dedicated to the discussion of the chinese internal martial arts of xingyiquan, baguazhang, taijiquan, related arts, and anything else best discussed over a bottle of rum
I think this is the basic flavor of the Chen form that Master Du learned from Chen Yan Xi, Chen Fake's father. As I stated many times, this flavor shows, for me, an easier bridge to the Yang's taiji.
Benchmarked [a clip we have seen a thousand times]
陳氏太極拳 小架式 陳鑫曾孫 陳東海老師 Master Chen Donghui, The 16th generation of the Chen family Chen Xin's great-grandson. He inherits Chen Style Taiji Quan Xiao-Jia.
I like the form of the first guy, it's very simple, looks like Du's form and has indeed some Yang style flavour if I can say so... I think he's a student of Wang Jiaxiang, Du Yuze 1st disciple.
Bob, do you know if Adam Hsu (Xu Ji) is still teaching here in Taipei? Is he an easy person to meet?
Best
Michael
Bob wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGfYpNPUG5g&feature=fvw
I think this is the basic flavor of the Chen form that Master Du learned from Chen Yan Xi, Chen Fake's father. As I stated many times, this flavor shows, for me, an easier bridge to the Yang's taiji.
Benchmarked [a clip we have seen a thousand times]
I've only met Adam Hsu one time in Baltimore in 1997---it was a handshake and signing his book---he was with my teacher and others and the 4 guys I was with, although invited, did not make dinner---
This is what I hear---he is a very thorough and knowledgeable teacher but he is very direct and does not bullshit people---some have said that this gives him an arrogant, cold persona but people I have known who directly studied under him says he is a very warm and generous teacher. In the 1980s he came to my teacher's home and gave his students a seminar in hsing yi---I was not there and not even a student of my teacher---but the individual involved, I knew personally and he told me the story personally---he asked Adam to show him an application in hsing yi---the guy tried to do something a bit different than the choreographed application---he ended up getting knocked in the mouth and bled a bit---Adam did not blink an eye and continued on teaching---before you conclude that this is a poor teacher this guy is pretty damn tough and a real street brawler, biker bars included. Another time a pretty big guy, American, in Taiwan in the 1970s, as witnessed by my teacher, saw this guy challenge Adam---in a couple of seconds Adam literally knocked the guy on his ass--end of story. Whether Adam has mellowed or not, I don't know but he is a good teacher. You can judge by the clips of one of his long time student, whom I think is very good.
Adam Hsu has also said a lot of controversial things that I would not necessarily defend or agree with, however, to me, that is the "academic" side of him---he was, for a time, a professor of Chinese literature. I have 110% respect for him and his knowledge and as I have said before, Agree/disagree, love him or hate, if you are in to traditional Chinese martial arts you cannot ignore him---I would explore the possibilities of studying with him if I were in your position.