Tai Chi Chuan in Taiwan 太極拳(Tai4 Ji2 Quan2)台灣

Cheng Man-Ching "Yang" Style Schools in Taipei

2010-02-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

These two schools specialize in keeping the martial aspects of Tai Chi alive! If in Taipei, stop in for some push hands and to get tossed around.

Shr Jung (Shi4 Zhong1) Cheng Tze Tai-Chi Chuan Study Association teaches Tai Chi as a martial art and has an avid push hands program. Some teachers speak English. Some great and famous masters teach and advise this legacy school of Cheng Man-Ching's. If you're in Taipei, definitely worth a visit and better yet, stay for years of study!

Master Jeng-Bin "Richard" Huang, who stars in 2 of the YouTube videos listed below in the "2-28 Peace Park" posts demonstrating 37 Form Applications is highly skilled and should be sought out. I have not met him, but can see by his knowledge and applications that his skill is great. Master Huang speaks English and has an English webpage for his school which is next to where the above Shr Jung School meets in Taipei. Master Huang's School:

2-28 Peace Park Taipei, Taiwan 和平公園 (he2 ping2 gong1 yuan2) - Precious' Experience

2010-02-02T05:21:00.000-08:00

I've only been to the 2-28 Peace Park 和平公園 in Taipei a few times... but on the rare occasion that I made the 8 hour journey from Taidong to Taipei, the Peace Park Push Hands group was a must stop for me. Their push hands are excellent and they practice long and hard each day. There are a few masters that attend the Peace Park group regularly.

Part 2 of this Peace Park Pushing Hands video continued in Ben's Post below...

I hope anyone who has more experience with the Peace Park group will write more of their experiences there. The group usually meets at the south east corner of the park by a small pond with a bridge in an all dirt area near some public restrooms. Across the street from the park was (and probably still is) a restaurant named "California Kitchen" (or something like that). The group meets daily from 7AM-ish to 11AM-ish.

Humble guests are always welcome... Pride filled martial artists will return home humbled and dirty. Regular members pay a small and reasonable tuition. Often there are 15 or more people doing free form push hands. Students of all styles attend and often there are foreigners in attendance (some that even fly in just to train with the group for a short period or brush up before a tournament). Often there are members present that speak a bit of English.

The head master of the group 鄭顯氣 Jeng Shean Chih (Zheng Xian Qi):

Push Hands practice is preceeded by Huang Sheng-Shyan (黃性賢, Huang Hsing-hsien (WG) or Huáng Xìngxián ) relaxation exercises. Relaxation Exercises are followed by Cheng Man-Ching's 37 posture short Yang style before free push hands begins. Some students also study White Crane style forms and exercises as in the tradition of Huang Sheng-Shyan.

This listing hardly does justice to the Peace Park Group. They are a gem in the art of Tai Chi and any student of Tai Chi lucky enough to attend their group will surely taste great wisdom. Even luckier are those that stay a while, for their push hands are sure to improve.

Push Hands in Peace Park - Ben's Experience

2009-01-10T06:03:00.000-08:00

Peace Park: A Great Place to Study Push Hands and Taichi Fundamentals in Taipei, Taiwan

I was introduced to the push hand group at Peace Park in Taipei, Taiwan today. I had heard about it through Precious James who runs this blog. I got into contact with him recently about places that I might study and practice Taichi in the Taipei area. He recommended Peace Park as a great place to study push-hands, put me in contact with someone he knows who studies there and away I went.

A little about me: I’m a 25-year-old recent college graduate from Philadelphia. I studied non-Chinese martial arts in the States for a number of years while I was in college but never really felt like I was getting what I wanted out of it. After finally breaking free of my old school and some negative patterns that I’d built up over the years, I decided that I wanted to move to the Far East and try again. I eventually settled on Taiwan for a number of reasons, and now I’ve been here a month and just had my first foray into the local martial arts world. Thanks James!

So I had arranged to meet James’s friend at the Peace Park subway station at 9am on a Sunday, and the first thing I noticed when I got there was all the people practicing martial arts. There were people doing hand and weapon forms everywhere I looked. I saw a Westerner with one of them and almost approached him, thinking this might be James’s friend. I didn’t, and it wasn’t, and James’s friend found me a few minutes later and took me to a quiet little corner of the park where the Peace Park Push hands group meets every morning.

They were very unassuming. I wasn’t even sure I was in the presents of ‘real’ martial artists at first. It seemed like just a group of regular people exercising in the park, and in a sense that was what they were. They were regular people exercising in the park, some of whom just happen to have a phenomenal grasp of push hands and the Taichi principles that go with it.

I had never done push hands before with someone who really knew how to do it, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I figured they’d be tossing me around without much difficulty (I was right), but I didn’t realize how much I would learn from just one morning studying with them.

They started me with some deceptively simple warm-up exercises. They seemed easy until James’s friend explained what was really supposed to be going on. Then I realized that not only wasn’t I doing them properly but that I wasn’t going to be able to do them properly that day and probably not for awhile. There were layers to these exercises: the external movements (which were difficult by themselves) and then levels of internal movement designed to transfer force through the body. These “simple exercises” were almost completely beyond me, and I’ve been studying martial arts for six years. I’m told that this is a common experience when those of us who have studied elsewhere come and meet people who really understand rooting and structure.

After the warm-up exercises the master, a soft-spoken 80+ year-old-man, came over. I told him I’d never done push hands before in my halting Chinese and he said it was okay, said some more that I didn’t understand and started pushing me, explaining basic movements with a few words and a lot of pantomime and gesture. After a few minutes, I felt like I was moving pretty well and even started to feel a little full of myself. Oops. The master set me up with my first push-hands partner and my ego was quickly deflated.

These guys could push me around almost effortlessly. Even on the few occasions that I scored a ‘point,’ and caused someone to take a step, it was only because they had been going easy on me because I was new. There wasn’t anyone there who didn’t have something that they could teach me, and almost everyone there was only to happy to help me improve, even when my ego and competitiveness came out to play. They would just push me off balance, tell me to relax, and we’d start again.

Everyone at the Peace park group has a different ‘feel’, a different style in their push hands. Some like to line up with you and see you can push the hardest. Some like to use the least possible amount of force or lead you into traps. They all have different approaches and different things that they can teach you, and many of them are really really good. That’s the beauty of Peace Park. It’s not just teachings from one teacher. It’s a variety of teachings from a variety of teachers, all under the guidance of the master.

The Peace Park group is primarily a push hands group, though they do teach a little bit of form. People who go there regularly can learn the Chen Man Qing Yang style 37 form and the White Crane forms which I’m told are related to Taichi but are really a separate art with similar principles (White Crane uses a lot of fajing- explosive movements). There are probably better places around to learn form, but I’ve been told that the Peace Park group is one of the best places in Taipei and perhaps Taiwan to learn the fundamentals of rooting and structure which is so important in Taichi.

That was my first impression of the place. If I decide to study there regularly (and I’m certainly leaning in that direction), I’ll post a follow up in a couple of months to let anyone who’s interested know how my opinion of them has grown and changed.

The Peace Park Group:

Styles: Chen Man Qing Yang Style Taichi and White Crane

Focus: push hands

Master: Jeng Shean Chih (Zheng Xian Qi) student of Huang Sheng Shyan (Considered greatest yang stylist after Cheng Man-Ching and some say better) Huang mastered White Crane student of Cheng Man-Ching. (here's a good link for Huang: http://www.singongtaichi.com/yso.html )

Cost: 3000NT per month (about $90 US)

Time: 7AM(begin qi gong) to 11Am(or later)

Taichung, Taiwan: Open Tai Chi(QI) Push Hands Sunday Class

2009-01-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

Every Sunday Morning (excluding rainy days) from 6:00 to 9:30 AM at or near Jung1(Zhong1) Shan1 Park (Gong1 Yuan2) there is an excellent push hands class. All styles are welcome! The folks here are very kind and good sports. I felt the principles of Tai Chi exuding from their spirits and their hands.

Some highly skilled players lead by Master Lai3 Tien1 Zao4 constantly change partners for good natured pushing. Lai3 Tien1 Zao4 over 70 years old is still a top player of the group and certainly amazes with his continued ability to throw the largest of the bunch! Tai Chi is demystified here with hours of pushing practice. Some students stay past 9:30 AM and continue to practice. Last time I attended, I pushed until noon.

Truly open to all styles, I met many Teachers who themselves teach tai chi classes weekdays at other parks around Taichung, but all come to meet for this weekly Sunday push hands meet.

P.S. Last heard, this group has changed locations and is meeting at Master Lai's Center. I'm traveling right now and don't have Master Lai's card. Will post number and address later, or call David.

Contact David Chen (886) 919-442-436 or Precious Powell (taiprecious at yahoo dot com) for more information.

(David and Precious in Taidong)

Precious 3-week Experience at a Meditation Center

2008-06-15T04:28:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and family,

I recently tasted a nectar so sweet that I must tell you of the tree from which it's fruit fell... Such an opportunity so rare, that few will have a chance to take it in this lifetime... take the course that will shed light on depths unconscious, lead to truths rarely experienced...

I've just returned from a month at a vipassana meditation center in Massachussets. I attended 2 courses and volunteered in between. The benefits I have realized from the visit are inumerable. I attended my first 10-Day course in Taiwan 1 year ago. I was quite skeptical of the organization and teachings during my first course... but by the end of my first 10-day course, I was amazed at the increased peace and balance I was experiencing. I felt such great benefit from the course, that I immediately volunteered at the Taiwan center to help with the next course. After volunteering at the Taiwan center and at the Massachussetts center this year, I began to discover what a wonderful organization it is. An organization offering EVERYONE the opportunity to have 10 days to look within, know thyself, and discover the truth that resides deep within each and every one of us. The course teaches tools that lead practitioners to deeper peace and happiness and help the practitioner better steer through the trials and tribulations life is bound to bring each one of us. I have also come to know that one can stay true to their own faith, of any religion, and attend a vipassana meditation course without conflict. A vipassana meditation course will only serve to strengthen one's morality, devotion, faith, peace, and compassion.

"There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit."

International Website: http://www.dhamma.org/

So, your seat is waiting for you. All you need to do is find the time; the 10 days to attend. Many of you know of,.. have followed,.. or have even joined me on my adventures and travels through the last decade. And many of you look forward to your next vacation, when you can take your next adventure to some far away place... But after all of my travels... I am amazed to have experienced the greatest adventure, the greatest benefit, the most peace and happiness by traveling WITHIN during this 10-day meditation course. And depending on your location... you may not have to travel so far to attend a course. There are Vipassana Meditation Centers around the world that are run by volunteers that are old students. These old students come to the centers to voluntarily serve, so that others may experience the same benefit that they themselves have experienced... and such has been my motivation for the 4 courses I've volunteered for this year. Visit their website to find the closest center to you: ( http://www.dhamma.org/ )
See some videos about Vipassana Meditation here: http://www.pariyatti.org/podcasts/

Through the course, I had the chance to sharpen my awareness, consciously observe my thoughts, habits, and patterns, and develop a more peaceful, balanced, loving, compassionate mind... all the while learning a technique that will allow me to do so more often.

During the course I explored my relationship with:

my past
people
food
habits
anger
sadness
addictions
self
authority
time
sleep
love
life
death
plans for the future
and more...

and gleaned new knowledge and wisdom about each one. As I left old habits behind, I began developing new ones that I always dreamed of achieving. I cannot recommend this course highly enough. Thank you to Dan, Michael, Rebecca, and Jeff for recommending this course to me while I was in Taiwan. You have shared with me an invaluable gift!

I have cancelled my plans to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics as I feel it would better benefit myself and therefore the world by staying where I am and serving my family and the Vipassana meditation center in Massachussetts this summer here:
( http://www.dhara.dhamma.org/ns/ ).

Taiwan Vipassana Centers Information (Taichung County, Kaohsiung County, and Occasional Hualien courses):
The main Taiwan Vipassana Center is located 40 minutes east-north :) of Taichung City.

English course schedule for Taichung: http://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schudaya.shtml
English course schedule for Kaohsiung: http://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schvikasa.shtml
The 中文的 website is here for Chinese: http://www.udaya.dhamma.org/
Here is the Taiwan website in English: http://140.116.94.15/TVC/Web/eng-nt.htm

2007-02-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

Great site! Especially check Sun's translations of The Classics. Very generous of him to share!

Great Push Hands Video:

Some great articles from teachers at this Seattle, WA, USA school.

I enjoyed: Carrying the Burden of Taiji Legacy

Visit Sam Masich's TaiJi page for perhaps the best articles of the group! (click the image)

Contributors Needed, Please send your Taiwan Tai Chi friends here...

2007-01-19T23:19:00.000-08:00

Being able to study ancient Chinese arts such as Tai Chi while being able to make and save good money working part time as English teachers is an experience all of us here in Taiwan can attest too... an experienece that some of us haven't been able to leave... as some of us continue our multi-year stays. Wouldn't it be nice to extend the knowledge of this opportunity to more like-minded Tai Chi enthusiasts around the world... (considering many of the folks that are rolling off the boat daily to BANK on the English teaching scene here in Taiwan don't have an ounce of interest in Chinese Culture and contribute little to Taiwan... besides returning their teaching wages back to Taiwan's liquor industry)? Yes, this is another kick in the pants (Tai Chi Style) to share your knowledge... like others did for YOU... to lead you to your teachers and awesome Taiwan Tai Chi experiences.

Most Masters LOVE the "face" foreign students provide. Let's give back to those who have given so much to us. If you want me to send you an Invitation to become a Contributing Member to this blog, please contact us Through Precious James' Facebook page listed top right. Please forward this message to any friends that study Tai Chi in Taiwan.

Objective Stretching

2006-11-29T21:26:00.000-08:00

Objective Stretching
By Shi Yan Ming and Allan David Ondash

Should I warm up before I Stretch? Absolutely. By performing external Chi Kung...

Click here for full Article: http://www.usashaolintemple.org/press/objective-stretching/

National Tai Chi Chuan Association / Taiwan R.O.C. NEW English Website

2006-09-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

National Tai Chi Chuan Association / Taiwan R.O.C. now has an English website with downloadable English registration forms for their events! How convenient!

World Cup

Tai Chi Chuan Championship

The World Cup will replace the Chung Hua Cup, so, this is the largest competition of the year for Taiwan and one of the largest International Tai Chi Chuan Competitions in the World.

There is new interview of GRAND MASTER HSU YEE CHUNG (Head of Cheng Man-Ching 37 style Shr Jung Tai Chi Chuan School)

Taichung, Taiwan: Chen Old Style Classes

2006-08-18T08:57:00.001-07:00

Chen2 Shi4 Old Style Tai4 Ji2 Quan2 in Taichung, Taiwan. Monday through Friday, 6:30 - 8:30 AM. Location: The corner of Ying1 Tsai3 (Cai3) Rd. and Min1 Chuan2 Rd. near the Science Museum. Thursday class Chen Style Sword is taught. Pao4 Cui3 Cannon Power Release is taught to advanced students.

Zhao1 Zhong1 Hai2 is the teacher. He has studied for decades and is passionate about sharing Tai Chi. His fighting ability is above most teachers and he shares this ability with interested students. He is an excellent teacher and expresses lessons very clearly in both word and body language. Master Zhao1 always reinforces foundational Gong Fu with challenging practices. Classes often include partner pushing hands and light sparring for advanced students. Master Zhao1 speaks English and is happy to teach diligent students. Most students offer quarterly red envelopes (Hong2 Bao1) stuffed with money as a token of appreciation (though it doesn't have to be a large sum) around major Chinese Holidays.

For more information about this class or any Internal martial arts classes in the Taichung area call David Chen (886) 919-442-436. (Picture of David and Precious)

Hualien, Taiwan: Chi (Qi) Gong Classes

2006-08-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

Marcus Luo, a bilingual teacher, offers Chi Gong classes once a week in Hualien. Offering an introduction to Chi Gong breathing excercises and martial arts, Mr. Luo claims that the excercises create an environment where students "become concious of the current of nature [Chi] that is all around us." His system which he calls Thousand Mountain White Crane Chi Gong, draws on teachings from many disciplines. He supplements the core teachings of White Crane Chi Gong with aspects of Yoga and Tai Chi.

The class introduces the ideas and practices of Chi Gong. As one student put it, "If you had told me I'd be doing Chi Gong 'energy cultivation' everday six months ago I would have called you crazy. Now I can't imagine not doing it." The class, open to the public, meets every Friday at 7 am in Hua Gang Park and again at 12 noon under Lin Sen Rd. Bridge. E-mail: whitecranechigong@hotmail.com for more information. (Written by Matt Hopkins, cited from Highway 11 magazine, August 2006, Taiwan)

Student Teacher Loyalty in Chinese Culture

2006-01-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

Today I attended my bi-monthly Tai Chi class in Taidong taught by a world renown master of the Cheng Man-Ching Style. As I was standing (zhan4 zhuang1) my team captain came over to me and gave me a talk about Chinese loyalty toward one's teacher.
The captain had heard that I was practicing with the local Tai Chi club recently. The local Tai Chi club has a different coach. A coach that was also a student of the grand master... until a recent falling out. When I first arrived in Taidong 2 years ago, the Grand Master encouraged my study with the local coach and praised his ability. After their recent falling out, the Grand Master now has nothing good to say about the local coach. And continuously disuades me from practicing or associating with them. Though the local coach still praises the Grand Master's ability, he wastes no time to gossip and stays focused on the practice of gong1 fu1.
The Grand Master had many reasons why I shouldn't practice with the local club. He said that later when my skill is recognized, the local teacher might try to claim it was his skillful teaching that developed me (I should hope I might be so famous one day as to have my teacher worrying about the fame I will bring him!).
The Grand Master said the local club might use me for publicity to attract attention for the local Tai Chi club (being the famous foreigner that I am in this small country town). Another reason is that the two teachers teach some points differently and I might confuse the teachings and become confused as to the "correct" way.
The team captain then suggested I practice with the Grand Master's students or by myself and disassociate myself from the local club completely. If I failed to do so, he said the Grand Master would not want to teach me further.

This reminds me of the words of Cheng Man-Ching, "Only a teacher with a small art is jealous of a student's instruction elsewhere. I welcome your sampling of other systems, for I know you will come to realize that you really have but one master in this art. The postures themselves..." (Tai Ch'i the "Supreme Ultimate"Excercise for Health, Sport, and Self Defense, Cheng Man-Ching and Robert W. Smith, page 103). In this quote, I'm not sure what Master Cheng means by, "you really have but one master in this art", but he doesn't seem to be refering to himself as that one master.
I prefer the philosophy of my local tai chi coach. He said Tai Chi is a great art... there's no harm in different practice methods... just practice. And then he said, "Let's push."

Taidong (Taitung), Taiwan Tai Chi Chuan with Wang2 Jin3 Shi4

2005-12-18T03:09:00.000-08:00

For more advanced students, there is a rare opportunity to study with Master Wang2 Jin3 Shi4 in Taidong (among many other cities). Master Wang takes a 3-hour train ride from his home city of Kaohsiung to come teach in Taidong two times every month. He is the president of the Southern Taiwan (Kaohsiung) Tai Chi Chuan Association. He studied with Cheng Man-Ching, Huang2 Xing1 Xian1, and continues under Grand Master Ju:2 Hong2 Bin1. Master Wang is a highly skilled martial artist with 50 years of martial arts experience.

Picture ^^^above: Master Wang & Precious
on Jin1men2 Island, Taiwan.

Picture vvv below: Master Ju:2 Hong2 Bin1 & Precious
at the 2004 intermediate coach training course.

Master Wang comes to Taidong Monday afternoon and teaches a class from 11am - 12pm. Another class from 4:30pm - 6:00pm for one on one private sessions. Then a Monday evening class from 7:30 to 10pm which focuses on push hands practice. Tuesday morning from 6am to 8am we practice at Taidong University. Master Wang teaches the Cheng Man-Ching 37 form (left and right sides), Push Hands, Yang Style 108 long form (in the tradition of Yang Cheng Fu), Yang 54 sword form (Cheng Man-Ching tradition), Broad Sword or Sabre, and San1 Shou3 (known as Da Lu practiced in pairs).
Master Wang also teaches in Kaohsiung, Tainan, Shan Hua, Taichung, and Taipei County. In these other cities, Master Wang usually has over 40 students attend his classes. So, having the opportunity to study with him one on one is awesome! Taidong is an awesome place to live as well! Beaches, mountains, laid back, and much smaller than Taiwan's major cities. Check out my friend's blog for cool Taiwan pics and stories: http://stefunk.typepad.com/
Email me about Master Wang's classes in Taidong.

Tai Chi Sword form at 2004 Chung Hwa Bei

2005-12-18T01:42:00.000-08:00

Emmet performing a fantastic sword form in the weapons section of the 2004 Chung Hwa Bei, Taipei, Taiwan. Who taught you this form Emmet?

Taidong (Taitung), Taiwan Tai Chi Chuan

2005-10-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

Over 60 people meet every morning at the Taidong Stadium (Ti2 Yu4 Chang2). They begin Chi Gong excercises at 6AM. At 7AM they practice a few rounds of the Cheng Man-Ching 37 form. The head coach is Coach Luo4 (Luo4 Xian Guang). At 7:30 to 8AM they practice Sword. Currently they are learning the 42 sword form.

This is the Taidong County Tai Chi Chuan Association. Beginners wanting to study the Cheng Man-Ching 37 form can attend a free class with Precious every Thursday from 7 to 8:30AM taught in English with some basic Tai Chi vocabulary taught in Chinese as well. Beginning classes are also taught in Chinese by Head Coach Luo at the Taidong Social Eduacation Building (She1 jiao4 guan3) on Monday and Wednesday nights 7:30 to 9PM. At the Taidong Stadium there are often opportunities to push hands every morning beginning around 7:30 to 8:30AM.

Coach Luo is an excellent teacher! He has been studying martial arts since childhood. He focused on Shaolin Gong Fu in his younger days and later changed focus to Tai Chi Chuan. One of my main reasons for moving to Taidong was to study with coach Luo. I first saw Coach Luo at the 2002 All Taiwan Cheng Man-Ching Tai Chi Chuan Meet in Jin1 Shan1. There was a push hands competition and the two finalists were Coach Luo and my teacher of that time from Taichung. My Taichung teacher was of excellent skill... Very soft. I never saw him pushed over before this competition. But in the end, Coach Luo won. I then knew Coach Luo's skill was great. I was happy to later learn that his teaching skills are equal!

Coach Luo teaches with great detail and always includes applications of the postures he teaches. He is also very humble and dedicated to his students. In pushing hands he is very skilled yet very soft. In pushing hands, some teachers forget the student in showing off their own skill. With Coach Luo he always has the students learning in mind and focuses his pushing hands on helping his partner to improve. His humility can be seen in his request that he be called "coach" rather than master.... though his skill far surpasses other teachers I've had that welcome the title of "master".
Contact me by email if you are interested in any of these classes.

2005-03-25T22:17:00.000-08:00

The awards ceremony at the 2004 Chung Hua Cup.
Cheng Man-Ching 37 form Champion: Precious James Powell

2005-03-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

Luis Molera competing in moving step push hands in the 2004 Chung Hwa Bei, Taipei, Taiwan.
Visit Luis' website: http://www.taichi-luismolera.de/es/index.htm

Luis performing a Fan form.

2004 Chung Hwa Cup (Zhong1 Hua3 Bei1) 2004 中華盃

2005-01-01T04:59:00.000-08:00

The 2004 Chung Hua Cup was a wonderful experience. Maybe 150 International Tai Chi Players from around the world joined over 500 Taiwanese Tai Chi players. (Photograph: Precious competing in Moving Step Push Hands
by photographer: Emmet Whelan)