Day 2 of the 2nd workshop with Master Chen

Here are some rough notes I took during the workshop:

1. Moves need to be proportional. 1 unit of the bottom., 1 unit of the mid-section, and 1 unit of the top. The problem is that we have 1 unit of the bottom, 2 units of the mid-section, and 3 units of the top (so we toss).
2. Fajin is like you are trapped and just able to break out.
3. You don't do fajin or circle.fajin and circle are artifacts and a realization, and not something that you can just learn to do.
4. Convert horiztonal move to vertical move.
5. Rubberband: find the strength to train
6. Finger points to a spot and should never move.
7. Back shoulder not moving creates stability.
8. Don't move where you opponent touches
9. Angle is only one aspect of intent.
10. Regarding Yilu, it's better to leave it incomplete, even if it looks bad, than complete it incorrectly. Do what I am told, and not what I think it should be. Less is more.
11. A circle has two halves, they don't start and end at the same point in space.
12. Sequence of action is important. There are 9 parts to every move. Do them one at a time. Don't combine them. To start with don't do 9, just concentrate on 3 parts. In time, the 3 parts can be broken further down into 9 parts, which in turn can be broken down even more. At the end, the move will look smooth. No reversal = smooth.
13. The body should be rigid, in other words, should maintain structure.

Day 1 of the 2nd workshop with Master Chen

Today, I attended the first day of a 2-day workshop with Master Chan. This was the first weekend workshop in Toronto for 2010.

I would just like to write down some notes here about what I learned today.

1. 3-part move
   shoulder, elbow, hand
   foot, kua, hand
   contact, dig and anchor the lever as the pivot, turn on the pivot
2. Energy should travel along the length and not the width of the line.
   A line can be established by intent. The longer the better.
3. There are 9 parts to a circle or a complete move. Only 1 part can be moved at a given time, but don't over do it. Do it a point where it can no longer be moved.

How to walk in a control/stable manner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wbdKSUus3U&feature=related
Master Chen describes how normal people walk as falling, and not stable. It's exactly the same as shown in this video by Master Stephen Hwa.

A different look at the circle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uo9lQ6azVA&feature=related

I think that this master is teaching the circle.