William C. C. Chen's Tai Chi Body Mechanics Videos

Tai Chi form with instructions (Hanover, 2011). (00:04:55)

Grandmaster Chen goes through first portion of the Yang short form with step-by-step instructions and advice.

He shows how to achieve the exercise's rhythmic relaxation and energizing through the use of imagery (like a bird ready to take off), the alternating focus on pinky fingers and index fingers, the switching between tilting the body and straightening, and the importance of coordinating spinning motions and breathing in and out.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch all the chapters of this DVD of Grandmaster Chen teaching Tai Chi basics, click on picture

Energy flow, sinking, and relaxation in the Tai Chi form. (00:07:41)

Grandmaster Chen explains the changes he made to Professor Cheng Man Ching's form and summarizes the basics of doing Tai Chi.

The transmission of energy from the toes and inner thighs, through the rib cage, and to the fingers is outlined.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this introductory Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

The role of the feet and inner thigh muscles. (00:09:34)

Grandmaster Chen explains the position of the legs, how weight is distributed, the "three nails" of the feet, and the importance of the big toe.

He uses toy boxers to illustrate how the inner thighs play their part and elaborates on how he made Professor Cheng Man Ching's form a little "sweeter".

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip, click on picture

Knee position and avoiding knee problems. (00:02:49)

Grandmaster Chen explains the relationship between the knee, the toe, and the hips. He shows the importance of energizing to protect the knee and how it moves inwards when the toe energizes.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this introductory Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

Sinking requires relaxing and releasing the hip joints. (00:04:50)

Grandmaster Chen explains "sung kwa", which literally means "relaxing your crotch", how that differs from bending and allows the energy to sink internally and make a connection to the big toe and the ground.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this introductory Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

Tilting to gain leverage. Keeping the back straight. (00:03:28)

Grandmaster Chen explains when to tilt and the difference between keeping the body straight versus upright. He explains why he added "needle at the bottom of the sea" (from the Yang Long Form) to the Short Form. Finally, he demonstrates how the Tai Chi kick requires energizing the fingers ("breaking the chop sticks").

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip, click on picture

Three fingers for action and two fingers for preparation. (00:05:54)

Grandmaster Chen explains how the hand is divided into two groups of fingers, one active or positive, and the other non-active or negative. He demonstrates how the fingers are connected to the toes and the inner thighs and the importance of spinning the fingers, as opposed to using the arms, for push hands and striking.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this intermediate Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

Compression and physical conditioning. (00:03:33)

Grandmaster Chen explains the role of compression and pressure in creating power and the role of muscles in supporting that power. He focuses on the analogy of air in a tire versus the rubber that holds that air.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip, click on picture

Spirals - turning and spinning. (00:05:39)

Grandmaster Chen explains that many sports follow the same principles for producing power.

"Spiraling down" is an internal wind-up for the move, and "spiraling up" (spinning out) executes the external move. He reveals how use of the fingers and toes, the breathing pattern, and the state of mental awareness all can contribute to a move's power.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip, click on picture

Breathing in the form and applications. (00:05:47)

Grandmaster Chen explains how to coordinate inhaling and exhaling with the form and how that relates to the compression used for high speed applications. He answers questions about when to breathe and how not to run out of air.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this advanced Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

Mental aspects - energy flow and meditation. (00:06:20)

Grandmaster Chen shows why Tai Chi has been called "moving meditation" and offers some shortcuts for making progress. He demonstrates how to stay calm, relaxed, go with the flow, sink and connect to the ground, and fall asleep and wake up.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this advanced Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

Tai Chi push hands - expanding and disappearing. (00:09:19)

Grandmaster Chen demonstrates the difference between "energy pushing" and pushes that come from tensing the muscles of the arms and legs.

He shows how to uproot an opponent, how to disappear under a push (without injuring your back), how to resist by sinking down instead of using muscles to push back, and how to drag down a person who is pushing by their arm. He illustrates the difference between slow fa-ching (pushing) for push hands and fast fa-ching for martial arts applications.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this advanced Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

Martial arts applications - study what works. (00:06:57)

Grandmaster Chen teaches the practical aspects of making use of Tai Chi for gaining speed and power in strikes. He demonstrates how tension changes create speed, the importance of spinning, energizing the fingers, and the connection to the ground, and "popping" into the desired shape.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this advanced Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

Tai Chi boxing - relax and sink before you punch. (00:10:13)

Grandmaster Chen shows how a basic Tai Chi movement turns into the left jab. He demonstrates how speed is achieved through changes in tension and how the arms stays loose.

He explains about energizing the fingers, the big toe, and inner thigh muscles.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug (Body Mechanics DVD)

To watch this clip of Grandmaster Chen teaching this advanced Tai Chi lesson, click on picture

To put energy into the fingers, use your heart, not just your mind. (00:04:59)

Grandmaster Chen starts with his theory of "four-wheel drive". He shows how one hand helps the other, and both feet must participate in any action.

Next, he talks about Chi (internal energy) and uses rubber tubing to demonstrate how Chi is about reaching and holding a position without adding muscular force. Finally, he discusses and demonstrates how to get energy into the fingers.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug

To watch this clip of William Chen in action, click on picture

"From something to nothing. From nothing to something." (00:05:03)

Grandmaster Chen explains that the fingers are the key to action and describes the energetic connection between the fingers, the heart, and the toes. He shows how power and speed come from the combination of spiralling from the ground and floating from the ribs.

Finally, he demonstrates with a few practical self-defense applications how the relaxation and focus of the Tai Chi form lead to the flexibility to strike from any position.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug

To watch this clip of William Chen in action, click on picture

Tai Chi Chuan as self-defense. Cheng Man-Ching Forum 2004. (00:08:08)

Grandmaster Chen and Sifu Nils Klug go through the first portion of the Yang Short Form (with a nice Sitar background). Then Grandmaster Chen explains the relationship between slow, calm movements and martial arts. Then he shows how speeding up particular moves of the Tai Chi form leads to an effective jab, cross, hook, roundhouse, and uppercut.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug

To watch this clip of William Chen in action, click on picture

Cheng Man-Ching Forum 2004 (Hanover, Germany). (00:05:54)

Grandmaster Chen explains and shows how the breathing pattern (inhale and exhale) naturally follows the alternating increase and decrease in the Tai Chi form of mental awareness ("waking up and falling asleep" by collapsing, sinking, and sagging).

He demonstrates the role of the big toe, ball of the foot, and heel (the "three nails") in movement and creating spin from the ground.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug

To watch this clip of William Chen in action, click on picture

Workshop by William C. C. Chen in Hanover - short (2004). (00:02:24)

Clips from one of Grandmaster Chen's Body Mechanics workshops in Germany.

He demonstrates:

Expanding your energy and making use of your opponents force to push

Driving energy from your chest walls ("heart") for a two-handed strike

Connecting to your inner thigh and alternating between loose and tense to create high speed hooks.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug

To watch this clip of William Chen in action, click on picture

Demonstrates Tai Chi boxing, push hands, and the short form. (00:02:25)

Grandmaster Chen's specialty is teaching the connection between the Tai Chi movements and achieving great speed and power for self defense.

This trailer has clips from workshops conducted in Germany that show high speed punches, push hands techniques, and internal principles.

From: William C. C. Chen and Nils Klug

To watch this clip of William Chen in action, click on picture