My latest podcast with Chen stylist Ken Gullette has led to me pondering so much concerning the variations between Yang type and Chen type Tai Chi Chuan. I do know the official view is that these two arts are each the identical artwork – “there is just one Tai Chi” – however I’m not likely positive I consider that totally.
The problem is complicated as a result of plenty of extremely partisan Tai Chi practitioners are inclined to view one of many arts as being a extra ‘watered down’ or ‘much less inner’ model of the opposite – in the event that they’re on the Chen aspect of the argument then they view Yang type as a “watered down for the lots” model of Chen type, and in the event that they’re on group Yang type then they view Chen type as a extra “exterior and Shaolin” aberration of Tai Chi.
I’ve by no means been thinking about both of these two arguments myself as they betray a form of small-minded “my type is THE BEST” perspective that seeks to easily put down the opposite type for no good purpose past “I don’t prefer it”. It jogs my memory of the worst facets of jingoism that seeks to battle with different nations just because they don’t seem to be us.
After I say I believe Yang type and Chen type are actually totally different beasts I imply it in a constructive sense – they’re each good, and share plenty of similarities, and each exist below the banner of “Tai Chi”. However the emphasis is sort of totally different between the 2. I discover Chen type appears to be extra involved with the physique mechanics like silk reeling and opening and shutting in numerous components of the physique, and going from being comfortable to sudden explosive actions (onerous) then again to comfortable once more.
After all, opening and shutting is there in Yang type too, however I don’t actually know of any Yang stylists that put as a lot emphasis on it as Chen stylists do, particularly the Chen Yu department of the artwork, which matches actually deep on it (to my eye not less than). And as for silk reeling, that appears to be absent in Yang type.
Yang type, in distinction, has its primary emphasis on a form of “needle in cotton” really feel all through. It’s comfortable on the skin and onerous on the within and all finished on the similar velocity – drawing silk, somewhat than reeling silk, like a protracted river flowing. That’s to not say that Chen type can’t be like that too, however the emphasis on that means of being is larger in Yang type.
After all, the official view from the Chinese language authorities (and Yang and Chen households) is that Chen type is the ancestor of Yang type. Finish of story. However like most issues in China, I believe it’s extra about political expediency than historic accuracy. For instance, there’s a whole lack of proof that Yang Luchan ever visited Chen village, not to mention educated there for years and years. (If you wish to get choosy, there’s hardly any proof accessible wherever that Yang Luchan truly existed in any respect!) And the Chen household didn’t get in on the Tai Chi instructing enterprise till 1928, which may be very, very late within the day in comparison with Yang type, since Yang Luchan was seemingly instructing Tai Chi within the Forbidden Metropolis from the 1860s onwards. There are plenty of holes within the official story. Now that doesn’t essentially imply that the official story can’t be true, however there are sufficient holes in it to make me the journalist in me query it.
However anyway, In Yang Cheng-Fu’s 10 Essential Factors, we discover quantity 6 – use the thoughts not pressure. Cheng-Fu goes on to clarify that, “In working towards T’ai Chi Ch’uan the entire physique relaxes. Don’t let one ounce of pressure stay within the blood vessels, bones, and ligaments to tie your self up. Then you definately will be agile and capable of change. It is possible for you to to show freely and simply. Doubting this, how are you going to improve your energy?”
I’m keen to wager that this piece of writing is liable for main various Tai Chi practitioners down the improper path, in the direction of wet-noodle Tai Chi. The perspective of being a needle in cotton is the antithesis of this. When you’re going to make the skin comfortable then the within of the physique needs to be onerous, in any other case you’re only a moist noodle, which sadly plenty of Tai Chi practitioners are. That’s how the Yin/Yang stability is maintained in Yang type.
Importantly, Yang Cheng-Fu goes on to say: “The T’ai Chi Ch’uan Classics say, “when you find yourself extraordinarily comfortable, you turn out to be extraordinarily onerous and powerful.” Somebody who has extraordinarily good T’ai Chi Ch’uan kung fu has arms like iron wrapped with cotton and the burden may be very heavy.”
There it’s – the needle within the cotton.
When you can think about a needle (or an iron bar) wrapped in cotton, then simply brushing your hand over the cotton we really feel like every thing was comfortable. However for those who squeezed the cotton you’d really feel that hardness at its centre. That’s how the entire physique must be when working towards Yang type. It’s a form of presence that may solely be acquired by lengthy observe of Tai Chi Chuan, studying to maneuver whereas stress-free the muscle groups and letting the flesh grasp from the bones, whereas maintaining the skeletal stricture robust. Each mild and heavy on the similar time.
I additionally suppose it’s very onerous to get this really feel by solely working towards Tai Chi Chuan, and that’s one of many causes that standing observe and Yi Quan has turn out to be so in style amongst Tai Chi practitioners. I believe standing observe (Zhan Zhuang) gives a form of shortcut to the form of energy required to be a needle within the cotton, however that’s a narrative for an additional day.