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Fajin Training

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Just finished practicing some fajin training on my punching bag in the garage.

Fajin translates to ‘issue or discharge power explosively’.

One of the postures I worked on was  ‘As If Closing the Door’ posture. Particularly the final movement where the hands  issue the power into the punching bag.

One of the ways to determine if the ‘discharge of power’ has been successful is that upon impact the bag should hardly move.

If the bag swings wildly after impact then it becomes just a push.

The other principles of Tai Chi of relaxtion, centred, focused etc., also need to be applied to be able to discharge power explosively.

I can now confidently say that if I’m ever attacked by a punching bag I can now defend myself!

The Best Tai Chi Style?

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When I first started Tai Chi I couldn’t tell the difference between Wu Style and a slice of bread.

It was only after I had started that I discovered that there were several styles of Tai Chi and I was doing Wu style Tai Chi.

And I continue to practice Wu style Tai Chi. Atlhough I have dabbled in Michuan Tai Chi and Yang Tai Chi.

I’ve discussed and read many points of view on which Tai Chi style is the best. And some of those views have been controversial.

What is the best style?

Well, with my limited experience and talent all I can come up with is this.

It would take several lifetimes to comprehensively review and practice all the styles of Tai Chi available. Unless you believe in re-incarnation then this is not possible.

As long as the Tai Chi you are doing obeys the Tai Chi principals then that is ‘the best Tai Chi’.

So the best style of Tai Chi is the style you are doing right now.

Regardless what style you practice, we all part of the Tai Chi community.

Separated by name only.

Footnote: Imagine the possibilities of Tai Chi if more time was spent on practicing rather than arguing which is ‘the best Tai Chi style’ 😉

Sensitivity Exercises – Push Hands

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Here’s a clip I discovered thanks to Jordan Keat’s recent tweet.

It features early Wu Style Tai Chi demonstration (1937) by Chu Min Yu who was a student of Master Wu Jianquan, founder of Wu Style Tai Chi.

What I particluarly like are the two sections on training sensitivity using equipment – horizontal rod supported by flexible ropes and a large swinging ball attached to a frame.

These are ideal exercises when you’re training on your own and If I can figure out how to build the contraptions I will .

Here’s  a breakdown of the key exercises in this 9.17 clip.

0.00 – 3.37
Demonstration of the entire Wu style form speeded up

00.38-3.37
Double Push Hands and Da Lu performed with a partner

4.58-6.00
Exercise with rod performed solo

6.02-7.15
Exercise with large ball performed solo

7.47-8.26
Kicking a shuttlecock continuously

Grand Master Eddie Wu Kwong Yu – Self Defence

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Several years ago I attended a workshop run by  Grand Master Eddie Wu Kwong Yu in Sydney Australia. I flew up from Melbourne and over two afternoons during a weekend joined a small group to learn some basics in Wu Style Tai Chi. A style that I  practice.

As you will see in this clip, Eddie was friendly, direct and had a no nonsense approach to Tai Chi. Something I really appreciated at the time.

One of his demo’s was very powerful. He stood with his back against a wall, made a slight move and the wall vibrated.

In this presentation (held at Tai Chi Club in Los Angeles – 2006) I particularly like his explanation and demonstration of using single whip in a self defence way.

I hope you find this clip helpful.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O2kCqevdUM[/youtube]

Footnote
The Fifth Generation: Grand Master Eddie Wu Kwong Yu (1946- ). Eldest Son of Master Wu Tai Kwei, Head of the Wu Family and Gate Keeper of the Wu Style since May 2005.