Chen Manching's Yang Form

Chen Manching and Fu Zhongwen had the same sifu, Yang Chengfu. But if you compare how they do the form you will find a lot of differences. Even Chengfu's son,Zhenduo, does it differently than his father. Tai chi is an art, and all sifus interpret it differently. As long as the essentials are understood and followed the form can be played with subtle variences. The same way music will be interpreted differently by various musiciens. Beginners and intermediate though should try to copy their sifu.

As you practice, and your body sinks further and further over time, your breath will sink deeper as well. I was told that the breath, like every movement, should not be forced, but allowed to occur via relaxing and sinking.

I also took classes there around that time and did one summer camp up near Julian in 84-85 timeframe. It was fantastic.

That I cannot say. I only know that Abraham Liu did teach breathing and can only assume that he learned it from CMC. But this is the problem with the transmission of this kind of knowledge from person to person. It is never clear what was explicitly taught by the master to the student versus what 50+ years of doing the form by the next generation that the next generation of masters discover for themselves and pass onto their students.

I studied the Yang (Chen ManChing) with Mr. Liu in 1980-82 at the Taoist Sanctuary in San Diego, Ca. I found him to be a very patient and from what I have heard in the Tai Chi community, one of the most knowledgable in the Taoist arts...and I agree, you do feel the work out after awhle.

Was it Abraham Liu's method, or did CMC teach the breathing? I notice that Terry Dunn doesn't include any breathing techniques in his video, and I thought he was also a disciple of Abraham Liu's?

Do not go against nature. In breathing and in movement.

I studied with Abraham Liu in San Diego 25+ years ago, and with some of his chief disciples, Chris Luth being the last of those. There were exercises in separating yin and yang and coordinated breathing that went along with it. These exercises could leave you quite winded after doing the form in this manner, even though you were moving a lot slower than CMC in this video. Finding a good teacher of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan is difficult, but well worth the effort if you find one.

I'm currently studying the Yang Short Form and although the film is old and not real clear, it's a pleasure to watch it being done by the master. Will definitely use this to help me achieve my goal.

breathe with your nose, with ur tongue on the top of the mouth, and take your time

your eyes deceive you. his mastery is within. too subtle for you to see.

Does anyone know if the professor taught anything about the breath? I studied a little while with Ben Lo, and the only thing he ever said was "breathe normally."

F**k you dude he too old he cant move like a young man dont be stupid just look how old he is S**t have respect for the old master you kid

F**k you dude he too old he cant move like a young man dont be stupid just look how old he is S**t have respect for the old master you kid

This is a rare opportunity to see a master doing the classic form that he developed. The quality of the film is, unfortunately, very poor, but even so, its worth seeing through the blemishes to the gold beneath.
Zeno