In stillness like a great mountain
In movement like a mighty river
Original Yang style
Tai Chi Chuan
Copenhagen and Roskilde area, Denmark
Experience
Tai Chi Chuan finds its inspiration in nature and every day environment. It recognizes the flow of changes in seasonal- and life cycli and in animal activity and temperament. It sees the characteristic treats of flora and fauna in whole with human life. Tai Chi Chuan identifies principles in nature, which engender movement from stillness with endless change and variation. One technique becomes five and five becomes hundred.
Instigated with the mind and intend the practice of Tai Chi Chuan and its principles appeals to a higher sensitivity in both bodily and mental awareness. This awareness is shaped and directed in solid stillness and in movement, in connection with a partner or an object like in weapon exercises. Over time a practitioner incorporates an inner natural strength. This strength is embedded in the bodies soft connecting tissues, energized when being relaxed yet awake and lively.
Without the experience and practice all principles and concepts associated with Tai Chi Chuan are merely a cognitive imagination. It’s real value is in it's practice and the experience.
Learn
Tai Chi Chuan has its roots in Daoïst meditation and in self-defense and they are both still part of the teachings presented by ITCCA today. Yang Cheng-Fu is recalled to have said: ‘Tai Chi Chuan is meditation in movement.’ The mind gets calmer while moving and doing the form. The supportive mental and energetic techniques contribute to a better health.
The training comprises of several distinct skills.
Daoïst health-exercises
The Daoïst health exercises consist of a set of 24 repeated standing exercises practiced with the eyes open. Although these exercises are embedded in Yang Style traditional principles, the exercise are much comparable to the in China more widely known ancient old YiJin-Jing exercises used for muscle tendon stretching and to develop inner breathing. The movements strengthen the tendons and sinew system, allows flexibility to the muscles, enhances blood circulation nurturing the marrow of the bones, the brains and organs. All parts of the body move together, not isolated. Movements are dynamic with intend but carried calmly with a relaxed attitude. When fulfilling the whole set the upper body and spine has moved into all directions. Likewise all acupuncture points are energized.
Daoïst meditation and self massage
The principles concerning the body posture in the sitting mediation are similar to the uprightness in Tai Chi form practice and stating meditation. Daoïst sitting meditation is not specifically about a mental self-reflection or calming the mind to be at peace, it’s a corporate experience involving breathing exercises to circulate the Qi (vital energy), guiding to a spiritual awareness were the mind no longer dictates the movement, a state of being sometimes described as ‘empty’.
The Daoïst self massage is supportive in involving the whole body and in bringer the body in a relax state while sitting. Relaxation and opening the tissues support a more natural delicate softness in the flow of breathing. Naturally the flow of breath will be longer and deeper.
When the body is not relaxed the breathing exercises can be experienced as forceful. Respiration and exhalation will be short.
Qi Kung, Baqua Qi Kung, Yi Kung
These exercises belong to the secret tradition of the Yang family to develop Qi and intend. They were only taught to family members in olden times. It’s practiced in stillness and or with movement in the upper and lower body whilst maintaining the back upright. It can be associated with post standing (Zhan Zhuang) practiced by divers inner martial arts. It creates awareness of a central equilibrium and a sensitivity to tension in specific areas in the body.
Tai Chi (long) Form
The Tai Chi Chuan form exists out of 3 parts (Earth, Men, Heaven). Learning the whole form choreography can take up to a year or 1,5 year.
For beginners learning the form we distinct:
- part 1 -
Form A - First part till ‘Raise two hands’
Form B - First part till ‘One hand- ten strokes’
- part 2 -
Form C - Second part till ‘Cloud hands’
Form D - Second part till ‘One hand- ten strokes’
- part 3-
Form E - Third part till Gold Pheasant
Form F - Third part till return to origin
Every Tai Chi Chuan posture is in essence energetically perfect. To prepare the body you will first learn to find a balanced position in opening the joints (or meridians) in stillness as well as the transitions from posture to posture. Accordingly we test with a practice partner and explore its stability and balance, later we test the ‘Internal Principles’ and learn to develop the inner strength dynamically in partner exercises.
In the tests we use a gentle continued push or pull. When in answer on the push or pull muscle strength is required or resistance is triggered to maintain the balance, the position is not yet correct.
The more advanced learners will in the end test more energetically. The touch will be very light.
“First their is chaos, all is invisible.
Than there is silence, and all clears up”
Dao Jin
Plan
Introduction course Roskilde spring 2024
Saturday 2nd March
at Roskilde University
During the introduction course we will introduce the 24 Health exercises, Chi Kung and the beginning of the hand form.
Advanced students continue learning the form. Class in English, translation into Danish available when necessary.
Location is walking distance from Tre Kronor trainstation.
10.00-16.30
lunchbreak 12.30-13.30
400DKK
free for students of the University
teacher: Stefan Diderich
assistent: Romed Bucher
Beginners as well as people with experience in Tai chi are welcome.
Autumn retreat Portugal
October 5th - 12th 2024
One week of training without distractions. The retreat will combine two parallel classes. A class for beginners who know the first part and student who know the full form (3 parts).
Place: near Coimbra,
Costs classes: € 350,00
Costs accommodation and meals depend on accomodation in shared house or tent. More info www.itcca.pt.
Teachers: Stefan Diderich,
Maya Matthea van Staden,
Booking is open/ limited places.
Teacher
Stefan Diderich
Picture at Skamstrup training location
After teaching at my school in Rotterdam for more than 15 years I'm excited to offer classes in Denmark. Goal is to make the ITCCA program of Master Chu King Hung available in Denmark, in cooperation with Romed Bucher, assistent teacher.
Stefan Diderich started his educated in the Dutch Branch of ITCCA /Martin Klett and takes intensive courses with Andreas Heyden and Master Chu King Hung. All teachers of ITCCA follow private exams and lessons with Master Chu King Hung.
Romed Bucher learned the form directly from Master Chu in the early 90s and has been training martial arts ever since. In 2023 he rejoined the ITCCA.
ITCCA / International Tai Chi Chuan Association
The ITCCA promotes Original Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan (taijiquan), the family-style of the Yang Family. Head of the ITCCA is Master Chu King Hung, disciple of Yang Shou-Chung. He transmits the original Yang family Tai Chi Chuan through his own disciples and many qualified teachers all over Europe. The first responsible teacher for ITCCA Portugal / Porto Duoro regions is Matthea van Staden supported by Stefan Diderich.
Master Chu King Hung
Master Chu King-hung was born 1945 in China and came in China in contact with T'ai Chi Ch'uan as a young boy. At the age of 12, when his family moved to Hong Kong, he began an apprenticeship with Master Yang Shou-Chung which would last for 26 years. He learned the complete tradition of the Yang family and was then authorized by his master to teach the Yang style in its original form in Europe.
Starting in London Master Chu managed to find an appropriate way to teach the Original Yang Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan in Europe’s many different cultural environments and continuous so today.
ITCCA gives room to practicians who like to benefit for personal health and those who are more deeply interested in the martial background. Evidenced based for all practitioners alike when following the principles it will generate as Master Chu calls it ‘happy-chi’. In practice it calls up a smile.