Slanted Flying

Author: Slanted Flying

  • Ma Hong Passes Away At 86 Years Old

    Ma Hong Passes Away At 86 Years Old

    Master Ma Hong (1927 – 2013) passed away on December 22, 2013. He was a tenth generation descendant of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan. He started learning Tai Chi in 1962. However, Ma Hong did not start learning in depth until starting his training in 1972 with Chen Zhao Kui.

    Below is a video of Ma Hong performing the Xin Jia Yi Lu form of the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan.

    Ma Hong was very active in his Tai Chi community, having held positions in the Shijiazhuang Chen Style Taijiquan Research Association, Deputy Secretary of the Henan Wenxian International Organizing Committee, and being named one of China’s thirteen contemporary masters of Tai Chi at the International Conference Jury of Tai Chi Chuan in 1994.

    Having taught in China and other countries as well, Master Ma Hong has taught many students and has helped spread the art of Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan across the world. His presence will truly be missed. Rest In Peace Master Ma Hong.

  • A Chinese Tai Chi Village

    A Chinese Tai Chi Village

    The Chen Village is known as the birthplace of Tai Chi Chuan. It is the center of the Chen family style of Tai Chi Chuan. Located deep whthin the Henan Province if China, Chen Village (Chenjiagou), it has a population of approximately 2500, of which it is said that 95% practice Tai Chi.

    It is host to many foreign Tai Chi students each year who travel from across the world to learn this art form in its home. There are several Tai Chi schools located in Chen Village. Chen Xiao Xing and his son Chen Zi Qiang,  Chen Zhao Sen, and Chen Bing all have their own schools located in Chen Village.

    Please enjoy this beautifully filmed video of the Chen Village by Alexey Gladkov.

    Chinese tai-chi village from Alexey Gladkov on Vimeo.

    While Chen Village cannot boast of beautiful scenery and countryside, it is a place of great interest. and has become a destination spot, a pilgrimage if you will for the Tai Chi tourist. You can visit the old house of Yang Lu Chan, the founder of the Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan who had learned Tai Chi from the Chen family, or go to the” Monument to the Chen Family Ancestors”. But mostly they come to train Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan.

    If you wish to learn more about the Chen Village, please visit the The China Tai Chi Guide website!

  • New Documentary About Cheng Man Ching

    New Documentary About Cheng Man Ching

    A new documentary about Cheng Man Ching called “The Professor: Tai Chi’s Journey West” is being produced. This film by Barry Strugatz and Ken Van Sickle features some of the best quality film footage of Cheng Man Ching that we have seen. This footage, along with interviews of former students of Cheng such as Maggie Newman, Carol Yamasaki, Ed Young, and Ken Van Sickle are part of this project that has been in the process for 10 years.

    Making a feature length documentary of this quality is a very expensive undertaking. To help finance this project, the makers of the film had chosen to raise funds by using the popular Kickstarter.com fundraising website. I am happy to report that they have met their fundraising goal! It would have been a shame if this great project did not get the funding that it deserves.

    Enjoy a small sample of the documentary below. You can visit tai-chifilm.com, the website of the filmmakers to find out much more about this great undertaking.

    If you are interested in contributing to the realization of this great documentary of Cheng Man Ching becoming a reality, you can still contribute a tax-deductible donation for “The Professor: Tai Chi’s Journey West”. Just visit the IFP Fiscal Sponsorship website and make a donation!

    Below is a message from the filmmakers Barry Strugatz and Ken Van Sickle talking about their efforts in making this film.. Please enjoy the video!

    The Professor: Tai Chi’s Journey West from Tai-Chi Film on Vimeo.

    It is very rare that we can see into the past to view the old masters of our wonderful art of Tai Chi Chuan. That such good quality of film still exists of Cheng Man Ching gives hope that other film footage of great Tai Chi masters is out there. Hopefully this film may encourage the family’s who control other older films to share these great treasures with the world. Such selfless acts could benefit the Tai Chi world. Possibly funds could be similarly raised to help restore older film footage that is not in the best of condition.

    I would personally like to thank the filmmakers of this documentary for this great endeavor, and encourage all lovers of Tai Chi Chuan to help contribute to making this documentary a reality!

  • International Tung Tai Chi Day – November 8th

    International Tung Tai Chi Day – November 8th

    Tung Ying ChiehAll around the globe, Tai Chi practitioners will take time to celebrate the Birthday of the late Grandmaster Tung Ying Chieh (Dong Yingjie). Students and teachers from the lineage of Tung Ying Chieh take time every year on November 8th at 6:00 pm (local time) to pay their respects to this famous Tai Chi master by performing the Tung Family Fast Set or the Yang Style Long Form. They will gather in groups from their schools or clubs, or take time on their own or with a friend to practice and share.

    Tung Ying Chieh was one of the main disciples of Yang Cheng Fu. He often accompanied Yang on trips and assisted with the teaching of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan. When Japan invaded China during the War years, Tung Ying Chieh relocated to Macau and then Hong Kong. It was in Hong Kong that he established the Tung Ying Chieh Tai Chi Chuan Gymnasium. He was invited to teach abroad in places such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

    Enjoy this video of Tung Ying Chieh performing the traditional Yang style Tai Chi Chuan long form that he learned from Yang Cheng Fu. This was filmed in Malaysian in 1950.

    Today there is a strong following of Tai Chi practitioners that trace their lineage back to Tung Ying Chieh. There are still some alive that had learned directly from Tung Ying Chieh, and many that have learned directly from his students.

    The grandsons Tung Kai Ying and Dong Zeng Chen, and great grandsons Tung Chen Wei and Alex Dong have been greatly influential in carrying on the lineage and traditions of Tung Ying Chieh. They have students all around the globe who now teach and continue to study with them.

  • Musician and Tai Chi Practitioner Lou Reed Passes Away

    Musician and Tai Chi Practitioner Lou Reed Passes Away

    Musician and Tai Chi practitioner Lou Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) passed away at the age of 71 years old. Reed was well known as a musician, first as the principal songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the band The Velvet Underground and later for his solo musical career.  Lou Reed was lesser known for his passion for Tai Chi Chuan, which he actively promoted.

    Lou Reed died of liver disease. He had received a liver transplant earlier this year for chronic liver failure, but unfortunately the disease was too advanced.

    Lou Reed began his journey in Tai Chi during the 1980’s. He first began learning with Eagle Claw Kung Fu master Leung Shum, from whom he learned the Wu/Hao style of Tai Chi Chuan for 15 years. Lou Reed then began learning the Chen style from Ren Guangyi, and studied with him for more than 10 years.

    Below is a beautiful video which features Lou Reed and his teacher Ren Guangyi perform on stage at the Vivid LIVE 2010 event at the Sydney Opera House, as well as lead a Tai Chi class on the Northern Foyer of the opera house.

    We will truly miss the presence of Lou Reed, for his contribution to music and Tai Chi Chuan will always be appreciated and remembered.

  • Practicing Tai Chi While High

    Practicing Tai Chi While High

    No this is not practicing tai chi while under the influence of a certain substance. This video is about taking your Tai Chi practice to new and higher levels… literally!!

    Enjoy this video below as we get to watch Eli Gordon practice Tai Chi while on his excursions to the higher altitudes that are available to us if we want to seek them out.

    This is the great thing about Tai Chi Chuan, that is the fact that you can enjoy your practice no matter where you are. Whether on top of mountains, at the airport, in the middle of the road or a rainstorm, enthusiasts of Tai Chi Chuan will find time to practice.

  • Master C.K. Chu Passes Away

    Master C.K. Chu Passes Away

    Master C.K. Chu (1937-2013) passed away from cancer complications on October 12th, 2013. C.K. Chu taught Tai Chi Chuan in Times Square area of New York City since 1973.

    Below is a video showing C.K. Chu demonstrating the Yang Short Form of Tai Chi Chuan from when he was younger.

    C.K Chu was well known in the Tai Chi community. He taught Tai Chi, and his own style of Chi Kung known as Eternal Spring. He also taught the martial side of Tai Chi, having trained champion fighters. C.K. Chu was an author of several books on Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung. He also produced several instructional DVD’s on the subject as well.

    You can find more information on him at his school’s Facebook page, Chu’s Tai Chi and on the school’s website, CK Chu Tai Chi

    Here is a link to a wonderful video of Master C.K. Chu talking about his experience with Tai Chi and teaching. View it here: C.K. Chu: the ultimate Tai Chi Master

    His presence and knowledge will sadly be missed. Condolences to his family.

  • Art Of Tai Chi Sailing

    Art Of Tai Chi Sailing

    Here is a wonderful video by the film company 2digif called “The Art Of Tai Chi Sailing” featuring Chen Tai Chi Chuan practitioner Piotr Walczak. It was filmed in Poznan, Poland on the the grounds of the 19th century Fort Winiary, also known as the Citadel. Piotr Walczak sails through his movements using a 28 pound (12 kg) Halbred (Kwan Dao), a traditional weapon of the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan.

    [quote]“Initially, we wanted to show the art of Tai Chi closer to nature. However, because of problems with the weather and some of the places, we decided that the film will be shot in the ruins of the fort. Tai Chi is an art that goes back many years so we hope that fits perfectly with the old architecture.“

    Szymon Sierakowski – 2digif[/quote]

    The Art of Tai Chi Sailing from 2digif on Vimeo.

    Piotr Walczak is a practitioner of the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan. He started his training in 2009 under the guidance of Peter Ziemba in the Tai Chi School in Poznan, Poland. He had trained the Saber and the Halbred (Kwan Dao) when learning the Chen style, and still enjoys practicing both to this day. Piotr has also studied with Howard Choy and Sam Chin at seminars held in Poznan. Piotr Walczak

    Piotr talks a bit about the art of Tai Chi Chuan.

    [quote]“Looking for Tai Chi as a system of internal development, we see that it contains a lot of procedures in the field of martial arts, each of which refers to the routine collection of movements. The movements of Tai Chi have been developed based on the assumptions of the ancient Chinese medical knowledge for the human body. Fighting Techniques – Applications of weapons, such as the bill are consistent with the bio-mechanical principles of physical exercises, combining “action and omission”, “balance of Yin and Yang”, “complement brute force and gentleness” and “inclusion strength of spirit to making a move. ”

    With them it was born the theory of “Liu He” ie “Six Harmonies”.
    These are:
    1 Harmony of the hands and feet,
    2 Harmony elbows and knees,
    3 Harmony shoulders and pelvis,
    4 The harmony of heart and mind,
    5 The harmony of the mind and Qi,
    6 Harmony Qi energy and life.

    According to ancient Chinese philosophy of “Tian Ren He Yi”, ie “unity of man and the universe”, reasonable and economic movements are most compatible with the natural structure of the human body. Forms of Tai Chi are the essence of this assumption….“

    Piotr Walczak[/quote]

    2digif is more than a company to its founders. It was created by Szymon Sierakowski and his good friend Wojciech Żelasko. They wanted to realize their own passion and spend time outside of work in a productive manner, To be able to show through film, the world and the people and leave something behind. You can visit them at their Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/2digif

    The music featured in this video is the song “Sail” by Awolnation. You can download it following the link below.

  • Iggy Pop and Tai Chi

    Iggy Pop and Tai Chi

    IggyPopMany people know the singer Iggy Pop (a.k.a James Newell Osterberg Jr) as a musician, who has lived his life on the edge as many singers have. He was the lead singer of the protopunk group “The Stooges”, and was known for outrageous and unpredictable antics on the stage.

    Now 66 years old, he is still performing, but Iggy Pop has slowed down his lifestyle off stage for the last few years. He has taken a more gentle approach to life including the practice of Tai Chi and Chi Kung for over twenty years, which has helped keep him fit!

    [quote]“To feel good when I was 21, all I had to do was to smoke a joint. Now I have to turn off my phones and do tai chi for an hour.”

    – Iggy  Pop -[/quote]

    Watch this interesting video below to hear Iggy Pop talk about his current life, and how Tai Chi has helped him. You can even watch him practice a few Tai Chi movements!

    Just like thousands of other people, many celebrities have found that the practice of Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung have helped them with their health and peace of mind, and have incorporated the practice into their lives.

  • Tai Chi Practice In The Rain

    Tai Chi Practice In The Rain

    Many practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan practice outdoors all year round. They train in all types of weather… Cold, Hot, Windy, Rain, even in the Snow! Below is a passage written by Guy Tomash, a practitioner and instructor of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Guy wrote this after finishing a Tai Chi form in the pouring rain!

    “After work I usually stop by a park on the way home and practice my tai chi. It was a mixture of dark clouds and sunshine as I started my Yang long form. When I got to Brush Knee I felt the odd droplet of rain upon me.

    Arriving at the first Wave Hands Like Clouds, it had become a very light, slightly warm shower. By the time I Hit my first Tiger, I found myself in a torrential downpour!

    Closing my eyes to keep the water out, all I could hear was the rain falling, with the sounds of the odd bird calling out from the shelter of the woods. Even the squirrels ran for cover!

    I had to really focus to not be distracted by the rain falling on me, dripping off my face. When I lost the slight bit of focus I could feel the chilling effects of the cool rain, but when the focus was regained, I felt quite comfortable. I must say that it was a wonderful experience, and felt quite invigorated afterwards!”

    By Guy Tomash

    Unfortunately Guy did not have a video to record this wonderful moment. Please enjoy the video below of David-Dorian Ross doing Chen Tai Chi Chuan during a tornado warning!

    The Die-hard practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan will practice no matter what nature brings them!