More Hun Yuan Taiji

Grandmaster Feng Zhi Qiang's Event drew competitors and teachers from all over the world and throughtout China.  It was inspiring to see so many Taiji practioners following Grandmaster Feng's lead.  Hun Yuan Taiji translates into primordial Taiji...emphasis placed on the separation of Yin and Yang techniquewise and on both health as well as application.  In most Taiji form and function are separated....Feng has tried to reintegrate both so as to have a system that can be easily applied, and has stressed the need to relax as if doing Qigong, and on using postures that do not stress the body.  More than 1200 competitors and participants were present....... Competitors took part in all of Feng's form categories....including 24,48, 38, 46, 64,styles, and then weapons included Hun Yuan Taiji broadsword, straightsword, and also spear, push hands,and group competitions.  Probably the most controversial event was the Push Hands,which at first glance seem to be so atypical of Hun YuanTaiji.  The Push Hands competition was neither soft, relaxed, or without force.  Lots of it looked like WWE and not Taiji.  Yang bo, Feng's grandson, and my classmates Masters Chen Xiang and Zhang Yi Fei.....all commented that the level of the participants were not too high leveled so it looked very rough and forceful.  On the other hand it was pointed out to me that somewhere one needs to test your physical power..after all Taiji is a Martial Art and not just an excercise.  here in lies the rub.....while it is suppose to be 10 ounces to deflect a 1000lbs....you can use 10 ounces if you have a 1000lbs of potential.....means you have to have some power and speed.  The application should be light but sudden.  Some of the best push hands occurred when both participants were so tired they could not use any more strength...then you saw yielding and neutralization.  So somethings to change in the rules might be to eliminate points for going out of bounds, have rounds where certain techniques must be used and to score for successful use of Peng-Lu-Ji-An....in any case rules should reward good Taiji and not just powerful shoving and pulling.

Well, more later.....but congrats to all of our students who took part in Carlos Navarro's International Martial Arts Tournament today........everyone brought home some  Gold....jiayo!!