The infinity circle is used in tai chi and many kung fu styles. The whole circle itself is rarely done but parts of it make up so many movements that it is worth practicing and becoming very familiar with. It’s like learning the scales when playing music. It makes you arm movements fluid and powerful, connected and coordinated. In this circle both arms are moving in the same direction but […]
Of the 4 main circular arm patterns I teach this is the most fundamental. All the others are variations of this one. This is also the most powerful as both arms are working as a team connected to a strong structure and the power flows through the whole body. Before you learn this circle make sure you are very familiar with transferring weight and raising and lowering your arms. This […]
The ultimate aim of all Chinese martial arts and particularly tai chi chuan is to attain the maximum power with the minimum effort. To achieve this end we align our body with gravity so that every part is supported by the legs and then we move by pushing the legs into the ground. If you can’t transfer weight properly you’re either pushing yourself up away from the ground or, worse […]
Most combat sports and martial arts use punches but they don’t always fully understand how to get the best out of this useful weapon in their armoury. Read on to discover the biomechanics of the punch and find out how, with a few small changes you can dramatically and instantly increase the impact power of your punch. This is the lowdown on the basics of punching. There are many kinds of […]
Within the vast realm of kung fu there are thousands of skills to learn and perfect. So much so that it would be impossible to learn them all even if you had several lifetimes to try. The task of learning any new skill is made even harder if you don’t have plan, a structure you can follow to enable you to learn the skill and be able to use it effectively. […]
Here are a few videos showing a class I ran several years ago on elbow locks. You can see some of the variations and how quickly and effectively you can take someone down when you get the technique right. The technique is simple The student in this video was struggling to take her partner down so she used her head and added a chin lock too. Here is a longer […]
Although bagua is famous for its circle walking practices it is during the changes of direction that the magic really happens. There are many methods of changing direction. Each develops different skills. Some of them are very simple, others very complicated and challenging. The video below will show several key ones. Practice diligently until the movements are smooth, balanced and effortless and require no thought on your part. To view […]
For thousands of years the Chinese have cultivated silk. Silk is a very delicate material to work with. To draw a silken thread out of a cocoon the action must be very smooth and even with no jerkiness or changes of direction. Otherwise the thread will snap. Too fast and the silk breaks, too slow and it sticks to itself and becomes tangled. The concept of reeling silk has been […]
Fan Chang is an arm movement that takes power from a rotation of the legs and waist and projects it out through the palms. With practice you open up the energy channels and can feel a strong connection of energy all the way up from feet to palms. Rotation is extremely important in baguazhang. Being able to rotate in a way that is balanced, coordinated and integrated is essential for […]
Baguazhang (pronounced bag-wa-jang), or bagua (pakua) for short, is a fascinating practice of moving meditation and self development that became the most sought after martial art in China. This post, and the video at the end of it describes the basic practice of walking the circle. Don’t neglect this as it will add a whole new dimension to all other training you do. Circle walking is the essence of baguazhang. […]
Learning to move in fluid wave-like patterns is good for your health, open your joints and allows power to flow through you in the most efficient way. The tai chi move ‘push’ is an ideal move to incorporate this wave movement. Do practice the basic move first. Then check out the video below. To view this post in full you’ll need an Intermediate Level membership. This will give you access […]
The heaven figure 8 stepping pattern is very useful for tai chi practitioners to learn and essential for students of Jade Dragon Kung Fu. It forms a part of many of our styles and movements. You will find it in our leaping tiger form and discover many ways to use it. Practice the static heaven figure 8 until you have mastered it first before you even attempt to do it […]