Taijiquan

As students proceed to training part 2 of the Taijiquan form at medium speed (中速, zhōngsù), they should continue to further refine the details of each movement, specifically the body mechanics required to comfortably maintain their center of balance. Students should also begin incorporating breathing techniques to enhance the results of the practice, specifically Reverse Breathing and Martial Grand Circulation. Coordination of each technique, each breath, and each thought are key.

Fast speed (快速, kuàisù) Taijiquan is practiced for developing a stronger sense of opponent and martial intent. The movements need to be performed at a speed that is practical for combat. Students should manifest soft Jìng for offense (發勁, fā jìng) and firmly rooted Neutralizing Jìng (化勁, huà jìng) for defense. This level focuses on the first part of the form.

There are more than 200 fighting techniques in the Yang-style Long Form. In Taijiquan Martial Applications 2 (太極拳應用二, Tàijíquán yìngyòng èr), you must analyze, deconstruct, and demonstrate martial applications of movements from the second part of the Yang-style traditional form. Each application must contain at least one technique from each of the 4 fighting categories: kicking, punching, wrestling, and Qin Na (Chin Na) (擒拿, qín ná).

Testing: The panel will choose 3 postures from Part 2. You will demonstrate as many applications as you can of each posture with reasonable quality.

Centering (自由推手, zìyóu tuīshǒu) is freestyle Pushing Hands with a particular focus on Central Equilibrium (中定, zhōngdìng). In this level of Centering, students are expected to perform at a competition level with no cooperation from their opponent.

Na and Chan Jing practice (拿纏勁練習, náchánjìng liànxí) helps to develop listening (聽, tīng), sticking (沾, zhān), adhering (黏纏, niánchán). It emphasizes the subtle movements and sensitivity necessary to reverse a defensive pushing hands situation into an offensive one. You must sense your partner’s actions, intentions, and center. This exercise is a more restricted version of Centering that aims to refine a student’s skills in Yin and Yang coiling, particularly in the wrists and elbows, and the cultivation of softness (柔, róu).

Large Rollback and Press (大 lǚ 擠, dàlǚ jǐ) specifically focuses on the Large Rollback technique, although it includes Small Rollback at times as well. Proper stepping, angling, rooting, and power with intent will be expected at this level. Large Rollback naturally incorporates the technique of Press as well.
(The character for lǚ cannot be displayed.)