Sunday, October 25, 2009

Cheng Man Ching Yang Style 37 Forms Tai Chi Chuan Movements - 郑曼青37式太极拳招式名称

I checked from many websites from Google and Yahoo, and found that there a lot of of Cheng Man Ching Yang Style 37 Forms Tai Chi Chuan movements. If you look at those website translate from the Chinese word to English word, then feel like not the exact match. So personally I would say try to remember the Chinese movement name is better, unless you can’t read or remember it in Chinese, then let me try to match it and hope it won’t out too much.

Below is the Cheng Man Ching Yang Style 37 Forms in Chinese, and is good for you to remember it in Chinese if possible.

郑曼青37式太极拳招式名称

第一勢:預備式、起式
第二勢:左掤
第三勢:攬雀尾 (掤、履、擠、按)
第四勢:單鞭
第五勢:提手上式
第六勢:靠
第七勢:白鶴亮翅
第八勢:摟膝拗步
第九勢:手揮琵琶
第十勢:摟膝拗步
第十一勢:搬攔捶
第十二勢:如封似閉
第十三勢:十字手
第十四勢:抱虎歸山(歸山(履) 擠、按)
第十五勢:斜單鞭
第十六勢:肘底捶
第十七勢:倒攆猴
第十八勢:斜飛式
第十九勢:雲手
第廿勢:單鞭下式
第廿一勢:右左金雞獨立
第廿二勢:右左分腳
第廿三勢:轉身蹬腳
第廿四勢:左、右摟膝拗步
第廿五勢:進步栽捶
第廿六勢:上步攬雀尾 (掤、履、擠、按)
第廿七勢:單鞭
第廿八勢:玉女穿梭
第廿九勢:攬雀尾(左掤) (掤、履、擠、按)
第卅勢:單鞭下式
第卅一勢:上步七星
第卅二勢:退步跨虎
第卅三勢:轉身擺蓮
第卅四勢:彎弓射虎
第卅五勢:轉身搬攔捶
第卅六勢:如封似閉
第卅七勢:十字手合太極

Below is the Cheng Man Ching Yang Style 37 Forms in English, and I would advise you try to remember the movements first, rather than remember the name of steps. Once you remember the Tai Chi Chuan movements, then you can slowly apply the movement name back if you want.

Step 1    Preparation, Beginning
Step 2    Ward Off to Left, then Right
Step 3    Retreat, Press, then Push
Step 4    Single Whip
Step 5    Lift the Hands
Step 6    Lean then Strike
Step 7    White Stork Spreads Its Wings
Step 8    Knee Sweep and Twist
Step 9    Hold the Lute
Step 10    Knee Sweep and Twist
Step 11    Step Forward, Fend then Punch
Step 12    Apparent Closing Up
Step 13    Cross Hands
Step 14    Embrace the Tiger, back to Mountain
Step 15    Diagonal Single Whip
Step 16    Fist Under Elbow
Step 17    Step Back to Push away the Monkey
Step 18    Diagonal Flying
Step 19    Cloud Hands
Step 20    Descending Single Whip
Step 21    Golden Rooster Stands on Right the Left Leg
Step 22    Right Kick, then Left Kick
Step 23    Turn then Body, Heel Kick
Step 24    Left then Right Knee Sweep and Twist
Step 25    Step Forward and Punch Down
Step 26    Step Forward, Retreat, Press, then Push
Step 27    Single Whip
Step 28    Fair Lady Works Shuttles
Step 29    Left Ward-Off, Retreat, Press then Push
Step 30    Turn the Body and Lower the Hands
Step 31    Step up to Seven Stars
Step 32    Step Back and Ride the Tiger
Step 33    Turn the Body then Lotus Kick
Step 34    Move like a Bow to Shoot the Tiger
Step 35    Turn the Body, Retreat, Press, then Punch
Step 36    Apparent Closing Up
Step 37    Cross Hands then Close Tai Chi

We are leaning the spirit of Tai Chi Chuan, so is good to know the name of movement but is not the must. As Chang San Feng has told his students before that Tai Chi Chuan is not a fix movements, it can be change anytime anywhere just like ‘Ying’ and ‘Yang’, no start and no end.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

To look for Chi Kung books

Today I go to bookstore to look for Chi Kung books, but there are not a lot, only few books on this topic. May be this book shop is not big. I pick one of the Chi Kung book and quick read through it, then found that this Chi Kung book introduce the Chi Kung is really not the same that we know.

The Chi Kung Master mentioned in this book is when practice Chi Kung not need to concentrate on any part of body, example like ‘Dan Tian’. He said that ‘Chi’ already flow in our body, and especially when we are below age 3, we already know how to breath in the air into our body and it will automatically flow to our ‘Dan Tian’. But after we grow up, then slowly our breathing is just to allow our body to get the air with blood to generate energy.

So, this Chi Kung Master provide 12 Chi Kung movements to let us breath in more ‘Chi’ into every part of our body and without concentrate on any point in our body. He said that if concentrate to force the ‘Chi’ to specific area without let the ‘Chi’ follow our internal need, then the ‘Chi’ won’t be balance in our system. He said actually our mind already know which part of our body need more energy which mean need more pure air, so called ‘Chi’ to purify the cell. But after I see all the movements from the book, then I found one more thing, the 12 steps are really looks like Tai Chi movements, and just only make it simple and without moving the legs to different position as one complete circle. The book show that we can practice any steps without sequence or even not need to have the warm up exercise. When we move our hand or head or body or waist, then breath in when we move backward and then breath out when we move forward. Only one things it mentioned in the book that I total agreed is not to practice Chi Kung when you are full after meal, and at least need to wait after 1 hour. If not it will impact our digest system, and not good for our health.

Tomorrow morning, I will try to practice one of the step that I still remember and see any different, the concept is let the breathing as usual without force, not need to concentrate on any part of our body, and not need to imaging the ‘Chi’ flow from outside to our body then flow internally for every part purposely. This is not what I know all this time. Is this the secret of ‘Chi Kung’? I don’t know.

Monday, October 19, 2009

I read the Tai Chi yang style 24 forms book regarding ‘Tao’ meaning to my daughter

Today, I read the Tai Chi yang style 24 forms book regarding ‘Tao’ meaning to my daughter before she sleep. I know she won’t understand what I read to her as she is just 3 years old, but at least I got chance to read one more time to understand it for myself.

She just remember sky and earth, dragon and tiger, up and down, white and black, and she repeated few times on this. Actually, the main purpose here is to tell us the ‘ying’ and ‘yang’ is from ‘Tao’, and today Tai Chi is also integrated the ‘ying’ and ‘yang’ in every movement.

From the way we move our body, hands, legs or waist, our strength won’t always be the same for both hands or legs or upper / bottom part of body. Usually is 30% one site, then another 70% on another site to become the meaning like one site almost end, but another site is getting start again. It just like our symbol of ‘Ba Gua’, it is never begin and is never end.

So, in the application of Tai Chi, it is very easy to understand why people said ‘四两拨千斤’mean just use a little strength then can move the heavy thing. You will notice that when people punch forward, usually their center of gravity is in front of body and is more than 95%, so if we understand how to use the ‘ying’ and ‘yang’, then just need to use a litter strength to push his/her back, then he or her will fall down. This is the same concept when we are practicing the pushing hand.

We have to remember when we practice Tai Chi Chuan, 30% vs 70% is one of the important point. It is apply to our life too, don’t over commit if we can’t make it, and try not to stuck in a grey area where 50/50 percent without success, and think without acting to start make it happen.

I am thinking ‘Chi’ is it related to ‘ying’ and ‘yang’? Then, if ‘Chi’ is ‘ying’, then what is ‘yang’? And if ‘Chi’ = Energy, then what is the another side of energy? Tonight, need to think more before sleep…

Saturday, October 17, 2009

I have complete the right hand yang style 37 forms

After I practiced Tai Chi this morning, then I asked my wife still remember those few steps that I can’t remember. She try to show me what she know, then I try again and again. At last, I am able to link back that few Tai Chi movements. So, overall I have complete the right hand yang style 37 forms now, and I am so happy that spend few weeks to find from Internet, discuss with my wife, watch Tai Chi Chuan video and read from the books. Next is my left hand yang style 37 forms, and I am not sure it need to take how long.

This lesson learn is without Tai Chi Master, even I have learned the Tai Chi last few years and just stop for a year plus, I need to spend so much time to remember it back. So, if those people never learn the Tai Chi before, then if they tell me they know Tai Chi from books or Video, I will ask them better look for a Tai Chi Master to learn the right way. This is not that simple, and books or Internet or video just a reference after you know the basic.

Although I remember whole right hand 37 steps now, but still long way to go, as just remember the movement without the Tai Chi spirit. So, I should say is the start of Tai Chi now. Why say so? because below few points show me that I am a beginner, and even practice Tai Chi for many years.

1. What is the movement name for each yang style 37 forms?

2. How is the breathing rhythms when practice Tai Chi?

3. What need to be take care for every movement?

4. What is the right position for our body, head, hands, legs for each steps?

5. How to feel the ‘Chi’ is flowing in our body during practicing Tai Chi?

6. When I can complete left hand yang style 37 forms?

7. How to apply the Tai Chi to self defense application?

8. How many Tai Chi forms available in the world now?

9. What is the different for the 5 major Tai Chi family styles?

10. What is the original Chang San Feng 72 forms?

11. What is the shortcut to pickup every Tai Chi forms?

12. How to integrate the Chi Kung and Tai Chi Chuan?

There are many questions pop up in my mind, and it show me that still VERY long way to go. I want to know all this, and not only this, as I really hope that one day I can find the root of Tai Chi. So, I think if those people learn Tai Chi Chua from their Tai Chi Master, do they ask all this questions from their Master? or their Tai Chi Master will tell them without ask? or even all the Tai Chi Master know all of this?

When I practice Chi Kung today, and I asked myself, am I practice the right way. How come I can’t feel the ‘Chi’? I always think that warm mean ‘Chi’, but am I right? or really like movie show that we can see the ‘Chi’ with light? or I can feel the ‘Chi’ move within my body from one part to another part? or I can use the ‘Chi’ to do magic thing? or I can use the ‘Chi’ to help other people?

Chi Kung, Chi Kung, What is Chi Kung?

Tai Chi, Tai Chi, What is Tai Chi?

Thursday, October 15, 2009

I have remember around 95% yang style 37 form movements and know where is Dan Tian (丹田)

Since last week, I am very busy as got new assignments from boss. Almost work till midnight everyday, and today has some free time to update my Tai Chi blog here to tell you I have remember around 95% yang style 37 form movements, and know where is Dan Tian. So happy! :)

Last few days, after look at the youtube, and try to practice few times every morning, and now only few steps need to that smooth, but at least I remember back those miss steps and link back other steps. So, the experience told me that if you have learn the Tai Chi Chuan before, then the video will help you remember the steps. BUT, if you are never learn the Tai Chi Chuan before, then you will have difficulty to learn it from video or book, and even you done all the steps, and I believe most of them are wrong, and even you just know the movement but without understand the spirit of it, and the application. The best is look for a Tai Chi Master to teach you.

This two days, before I sleep, I will read the Tai Chi 24 forms yang style book that I bought last week. The warming-up exercise is different from what I learn. The one I learn is only 3 steps movements, but the book introduce 12 sections, and mostly look like what we always can see those people move their head, hand, leg before swimming or sports competition. In another way, the main purpose for the warm up exercise before practice Tai Chi is to relax our body, and loosen our muscles, and get our blood circulated quickly to our working muscles, and important point is empty our mind.

Last time, a year before, most of the time I attend the Tai Chi class at night, and always think a lot of things (work, life, etc) in my mind during practice Tai Chi, then always can’t really concentrate for first 2 or 3 rounds. So, I may need to take 3 or 4 rounds at least then can start empty my mind, but I think this is a good way to release our pressure after busy day.

Now, I practice Tai Chi every morning, after done the warm up exercise, then already can concentrate on the Tai Chi movements without think too much. So, if talk about effectiveness, then morning practice Tai Chi is the best time that I think. After toilet is the best.. :p as rubbish already come out, and good ‘Chi’ can flow better in our body.

Oh ya, I learn one key point from this Tai Chi book. Last time, when I learn the Tai Chi, my Tai Chi Master always ask us concentrate on the ‘Dan Tian’ during practicing Tai Chi movements. Try don’t force your hand or legs to move it purposely, just move like a cat. So, the book told us that if your movement is ‘move your hand forward’, then try to tell yourself this way like ‘move your Dan Tian forward’, as Dan Tian is a source to trigger all the movements. So remember Dan Tian move first, then follow by hand or legs or any part of our body. Honestly, not easy when you are practicing Tai Chi using this method for every step, unless you already very familiar your Tai Chi steps without fail.

 

Where is Dan Tian?

I believe you know where is your belly button, just two inches below and behind the belly button, and is the center of our body. In Chinese word is ‘丹田’. This is very important point for us to practice Tai Chi, Chi Kung, and a lot of other type of breathing exercises from various countries / regions are also request us to concentrate on Dan Tian.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I asked my wife come and practice Tai Chi with me

This morning, after I done the warm-up exercise and start Tai Chi movements for few steps, and I saw my wife come to the room. Ah, actually I practice Tai Chi and Chi Kung in one of the empty room, and every time I will open the window and let the fresh air flow into the room first.

I asked my wife come and practice Tai Chi with me, and she also forgot most of the steps since both of us stop for more than a year. She try to show me, and we discussed what is the next step after this movement, then both of us stop and laugh.

We on our computer, then goto Google youtube to browse the Tai Chi 37 forms and found the competition on the Tai Chi yang style 37 forms. We watched the video, ping point which step we missed, until the the video end. Then we try to practice again, but still have problem as sometime we need to know is hand move or leg move first, how many degree, up or down, need to turn from left or right, etc. After few tried then we stopped, as we are hungry already and better go take bath, and get ready to go out for breakfast.

So, at the end, today we still can’t finish a whole Tai Chi 37 forms with every steps. Still is Chor style Tai Chi.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

I am so happy that I have been practiced Tai Chi every morning

I am so happy that I have been practiced Tai Chi every morning since I write this Tai Chi & Chi Kung blog to keep all my experience, the information I learned, the mistake I make, the right way need to follow, how is my feeling, what It really help me, etc.

Last few days, I went to Popular bookshop to try find the yang style Tai Chi 37 forms, but I can’t find it. There are many books related to Tai Chi, but is not what I want. So, at the end I bought the yang style 24 forms which is not I am learning now. I think very long when I try to choose the book that I want to buy. Price is not cheap for this type of book, I quickly went though few Tai Chi books, but all looks good. My mind told me, keep the money first, the find from another book store. But, another thinking told me just buy one, since you want to learn Tai Chi and you already make mistake without chance to check with your Tai Chi master, then why so particular and must look for the 37 forms only, as Tai Chi Quan created by Chang Sang Feng is not 37 forms, is 72 movements. So, at the end I bought yang style 24 forms, and hope is not too much different from what I learned the 37 forms yang style. Since every morning, I practice Tai Chi Chuan is not complete 37 forms, as most of the steps I already forgot, and just try to link those steps that I remember to complete as one cycle movement. Ha ha.. Chor style Tai Chi Chuan without a fixed number of forms.

Now, every morning after warm-up exercise, then I practice Chor style Tai Chi. Once done, then I practice one form of breathing, so called ‘Chi Kung’, and then practice punch using Tai Chi movement concept. I really wish to have a good video camera that I can capture it and post it here, so that next time I can see the improvement. Nvm, the most important is to keep this passion to practice Tai Chi every morning first, keep fit, and at least I exercise every day rather than last time just daily look at computer to do work for more than 10 hours per day without exercise. This is not good for my health, and I start look for the health related articles, products and natural food that can keep my healthy.

10 minutes Tai Chi + 5 minutes Chi Kung exercise every morning, I start feel fresh after practice since last 2 weeks, and has good feeling before goto work. Even when I look at many emails, I can react it more quickly, can make decision faster, and the most important that I feel not so pressure with my existing heavy + some politic work now. Keep it up, Jasswin! :)

Monday, September 28, 2009

I am still can’t link up all the Tai Chi Chuan steps

After practice Tai Chi for many days since last Tuesday, I am still can’t link up all the Tai Chi Chuan steps, even I watched the Tai Chi Chuan from Youtube and other Tai Chi Chuan video available in the Internet these few days. As I haven’t got chance to check with my Tai Chi Master yet.

Although I have finished practice Tai Chi every morning, but is not complete steps. I just try to move one step to another step that I remember, and even is not the right sequence, but I still finish practice it. If other people know about Tai Chi or my Tai Chi Master see I practice in this way, they sure laugh of me. Um.. I remember I watched one Tai Chi movie before, then Chang San Feng in that movie mentioned Tai Chi Chuan is no fixed movement. That is why we can see so many different Tai Chi Chuan forms in this modern world now. May be one day I create another new Tai Chi Chuan form! Ha ha..

Every morning, I will practice the warm up exercise first, which is 3 basic Tai Chi warm up steps. These 3 steps the main purpose is to relax our hands, body and legs before start practice Tai Chi. I need to practice or called exercise for 100 times for each step, and really after 3 basic steps then I can feel my body start warm, and may be this is called ‘chi’ start warm up inside my body but is not strong at all. Sometime not even can feel it.

After 3 basic exercise steps, then I start practice Tai Chi Chuan without proper steps, and just try to finish it and link up all the Tai Chi steps that I still can remember. After practice Tai Chi Chuan, then I stand in front of windows and practice Chi Kung, and concentrate on the breathing. So far I can’t really feel the ‘chi’ flow from internal body to different part of my body yet, and just feel warm for whole body.

I am learning the Yang family Tai Chi Chuan – Short 37 Form that formed by Cheng Man-ch'ing (Cheng Man Ching; 郑曼青; 鄭曼青). Cheng Man-ch'ing is learned from Tai Chi Master Yang Ch'eng-fu (Yang Chengfu; 杨澄甫; 楊澄甫).

I have been practiced Tai Chi Chuan for so many years, but just stop for a year plus, then forgot most of the steps. Oh man! Another important point is, I learn the Tai Chi Chuan movement since day 1, but I didn’t remember the name for those Tai Chi Chuan steps. I only know that Zhang Sanfeng (Chang San Feng; 張三丰; 張三豐) created 72 movement Tai Chi Chuan set, then after few hundred years, and today it become 5 major classical family styles.

- Chen style (陳氏) (founded by Chen Wangting, 1580–1660)
- Yang style (楊氏) (founded by Yang Lu-ch'an, 1799-1872)
- Wu or Wu/Hao style of Wu Yu-hsiang (Wu Yuxiang) (武氏)
- Wu style of Wu Ch'uan-yu (Wu Quanyuo) and his son Wu Chien-ch'uan (Wu Jianquan) (吳氏)
- Sun style (孫氏) (founded by Sun Lu-t'ang, 1861–1932)

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

I try to start practice Tai Chi & Chi Kung again

I am not a Tai Chi & Chi Kung Master, and I am not a Tai Chi & Chi Kung professor. I am just a Tai Chi & Chi Kung beginner and still learn the Tai Chi & Chi Kung from Penang Tai Chi by Master Khoo Teng Hock.

I start write this Tai Chi & Chi Kung blog is because I want to record down my Tai Chi & Chi Kung experiences and force myself keep going to practice it daily, at the same time I can try to source more Tai Chi and Chi Kung information in order to improve myself and have a healthy life.

I learn the Tai Chi and Chi Kung is because my wife. During my school time, I had bought few Chi Kung books and try to practice it based on those instructions, but it didn’t work at all, so at the end I give up.

I have been practiced Tai Chi & Chi Kung for more than 4 years, but since I move to new area, then stop to practice more than a year. Last time, I practiced Tai Chi at least twice a week in the Tai Chi class. Since last week, I try to start practice Tai Chi & Chi Kung again and make it every morning, but the problem is I forgot most of the Tai Chi steps already and I have to go back to ask my Tai Chi Master.

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