Learning From A Grandmaster

Note: This post was originally published elsewhere on June 30, 2024

Last weekend, I was fortunate to attend a workshop led by Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei on the Old Frame Second Routine, also known as the Cannon Fist Routine. This was the second workshop I’ve ever attended taught by the Grandmaster of whom my taijiquan lineage springs, having previously attended a workshop in December 2022 which covered the Old Frame First Routine.

In what follows, I will share some of my experience of what it is like to attend such a workshop. I highly encourage every taijiquan practitioner to prioritize doing so!

The Basics

One of the biggest takeaways from both experiences is the importance of regularly returning to the basics. GM Chen Zhenglei always emphasizes the importance of warming up and running through isolated exercises such as silk reeling or fajin techniques. These exercises are something that can be tempting for some students to leave behind but they are the foundation of taijiquan practice and it is important to keep the basics well-honed. GM Chen Zhenglei also pushes the practice of these basic drills and exercises to the next level by insisting on more repetitions than many of us include in our regular practice and by demanding an exacting standard of precision.

Slowing Down

In both workshops, GM Chen Zhenglei emphasized the importance of slowing down. Slow movement is a key training technique for taijiquan practice. Some other martial arts practitioners may sneer and doubt the effectiveness but the proof is demonstrable by the long history of taijiquan practitioners more than holding their own against challengers. Slowing down allows the body to build strength, flexibility and resilience. It helps to find the fullness of the movements and to be clear on the lines of force. GM Chen Zhenglei challenged all of us to practice the Cannon Fist routine slowly and to only speed it up when we had found the lines of force. As someone who has been practicing the Cannon Fist routine for several years now, but had definitely not fully fleshed out my understanding of the routine, this slow practice will be something I keep returning to in my training repertoire.

Character & Personality

One of the less often discussed aspects of such workshops is the way in which GM Chen Zhenglei models the character and values of a taijiquan practitioner. He has a well-honed sense of humour and a playful spirit. He is also incredibly generous and welcoming, encouraging all of us to visit Chen village as part of the Chen taijiquan family. He knows when to step-in and offer correction, and when to simply encourage repetition after repetition to get integrate a correction.

The Power of Qi

One of the most fascinating aspects for me as a taijiquan practitioner born and raised in a Western context is when GM Chen Zhenglei shares perspectives and experience of qi. He is a devout believer in the importance of qi cultivation and of taijiquan practice as a way to do that. He recognizes that taijiquan is not complete without qi cultivation exercises emphasizing the importance of Standing Pole and qi collecting exercises. His discussion of qi makes a seemingly mystical subject very accessible and understandable.

Final Thoughts

Studying with GM Chen Zhenglei has been revolutionary to my taijiquan practice and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to do so. GM Chen Zhenglei is one of four taijiquan practitioners from his generation who has toured internationally since the 1980s spreading the art of Chen taijiquan to the undeniable benefit of many taijiquan practitioners. It is unclear how much longer he will be able to keep up these sorts of tours, but his explanations of the routines have greatly increased my own understanding and experience of taijiquan and he leaves some well-honed disciples as Chen style taijiquan instructors all over the world. I will always be grateful to be part of his lineage of taijiquan practice and will jump at any opportunity to continue to learn from him.