subject: Engaging Thoughts On T'ai Chi Ch'uan On Youtube, Pt Ii [print this page] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny9biV4DQmo
Tung Yin Chieh Yang form, shot in 1950.
Master Tung was a senior trainee of Yang Cheng-fu (d.1936).
This particular video is considered the clearest illustration of the Yang form as presented by Yang Cheng-fu. The stances tend to be low and long, which can be accomplished through bending your knees much more. Master Tung's back alignment resembles that shown in photographs of Yang Cheng-fu. By way of this I'm saying the spine is certainly straight however the spine is actually set at an angle in a fashion that makes the Master appear to be leaning forward so the upper body is slightly ahead of the waistline and legs. This particular positioning is a lot more visible in photographs of Master Yang Cheng-fu. Furthermore, it impacted the alignment of the back within Wu Style, which was developed from Yang style within the late nineteenth century. It's exciting to make note of that in our contemporary world far fewer Yang style practitioners exaggerate this particular alignment and keep the spine a lot more upright. This may definitely be seen inside the movie on the present day Master Yang Jun, the 6th generation descendent associated with Yang Lu Chan, that was filmed within the past ten years:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pna9ajZHKY
Here the Master keeps a more upright alignment using the distinctive leaning position only noticeable following the fully extended push positioning. Other characteristic attributes of Yang style Tai chi, for instance extended steps and low stances, and pronounced bending from the knee and also the substantial movements and legs and arms seemingly fully extended, are incredibly distinct in the video recording.
By comparison, the Cheng Man-ch'ing 37 position form, although based on the Yang form as shown to Cheng Man-ch'ing, provides such a different method of performing the movements and a distinctive energy and dynamic regarding it, clearly must be viewed as a separate style. Quite aside from the undeniable fact that Master Cheng omitted certain stances:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc
Extensive research into the variations in between traditional Yang Style T'ai chi and Cheng Man-ch'ing style is available from Justin Meehan at http://www.taichiandqigong.com/yang_compare.php and by Robert Chuckrow at http://chuckrowtaichi.com/CMCvsYang.html.
Some social context and background on the technical considerations mentioned above may be found in an interview with Master Koh Ah Tee regarding Cheng Man-ching's teaching from the Zhong Ding Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Association from http://wuweitaichi.com/articles/Master_Koh_Ah_Tee.htm.
In general, as Meehan highlights, Yang style emphases "peng" or Ward Off energy using the structure and alignment from the body to connect to the ground and provide the strength to resist and cope with an incoming force. Cheng Man-ch'ing style places higher emphasis on becoming calm and neutralizing an inward bound force. This requires in no way overcommitting to a specific position within the form, so that there is always the opportunity to shift fluidly through yang to yin or from substantial to insubstantial, or even the opposite. Consequently the impression is definitely of a much more tranquil and neutral energy in the form. Of course, inside their own distinct mechanics, both styles are generally just as valid and can possibly be similarly effective.
