Nabil Ranné is a Chen style teacher living in Berlin who offers classes and online training at CTN Academy Nabil is a student of Chen Yu, who is the only son of Chen ZhaoKui and grandson of the famous Chen Fake. Listen here. Here’s what we talk about: Timestamps: 1.00: Nabil’s background in martial arts … Continue reading Tai Chi Notebook Podcast Episode 30: Nabil Ranné on Chen style Tai Chi training
Defining Tai Chi Chuan
The head over foot guy, and Tai Chi
I’m always on the look out for interesting bio mechanical things and that search recently lead me to a character called David Weck, who is known as the ‘Head over Foot Guy’. Of course, that’s not his only idea about biomechanics- he’s got loads of them - but this video is a good introduction to … Continue reading The head over foot guy, and Tai Chi
Tongue behind the two front teeth
If you've been doing Tai Chi, meditation or yoga for any length of time you'll have heard the old adage to 'put your tongue behind the two front teeth'. The explanation given for this is usually that it "connects the two meridians that go up the back and down the front of the body called … Continue reading Tongue behind the two front teeth
Making up your own forms – it’s not as easy as you think
I had an interesting comment on my last post that made me think about the whole idea of making up your own forms (or Tao Lu) - in Tai Chi, Xing Yi, or whatever. I've tried to do this over the course of several years and I've come to a few conclusions about it, which … Continue reading Making up your own forms – it’s not as easy as you think
New podcast! Richard Johnson on Chen Style Practical Method
This month's podcast guest is Richard Johnson a long-time student of Joseph Chen of Chen Style Practical Method. As well as a Tai Chi practitioner and teacher, Richard is a full time movement coach working with athletes, so he brings an appreciation of athletic movement to his views on Tai Chi. In our discussion Richard … Continue reading New podcast! Richard Johnson on Chen Style Practical Method
Sinking the Qi and rooting in the foot
A bit of AI-generated Tai Chi art! How does rooting work in Tai Chi? In the Tai Chi Classic is says: The jin should berooted in the feet,generated from the legs,controlled by the waist, and expressed through the fingers. This does present something of a dilemma - how can we both be rooted in the feet … Continue reading Sinking the Qi and rooting in the foot
Simon Cox on Zhang Sanfeng and the history of Tai Chi Chuan
The article On the Historical Mystery of Zhang Sanfeng by Simon Cox, on the history of Tai Chi Chuan and its connection to Zhang Sanfeng is great. I'll just quote a couple of paragraphs from near the end, but recommend you read the whole thing for context: It seems like Tai Chi was really a … Continue reading Simon Cox on Zhang Sanfeng and the history of Tai Chi Chuan
Chen Man Ching’s Tai Chi Method
I don’t feel I’ve written enough about body mechanics recently. I’ve been too busy enjoying myself reviewing books and interviewing people for podcasts, but I guess it’s time I stopped having fun and got back to being serious! Watching a video of Professor Cheng Man Ching for my recent book review of Yang Short Form, … Continue reading Chen Man Ching’s Tai Chi Method
4oz deflects 1000lbs
The Yang Family Secret Transmissions book contains a number of writings that are seen as additions to the main Tai Chi Classics documents. Amongst the documents is “The Song of Pull down”. "Pull down" is the name of one of the '8 energies of Tai Chi', there’s a song, meaning verse, for each of the … Continue reading 4oz deflects 1000lbs
Feet-together postures in Taiji (Tai Chi) and Xing Yi
I’ve always been curious about the postures in martial arts forms where both feet are together, because these postures don’t look very martial at all. In fact, it’s hard to imagine why you would want to use a stance like that in a fight, and yet we find them in a lot of Tai Chi … Continue reading Feet-together postures in Taiji (Tai Chi) and Xing Yi
The Tai Chi Notebook 