Author: Ling Shui Tai Chi

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Pao Chui - The Old Frame Canon Fist

The Chen Taijiquan Old Frame consists of two forms: Laojia Yilu and Laojia Erlu.

Laojia Yilu (often referred to in our classes as the 74 form) contains all the essential elements of Chen Style Tai Chi. It consists of 74 movements (well, the clue was in the name) and takes around 15 minutes to complete. Committing the sequence to memory is an achievement in itself and some students are content to focus on the shorter forms such as Chen Zhenglei's 18 Movement form , but for those who persevere a deeper understanding and appreciation of Tai Chi awaits.

As knowledge and skill levels increase Laojia Erlu beckons the dedicated student. Also known as Pao Chui or Canon Fist, it features explosive energy releases in the form of strikes, kicks and jumps that are far more reminiscent of a Kung Fu fighting form than most peoples idea of Tai Chi.

The video below features Master Zheng Dongxia performing a version of the form. Apart from the fact that it's beautifully executed, she performs it slowly enough that you can clearly see her movements. She also helpfully explains what she's doing as she moves through the form. Shame it's in Mandarin without subtitles!

 

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How can Tai Chi be a fighting art?

Chen-style Taiji Quan, or simply Tai Chi as it's more commonly known here in the west, is best known for its slow movements and increasingly well documented health benefits. What is perhaps less well known is that it's actually a martial art built around the philosophy of Yin-Yang and the concepts of small defeating big and soft beating strong.

In the video below Sifu Kleber Battaglia (an Italian Wing Chun practitioner based in Shanghai) visits Chen Jiagou and spends time with Master Chen Ziqiang. Whilst there he discovers the the true martial power of Chen Style Tai Chi...

 

 

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Tai Chi 8 Strengths/Energies

Anyone who's tried, or even just read about Tai Chi will have encountered talk of energy.

 

The Chinese paradigm of Qi and Jin can be confusing to western minds when first encountered, but we're really just discussing how we move our bodies. The language of Newtonian mechanics (ie: potential and kinetic energy) can serve just as well to describe the process of storing and releasing energy in the body, but to fully understand how this energy is expressed we need to consider something called the 8 Strengths/Energies which underpin all movements within Chen Style Tai Chi.

 

In our weekly sessions we often practice a standing exercise which cycles through the first 4 of these energies: Peng, Lu, Gi and An, whilst our advanced sessions expand the exercises to encompass the remaining 4 energies: Tsai, Lie, Zhou and Cow.

 

The following article from the Tai Chi Basics website does a great job of describing each of the 8 energies to help you better understand the purpose of the exercises we practice and how they relate to our Tai Chi forms:

 

A explanation of the Tai Chi 8 Strengths/Energies

 

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Chen Zhenglei: The 18 Posture Form

We recently had the privilege of training with Grand Master Chen Zhenglei when he visited Manchester last month. Accompanied by his daughter, Master Chen Juan, Master Jack Yan, Master Liming Yue, Master  Guiseppe Paterniti and the incomparable Master Wang Hai Jun, the seminar offered students the opportunity to practice Lao Jia Yilu, Pushing Hands and the 8 strengths with hands on corrections from the masters. You'll find some pictures of the event on our seminars page!

Because it's associated with relaxed, flowing movements, there's a popular misconception that Tai Chi is an undemanding form of exercise. Whilst it's certainly relaxed and flowing it can also be explosive and powerful, requiring strength as well as grace and can take years to learn and finesse.

At Ling Shui Tai Chi & Qigong we practice old frame Chen Style Tai Chi and our syllabus allows students to build their knowledge and abilities through a series of shorter forms, before finally focussing on the Lao Jia Yilu form which consists of 74 movements and can take around 15 minutes to perform from start to finish.

Below is a video of Grand Master Chen Zhenglei  performing the 18 form which he developed from elements of Lao Jia Yilu to introduce students to the foundations of Chen Style Tai Chi. The second video below features Master Wang Hai Jun as he also performs the 18 form. This is the third form we teach at Ling Shui, introducing students to a number of more advanced movements and to some of the more martial elements of the final form such as kicking and striking.

If you'd like to join one of our friendly and relaxed classes, head over to our classes page for times and locations, or drop us a line via the beginners page.

 

 

 

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Free Qigong is coming back to Tarleton Library!

We'll be returning to Tarleton Library for 30 weeks commencing on Thursday 20th July 2023 to host another run of free weekly Qigong sessions from 4:00 - 4:55pm. Our previous course proved very popular, so book a place now to avoid missing  out!

You can book a place by popping into the library or via the library website

 

Click to Book a Qigong place at Tarleton Library

 

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Grand Master Chen Zhenglei: Manchester Seminar

Grand Master Chen Zhenglei is visiting the UK and will be spending 3 days in Manchester between Friday 19th and Sunday 21st May. It's 6 years since the Grand Master last visited these shores, so this is a rare opportunity to train with and learn from one of the four outstanding exponents of the 19th generation of the Chen family.

The cost of the seminar for the whole weekend is £225, however there is also the option to pay for and attend individual seminar modules. The itinerary for the weekend is as follows:

7pm-10pm, Friday 19th May 2023: Laojia Posture Correction in person seminar (£80.00 at Huayi Arts Centre)
10:30am-12:30pm, Saturday: 20th May 2023: Tai Chi for Health and Wellbeing Seminar. There will be Demonstrations by Group disciples led by Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei (£45.00 in person only at the Main Hall, Stretford Sports Centre)
2pm-5pm, Saturday 20th May 2023: Laojia, Eight Strengths and Push Hands (£80.00 in person only at the Studio, Stretford Sports Centre)
6pm-7pm, Saturday 20th May 2023: Disciples Acceptance Ceremony of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei at Huayi Arts Centre
1pm-4pm, Sunday 21st May 2023: Laojia, Eight Strengths and Push Hands (£80.00 in person only at the Studio, Stretford Sports Centre)

For more information, or to book a place at any of the Grand Master's European seminars, head over the the Chen Zhenglei Federation's seminar page by clicking the image below.

To book a place on the seminar, head over to the Chen Zhenglei Federation Seminar page by clicking here
Grand Master Chen Zhenglei UK Seminars, May 2023

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Chen Ziqiang Seminar

Don't miss this rare opportunity to train with the chief coach of the Chen Village Tai Chi school! In March, Chen Ziqiang will be hosting a number of sessions in and around the Warrington area of Cheshire.

To download an application form, please click on the image below:

Click here for a seminar application form

 

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Lion & Dragon Dancing in Preston

The UCLAN Confucius Institute will be heading to Preston Flag Market this coming Saturday 4th February to perform Lion and Dragon dances as part of their New Year Lantern Festival celebrations.
If you're free, pop down and get involved...
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Tai Chi & Health: "Just One Thing" with Michael Moseley

Tai Chi is known to be good for the health, but do you know how and why? Michael Moseley discusses the medical evidence for both the physical and mental wellbeing aspects of our beloved art in his BBC Radio 4 show "Just One Thing".
If you're interested in trying Tai Chi, join us in Penwortham tomorrow night for our 7pm class. Beginners are always welcome. We also run a session in Bamber Bridge on a Saturday morning and Tarleton on a Tuesday afternoon (check out the classes page for times and locations).
Just One Thing with Michael Moseley - Tai Chi
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