This May marked a significant milestone in my tai chi (taijiquan) practice: I have now been practicing Chen style taijiquan for 11 years which is equally as long as I practiced Taoist Tai Chi before that. It is fitting that this milestone occurred during Asian Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month in Canada as Chen style taijiquan has taught me much more about Asian heritage and benefited my mental health to a far greater degree than Taoist Tai Chi did.
The Taoist Tai Chi Society was founded by Moy Lin-Shin in Canada and teaches tai chi for health purposes on a global scale. Through the Taoist Tai Chi Society, I learned what I now know as a variant of the Yang 108 form. Taoist Tai Chi was the only style of tai chi available in the area where I grew up and it provided much-needed benefits to mental and physical health as a youth with dyspraxia, anxiety, depression and undiagnosed autism. Spending 11 years with Taoist Tai Chi did also lead me to develop insights into taijiquan practice that have served me well in my Chen style taijiquan practice.
Personally, Chen style taijiquan has been a much more fulfilling style. Chen style is more physically demanding and it retains the martial applications which Taoist Tai Chi lost. In my 11 years of Chen style I have learned the Old Frame 1 and 2, New Frame 1 and 2, the 18 Form developed by Chen Zhenglei, Sabre, and Sword. I have also practiced Push-Hands and martial applications. Chen style taijiquan has allowed me to both deepen and broaden my taijiquan practice and for that I am deeply grateful.
Through Chen style taijiquan, I have developed greater control over my body and developed martial capabilities. I have increased my understanding of taijiquan theory in particular and Chinese culture more broadly. I have also increased my situational awareness, self-awareness, and self-knowledge
Right now, I am working on refining my fajin techniques, maintaining proper qi flow throughout the forms, and strengthening my off-hand for weapons. I am also working on push-hands and partner work, returning to that crucial method of pressure testing post-COVID-19 pandemic. Push hands is now my most regular and consistent source of human touch and is refining my adherence to structural requirements and body mechanics in my taijiquan practice.
I continue to grow in knowledge, confidence, and skill every day, and I practice for approximately two hours on a daily basis. With Chen style taijiquan, I have really made the practice my own and blossomed as both a martial artist and a human being. Yet even with all I’ve learned, there is so much more to explore within the Chen style taijiquan system.
I plan and hope to continue my Chen style taijiquan practice for the rest of my life. I also hope to be able to begin more formal instruction of at least some of Chen style taijiquan within the next 5 years. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience and I know that teaching will also help me to learn more personally.
Cheers all!
The Dreamers' Corner 