Fan Chun-Lei, A. Frank Shiery
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At last, now there is a book available in English that explains the Small Frame Chen Style of Taijiquan in detail. Chen style is best known for its emphasis on “twining energy” and this book lays down a foundation for developing internal energy by paying attention to the details of each movement. This approach makes this book of interest to anyone serious about developing their own Taijiquan practice to truly become an “internal” martial artist. It begins by explaining the Ten Elements of Taijiquan and the Thirteen Elements of Chen Style Taijiquan. All movements are broken down into detail, individually for each part of the body. This so that the reader fully understands the meaning of the old Taiji dictum: “When one part of the body moves, everything moves.” Complex stances and movements are explained with annotated figures. This book presents in great detail the full Chen Style Small Frame method with its First Routine. Becoming vastly popular in China and abroad, excerpts are given by Chen Li-Qing, the first woman to be listed in the Chen family lineage. Chapter 4 includes a section by Master Chen, including her advice on the role of perseverance in one’s practice: “Thick ice does not come from one day’s cold.”
Fan Chun-Lei, a Full Professor of Cellular Biology at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou, China, has been a disciple of Master Chen Li-Qing since 1986. He is the author of two Chen Taiji books in Chinese: Small Frame First Routine and History: a Detailed Explanation of Chen Family Taijiquan (Zhongguo Taiji Ming Quan - Chen Shi Taijiquan Xiangjie) and Chen Family Taijiquan: First Routine and Second Routine (Zhongguo Taiji Ming Quan - Chen Shi Xiaojia Taijiquan).
Fan Chun-Lei was Chen-Style Taijiquan Champion at the 9th games of Zhejiang Province in China. He teaches Chen-Style Taijiquan and Qigong to both Chinese students and visiting groups from overseas including English-speaking delegations. He has specialized training in both Mind-leading Static Qigong and Spontaneous Qigong.
Frank Shiery, who has been studying Chen Taijiquan for over 20 years, was formally recognized as a disciple of Master Chen Li-Qing in 1994. He and co-author Fan Chun-Lei have been close friends and “Kung-Fu brothers” since 1993. He travels regularly to China to hone his skills with Master Chen as well as being tutored by other Chen masters including Chen Yong-Fu, Chen Zheng-Lei, and Chen Chuan-Sheng.
Frank Shiery teaches traditional Chen Taijiquan and Taiji weapons at his martial arts school, the Pennsylvania Chen Taijiquan Association, in Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. Frank is the president of the Philadelphia Area Taijiquan Association. He also leads Taijiquan training tours to China to provide overseas students the opportunity to be tutored in-person by the Chen family masters. www.PaChenTaiji.com
The origin and development of Taijiquan
The concept of “Taiji” belongs to the natural category of Chinese traditional philosophy. It comes from <<The Book of Changes>>(Zhou dynasty) “The change of Taiji gives birth to the two appearances”. Here, the two appearances mean Yin and Yang. Zheng Xuan (Han Dynasty) says: “Taiji is the chaos.” This means Taiji was the matter before the ordered universe, but it is the origin of everything. It was pure energy without substance, time and space superimposed into a cosmogony view (Big Bang) to have existed before the ordered universe. Because of the Big Bang, this pure energy gave birth to space and the celestial bodies. The movement of the celestial bodies in space gives time its order. So all matter in the universe have their laws of change and development. The concept of Taiji in Chinese traditional philosophy is like that of pure energy before the Big Bang. The ideology of Laozi and Zhuangzi both made a point of “Nothingness”. Wang Bi (Jin Dynasty) explained the “Taiji” as “nothing”, he said: “Existence comes from nothingness, so Taiji gives birth to the two appearances. Taiji is the name of nonexistence” («Explanation of the Book of Changes»), Everything in the universe (including humans) belongs to this existence. All existing things have the two aspects of Yin and Yang. The interaction of Yin and Yang drives the development and change of all matter, but the energy has its origin from “nothing”. That is “Taiji”.
THE MIND (YI)
The Mind means ones impressions and thoughts. "Use your mind, not force", "The mind leads the Qi, Qi strengthens the force", and "The Mind depends on one's spirit, not Qi", all these Taiji terms explain the importance of the mind in Taijiquan. In fact, Mind is the outcome of one's Heart. The Heart controls all the other elements, but it is carried out by the Mind.
If the Heart is seen as the general, the Mind is the messenger, connecting the Heart and other elements.
3. BUDDHA’S WARRIOR ATTENDANT
POUNDS MORTAR
EXPLANATION OF THE FORMS NAME:
As Buddha teaches, there are four sides in the sky, and each side is guarded by a Warrior Attendant. The form’s name means that the movement must be initiated with valour and forcefulness similar to the image of the Buddha’s Warrior Attendant, who is tempered into steel and all-conquering.
THE ART OF OFFENSE AND DEFENSE:
According to a famous Chinese proverb: “If you wonder if you can play Taijiquan, master the 'Three-Pounding Mortar' first.” What is the 'Three-Pounding Mortar'? Suppose an opponent attacks with his right fist, use twining energy to fling it to the left side with the left hand. Simultaneously, the right palm goes up to hold the opponent’s chin, or the palm can change into a fist to hit the opponent on his chin. That offensive movement is the first pounding mortar. Meanwhile, the elbow is bent to hit the opponent in the chest (Shan Zhong), the second pounding mortar. The right knee is lifted to hit him in the crotch; this is the third pounding mortar. This 'Three-Pounding Mortar' must be completed
