if they wish to truly develop a high level of skill. But for those looking to learn and grow spiritually, it is in each student's own hands on how much effort and time they wish to put into their own training.
By enrolling in the Wudang Gongfu Core Course, students are welcome to come to any of the classes on the schedule listed as "Wudang Gongfu" which have open enrollment. Details on individual classes will be available upon signing up.
Through private enrollment and semi-private group instruction, the material and curriculum will be developed on a sign up basis. These are structured with the individual's requests in mind.
Current Skill: Fuhuquan
For the Year of the Tiger, the beginning Quanfa (combat system) is Fuhuquan. This is translated as "Tiger Taming Fist." Considered an intermediate form, the power in this system is developed through the ferocity of the martial artist reacting to the attacks of their opponent. Many people also refer to this form as, "Wudang Tiger Style" or an alternative Chinese name of , Xiang Long Fu Hu Quan" translating to "Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger Form."
It is said this form derives from a village outside of Wudang where tigers were a threat to the villagers and their livestock. This set was developed to help the locals protect themselves and their livelihoods. While a wandering Wudang priest was visiting this village, he learned this skill and introduced it to the Wudang lineage. Since then, it has been reformed and adjusted to fit the Sanfeng Pai basic skills. After generations of practice this form represents the energy needed to deal with such overwhelming force with agility and internal power.
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The use of inner alchemy in Taijiquan is an exciting transformation to see in a student. The basic theory through the practice of Taijiquan involves a student to learn to turn strength into qi, and qi into spirit. This idea is the transition of force into suppleness, then suppleness into empty intent. This process cannot exist only on a martial level though. It is a psychological and spiritual change which takes place over the years of practice and development. In this way, Wudang Taijiquan will begin with what seems like complex physical postures and motions. But over time, one begins to blur the lines between these positions so that it is only their energy or qi carrying them. After experiencing this, the final stage is that of allowing their spirit to guide their qi, which guides their body.
The health aspects are life changing. I myself attribute the healing of a long term back injury with Taijiquan practice in my youth. After a devestating car crash, I could no longer train my traditional shaolin wushu. Through Taijiquan, my spine was rehabilitated and my practice grew. When I left for Wudang in the summer of 2009, I had tore apart my elbow while training with a friend. My arm was in a sling and brace. But after a week at Wudang, my mind simply forgot I was injured, and with constant practice day and night the injury never showed itself again.
The first development of Taijiquan will be core strength. With the low stances and long standing postures training, a student develops a healthier core, and strengthens all their joints. This helps protect the body from injuries such as hyper extensions, twisted joints, or pulled muscles. With the addition of stretching and flexibility training, the student also increases their potential, agility, and sense of equilibrium. All of these factors build into one's everyday life.
The belief in vital force or qi can vary from school to school. I take an agnostic approach in which I do not preach or expect my students to believe in any aspect of qi other than what they want to take from it. One can interpret the successful use of qi to proper body alignment, applying angles appropriately through sensitivity of force, to many other factors that go into good Taijiquan form. But there is a truth to the it no matter your view. The idea of applying qi can mean any of these things, or simply the mystical energy which flows through all living creatures. No matter how you see this, it develops the same affects on the body which are proven and time tested.
As far as martial arts and application go, Taijiquan will be a long hard struggle for success. But it blossoms many rewards along the way. At first, the student will learn to deal with oncoming strength, and find ways to react by listening to the opponent's energy. It is not expect that the student will avoid using all force in return, but by learning to listen, the advantage is already gained. Over time, the amount of force being returned decreases, while sensitivity to the oncoming force increases. The ability to remove your own physical intentions from the situation will allow the opponent to dictate your actions. Once in this place, usually a frustration arises, and with continued practice, you will overcome the notion of techniques and "situations" and begin to see the principles of Taijiquan show themselves in the way your body reacts and deals with situations instinctualy.
The vastness of this article could go on forever, so I shall leave you here. Please comment, email, or call with any questions or concerns, and I will do my best to help you find an answer. Although there are many styles and forms of Taijiquan, my home is here with the Wudang arts. No matter the lineage or art form, the most important factor is how your art makes you feel. I will never pressure a student to believe one art or form is superior to another, as they all offer different things at different points in their training. But what I do offer are courses on developing the skills at taught to me by my instructors, and sharing the beauty that I have spent my lifetime searching for.
Best of Wishes in your travels, trainings, and experiences!
~Instructor Michael A. Vollero (夏逍鵬)
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Image via WikipediaThe history of the Wudang Mountains is vast and legendary. But the birth of Taijiquan is nothing short of this also. It is attributed to a monk named Zhang Sanfeng. It is said he watched a snake and condor fight to develop the basics of the system. From his practice, he created 13 basic postures which were then passed down over the years to become all the different forms of Taijiquan you see today.
Chen Style's first master, Chen Wangting, attributes their initial master learning from a Daoist priest. In Baguazhang, the same is said of Dong Haichuan. But all of these martial arts have grown into many things over the centuries. The wide array of Taijiquan systems can be as different as Chen Style to Zheng Style. But the main form taught at Hundred Schools of Thought Martial Arts is unique in that they refer to it as the "mother form."
The idea of what Taijiquan is is spread across the internet, and the many Wikipedia links included in this article will be useful in explaining this. The main point for me to share is that Taijiquan is translated the fighting systems of the Taiji principles. The Taiji is the icon or symbol of Yin & Yang. This is the principle of Yin filling the space and flowing with the Yang force. Receptive and supple force listening and following aggressive and determined force. In this artform, the student learns to deal with attacks and aggression by becoming and utilizing the presence of Yin in every situation. Allowing the opponent's attacks to lead, while your force listens to their energy and allow them to fail.
HSOT-MA's Wudang Taijiquan Core Courses focuses on the develop of Taijiquan through the Wudang Sanfeng Pai 13 Principle Taijiquan Form. To break down this name a bit:
Wudang is used to represent it is of the Wudang moutains, a general term for the area from which the art comes from.
Sanfeng Pai is the Sanfeng sect of which the form has been passed through. My instructor in Boston, Zhou Xuan Yun, along with his brother at Wudang whom introduced me to the form, Chen Shiyu, are both 15th generation masters in this lineage.
13 Principles refers to the 13 principles of Taijiquan which Zhang Sanfeng is said to have developed. This is sometimes referred to as the 13 postures.
Taijiquan for the family of martial arts it is based in.
Form is a bit deceiving. It is taught as a form, and the motions are contained in the form. But each of the Wudang forms are complete systems of martial theory and their own style by many accounts. A master may focus and train on a single form their entire life, or learn a variety of forms.
This system though also can go by other names:
Wudang Taiji 13, Zhang Sanfeng Taijiquan, Wudang Taiji 13 Postures, and any other combination you can think of using these terms.
The 13 principles used in this form are beginning (qishi ), embracing a ball (baoqiushi), single pushing (dantuishi), exploring (tanshi), holding (tuoshi), pouncing (pushi), loading (danshi), separating (fenshi), waving (yunshi), dissolving (huashi ), pushing on both sides (shuangtuishi), pushing down (xiashi), & finishing (shoushi).
But the form is also broken down into 8 basic movements with 5 types of stepping. combining all of these together, the form reaches approximately 60 postures in length. Although some of this is repetition, the unbelievable variety in techniques is stunning.
This form also practices a line theory found in many martial arts. Unlike most Taijiquan forms, this form basically travels a line (with stepping off the line done onto a regular second line). This unique line theory offers students an interesting truth to help see all of the applications and ranges of the techniques clearly, as it is not complicating the form with additional directions and changes (other than learning important the turning principles).
Once completed, this form takes aproximately 7-10 minutes to preform at a moderate pace, and can be down quickly in approximately 3 minutes. Through your training in this form, the changes of pace and play of speed will help students develop higher skill, health, and application.
Move on to Part 2...
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