Tai Chi Productions Guide Blog

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.

The footwork of the combined advancing and retreating is one of the main characteristics of Sun style Tai Chi Chuan. It requires the “follow up step” when advancing and the “draw in step” when retreating just like a worm wriggling and the leaf floating in the water. The routine presents the liveliness when moving, precision in its paces, suitable distance in its steps, lightness and agility in its footwork. When stepping up, move your legs steadily between the emptiness and the solidness with your weight sunk in the center under the crotch. While shifting the weight, keep the body steady without the obvious ups and downs. When the hind leg follows up onto the fore leg, the distance in between is approximately 10 cm and a springing force should also be concealed within the movement. When retreating, relax the waist, sink the crotch down and draw in your leg. The advancing and retreating should be performed like sliding on an arc in the steady and even speed.

During practice, such faults often occur: the hind leg is forced to lift up when stepping forward; when shifting the weight, there is no changes in the internal strength and the landing point is not precise; the distance between both feet is either too close or too far; you may step onto the other foot when turning foot inward and the steps may be drifted without a sunken strength.

Methods to overcome such obstacles:

First, understand the essential character of the footwork. Then, practice the advancing and retreating with the aid of the signs and marks (such as drawing lines on the ground) to limit the distance and the landing points of the steps.

The opening and closing of hands is another important characteristic in the competition routine of Sun style. When opening or closing hands, pay attention to the changes of your chest during the breath with the elbows and the shoulders sunk and prevent the elbows from lifting up or lacking of the internal force and the “Qi”.

Methods to overcome such obstacles: Properly understand the essentials of the movement by using the stimulation of the external force, such as the resistant force and the supporting force and the key points of the movement. You can hold a ruler or a stick with the same length as your face and from the opening hands stance to overcome the wrong movements of the hands.

The Wu Hao style Tai Chi Chuan has very prominent characteristics. Every movement strictly follows the sequence of the “commence, succession, open and close”. By looking at its movement you can easily discover that although there is a consistent intermission between every major connection of movements, the momentum is not in anyway broken but carried through with the special emphasis on the internal movements and the internal strength. Sometimes a few complete movements are grouped into one combination but it still follows the sequence. This is the distinctive characteristic of Wu Hao style.

It is important for you to avoid the ambiguous and incorrect display of the movements and the omission of the necessary sequences in case losing the color of Wu Hao style Tai Chi Chuan. When practicing, it is advisable to practice them separately by breaking the external movements into 4 sequences before connecting them up.

Another one of the characteristics of Wu Hao style is never let your hands extend over your feet. Wu Hao style has the strict requirement that the hands should be corresponded with the feet by not extending over the toes. Many practitioners who are used to practicing other competition routines are not used to this requirement.

Methods to overcome such obstacles: Understand the characteristics of Wu Hao style Tai Chi Chuan first and try to find out the ways in technique. The main method is to practice the angle of the joints, portray it onto the body posture through training and gradually form into a habit.

It is also a difficult skill for the beginners and many practitioners of other Tai Chi Chuan style in not being allowed to overlap the left and right hands. The key is the movement of the waist. You can start from training your body movements such as using signs to guide the trail of the hands. The signs can be the zip of the coat or your chest where you can refer to limit the trail of your hands.

The characteristics of the body movements in the competition routine of Wu Hao style is very prominent. The key points are as the followings: Keep your chest in, stretch the back, round the crotch, protect the wrist, lift your head, hold the crotch, drop the shoulders and elbows, jump, deflect, align the coccyx, sink the “Qi” down to “Dan Tien”, and clarify the emptiness and solidness.

The competition routine of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan emphasize the outstretched and open-handed movements which are more gentle and slightly slower than others. The whole et has the feature of the coherence, agility, outstretching with steadiness and elegance, You should avoid over extend the movements and paying too much attention to the visual attractiveness which would easily result in the distortion of the movements like kneeling posture and lifting heels. Over emphasize the gentleness will also result in transforming this routine into calisthenics drill and failing to display its stability and strength.

Methods to overcome such obstacles: Focus on the key techniques of Tai Chi Chuan besides practicing the standard movements. You should supplement your daily practice with the training methods such as the hand pushing exercise to understand the key and basics of Yang Tai Chi Chuan and maintain the special feature of this form.

Get ready in advance and begin on time:

Appropriate and sufficient preparations in advance will be helpful in getting good results during the competition. The preparations include a good knowledge of the competition ground, the direction of the performance and duration allowed for warming up. In most cases, it is advisable to begin warming up 20~30 minutes before the competition by jogging slowly, rehearsing the full set of the routine or concentrating on the important movements. Warming up exercise is considered sufficient when you begin to perspire slightly and feel comfortable with the pulse rate around 120 times per minute. This is not, however, a universal standard for every participant since everybody has his own habits and body conditions. It is considered the best when you can best display your skills. The conditions of the competition grounds is also important. You should check whether it is carpeted, and if so, check the quality of the carpet. You should also check how many participants will be allowed to perform simultaneously and the position of yours. The direction of the performance( to the referees and judges accordingly) and the quality of the allowed costumes are also important points you need to notice.