Energy Alignment 1

( Hunyuantaiji Academy )

Price: $49.99

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http://www.wujimon.com/chen-zhonghua-energy-alignment-dvd#more-736

The first time I heard that Master Chen Zhonghua was putting out an “Energy Alignment” DVD, I was thinking, “alrighty, now we are going to hear about how qi fits into the Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method. But then I remembered a quote from a student of Chen Zhonghua:

In an interview by Yaron Seidman with Hong Junsheng’s student Chen Zhonghua, it is made clear that great importance should be attached to “Strengthening the practical applications of the movements, and not ‘empty talk’ about things like Essence, Qi and Sprit. Things that there is no way to prove right or wrong.”

– How Taiji Lost It’s Quan | Martial Tai Chi

My previous experience with regards to internal energy was more about the circulatory aspect, the qi path, the microcosmic orbit, etc. While this information is good, I was never exposed to how knowing about one’s qi path can benefit the martial aspects of taiji. Chen Zhonghua bridges the gap by addressing the internal energy requirements necessary to martially apply the technique.

… after many years of study most people want to go beyond the ‘dance’ part of Taiji and start to move in the way described in the Taiji Classics. The Classics describe a method of movement that does not rely mainly on muscular effort but more on structure, rooting, joint rotation and stretching.

– Review of Energy Alignment DVD | Victoria Chen Taiji

The Energy Alignment 1 DVD was taped in April 2009 and covers the first 30 movements of the Yilu form. The DVD is 60 minutes in length. It is important to note the contents of the DVD assume the practitioner is already familiar with the Yilu form. In other words, the video is not an Yilu Detailed Instruction Form DVD.

The DVD begins with Master Chen explaining that he will show the energy alignment and how the body is internally aligned for the Yilu form. Chen then begins with discussing the internal requirements for the preparation posture of the Yilu; standing feet shoulder width apart, right hand at solar plexus, left hand out in front about shoulder height. From this very simple movement, Master Chen begins discussing the requirement of an internal stretch that begins at the heel of the right foot and ends at the top of the head. Furthermore, discussions of relative positions of limbs and joints as well as the concept of dantien replacement are shown. I was very impressed with the amount of detail Master Chen went into for discussing the movement.

What really blew me away was Master’s Chen instruction on the transition movement of Buddha Warrior Pounds Mortar into the Lazy Tie Coat posture. In other styles of Chen Taiji, this movement is basically executed by moving both hands to the left in a counter-clockwise fashion before splitting to open the hands. However, the Chen Taijiquan Style Practical Method breaks this movement down even further, highlighting not only a vertical split, but also a horizontal split of internal energy. Additionally, Master Chen discusses a stretch on the Z-Plane, resulting in a 3 dimensional energy alignment! (read complete review at above link)

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Customer Reviews:

joseph chen (Thursday, 03 September 2009)
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Energy Alignment DVD
The Energies of Taiji in 30 Postures
Produced by Master Chen Zhonghua
Review by Gordon Muir
(www.chentaichi.org)

Every time Master Chen Zhonghua releases a new instructional DVD it's a bit like Christmas has arrived early. This
DVD differs in the scale of its impact. This most recent release by the International Standard Bearer for Chen Style Practical Method has almost
universally been greeted with amazement at the extremely high level of postural/energetic explanations on it. This new release is like Christmas and
your birthday at the same time.

Why is it so different? Because it goes beyond the usual descriptions of choreography that most
instructional DVDs are stuck with. Not that choreography is a bad thing. It isn't, and its a phase we must all go through. Its just that after many
years of study most people want to go beyond the 'dance' part of Taiji and start to move in the way described in the Taiji Classics. The Classics
describe a method of movement that does not rely mainly on musclar effort but more on structure, rooting, joint rotation and stretching.
/> Internal energy is a big subject and its one that many instructors shy away from, especially on instructional DVDs. Chen Zhonghua is different in
his approach to this and embraces this difficult subject in workshops, on his DVDs and whenever you have an opportunity to push with him one-on-one.
Pretty much in every thing he does he embraces, teaches and demonstrates how internal energy is manifested and trained in Chen Taiji. Chen Zhonghua
believes that Taiji is internal energy and if you're not working those ideas at every moment, you're not going to 'get it.'

This DVD
delves deeper into this matter than any other and that makes it unique and very worthy of deeper study.

Heartily endorsed, ten out of
ten.