WAHNAM TAIJIQUAN (TAI CHI CHUAN) TRAINING PROGRAMME
This is a private webpage meant for students of Shaolin Wahnam Institute. Those who have not undergone any Taijiquan courses with Sifu Wong may not be able to understand the content because the material, presented in a very concise manner, is not meant to explain Taijiquan to the public, but is meant to remind initiated students what they have learnt or will learn. What is obvious is that the Taijiquan taught in Shaolin Wahnam Institute is vastly different from what most people conceptualize Taijiquan to be.
Programme for Regular Classes -- Wahnam Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan)
Level 1: Fundamentals of Taijiquan
Form: Stances. fundamental footwork and basic Taijiquan forms.
Application: Taijiquan techniques to overcome simple combat situations.
Force: Wuji Stance, Lifting Water, Three-Circle Stance, and Grasping Sparrow's Tail, Leg Stretching
Philosophy: Dimensions, aims and brief history..
Note:
- From Wuji to Taiji, and back to Wuji.
- Movement from the waist.
- Differentiating between yin and yang.
- One-pointed mind and energy flow.
- Basic Taijiquan patterns.
- Internal force training.
Level 2: Basic Taijiquan Set
Form: "Cloud Hands" (Previously it was "White Crane Flaps Wings")
Application: Pushing Hands and simple combat application.
Force: Induced energy flow.
Philosophy: Taijiquan for health and for combat.
Note:
- Unity of form, energy and mind.
- The principle of yin-yang.
Level 3: Techniques of Pushing Hands
Form: "White Snake Shoots Venom".
Application: Pushing Hands and Combat Application.
Force: Flow of movement, Sensing ability, Using the opponent's strength.
Philosophy: Principles of internal force training.
Note:
- Techniques from "White Snake Shoots Venom".
- Pushing from front, left, right and back.
- Importance of good stances.
- Movement from the waist.
- Four tahils against thousand katis.
- Flowing with the opponent to overcome him.
Level 4: Tactics of Pushing Hands
Form: “Green Dragon Shoots Pearl”.
Application: Combat application from “Green Dragon”.
Force: Flowing with the opponent.
Philosophy: Difference between techniques and tactics.
Note:
- Reactive and proactive advantages.
- Tactic of continuous attacks.
- Tactic of confusing moves.
- Tactic of instantaneous counter.
- Tactic of interuption.
Level 5: Da Shou or Striking Hands
Form: “Black Bear Sinks Hips”.
Application: Combat application from “Black Bear”.
Force: Breath co-ordination and energy flow.
Philosophy: Principles of attack and defence.
Note:
- Four categories of attacks.
- The principle of safety forst.
- Soft against hard, and vice versa.
- Circular against straight, and vice versa.
- Starting later but arriving earlier.
Level 6: Cultivation for Health, Combat and Spiritual Development
Form: "Carry Tiger Back to Mountain".
Application: Combat application of “Carry Tiger”.
Force: Abdominal Breathing.
Philosophy: Use of Strategies.
Note:
- Strategies based on "Know Thyself, Know your Opponent".
Level 7: Flowing Water Floating Clouds
Form: Flowing Water Floating Clouds Set.
Application: Combat application of Flowing Water.
Force: Solo performance as well as sparring with picture-perfect form, force and speed but without panting.
Philosophy: Principles of weapon combat.
Note:
- This set, which is probably closer in spirit and form to the original Taijiquan practiced by past masters like Zhang San Feng and Chen Wang Ting than many Taijiquan sets practiced today, enables us to attain good health, combat efficiency and spiritual fulfillment.
Level 8: Wudang Sword
Form: Wudang sword set.
Application: Combat application of Wudang sword.
Force: Channelling energy to the tip of a sword.
Philosophy: Principles of weapon combat.
Note:
- Safety, certainty and decisiveness.
- Avoiding strength and attacking weakness.
Level 9: Taijiquan Sabre
Form: Taijiquan Sabre set.
Application: Application of Taijiquan Sabre.
Force: Accuracy and power of chosen weapon.
Philosophy: Characteristics of major weapons.
Note:
- Major weapons -- staff, sabre, spear, sword, dagger, Big Knife, trident, soft whip.
Level 10: Unarmed against Armed
Form: Empty Hands Enter White Blade.
Application: Unarmed against dagger, staff and knife.
Force: Countering feign moves.
Philosophy: The principles and practice of Apparent and Real.
Note:
- "Over Bridge, Flow with Water".
Level 11: Single Unarmed against Multiple Unarmed
Form: Tiger Enters Herd of Sheep.
Application: Single unarmed against multiple unarmed.
Force: "Bamboo Man" or "Through the Woods".
Philosophy: "Back-wall battle" and "Dodge-hit battle".
Note:
- Agility, stamina and endurance.
Level 12: Single Unarmed and Armed against Multiple Armed
Form: Dodge Hit.
Application: Single unarmed and armed against multiple armed.
Force: Dodging skills and using enemy as shields.
Philosophy: "Catch the Leader First" and "Break Through the Weakest".