Friday, August 27, 2010

THE SECRETS OF HEN-HA SOUND

In most martial arts, shouting and yelling is encouraged when issuing force, but we often do not see this in Tai Chi Chuan. Shouting when issuing force or Fajin in Chinese was common in the traditional way of practising Tai Chi Chuan, however it is not done anymore because today people do not practise Tai Chi Chuan like they did in the past.

In fact, shouting in traditional Tai Chi Chuan was so important that special sounds were used so that the sounds correspond with Chi. This secret is revealed in Tai Chi classics too but often ignored. It is the secret sound of Hen - Ha. When force is used to pull inward, the sound "Hen" will be yelled. Dantian will contract and Chi will flow to Dantian. The sound "Ha" is used when force is exploded outward. Dantian will expand and Chi will rush out.

Try using these two sounds and see how your Dantian and Chi will react to them. Who knows, you may unveil the secrets of Hen-Ha.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

TAI CHI FREE SPARRING - SANSHOU

"Sanshou" or free hand is a Chinese term refers to free style sparring. In the past Tai Chi Chuan training will progress from learning the form, to pushing hands and finally free sparring. However, nowadays most Tai Chi people don't do sparring anymore. Tai Chi Chuan requires us to maintain a calmed mind and relaxed body when facing at attack so that we can apply Tai Chi strategy i.e. adhere, stick, follow and lead and so on. Without sparring training, how can a Tai Chi student remains calm and relax when facing an attack in real fight? Serious Tai Chi people should really consider re-introducing sparring into the syllabus so that Tai Chi student is well prepared to use Tai Chi Chuan for self defence.

I have enclosed a video here where we do what I called free style pushing hand sparring for your viewing pleasure. Have a good weekend friends. www.taichisecretmovements.com