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William C. C. Chen's Tai Chi Short Form Videos

Yang-Style Short Form of Tai Chi Chuan From: Essential Sports and Fitness Video (Tai Chi) Channel

This collection of videos of Grandmaster Chen doing and teaching the Yang Short Form, includes his complete Tai Chi Short Form DVD, his Body Mechanics DVD, and rare, early 8mm videos of his form. The videos include detailed explanations that help beginners and advanced students get the most from their practice.

A subscription has everything. It includes videos from Tai Chi masters Cheng Man-Ching and Ping-Siang Tao, and champions Max Chen, Tiffany Chen, Josh Waitzkins, and Tuishou Chen.

Yang Short Form - with Breathing Hints (from behind)

60 movements (variation of Cheng Man-Ching's 37 postures)

William Chen Yang Short Form Punch

Grandmaster Chen narrates alternating "wake up" and "fall asleep" instructions that correspond to the breathing and energy pattern of the Tai Chi form. "Fall asleep" is when you exhale and relax the most (Yin), and "wake up" is when you inhale and expand your energy (Yang). ...

The coordination of slow movement and deep relaxed breathing helps explain the medical research findings that the Tai Chi martial arts form promotes blood circulation, increases the oxygen level throughout the body, and enhances the body's healing systems. Tai Chi has a reputation not only for being safe at any age, but also of slowing the aging process itself.

From: William C. C. Chen (Short Form DVD) (00:11:47 + 00:01:35)

To subscribe / watch Tai Chi form with breath hints, from behind, click picture

Yang Short Form - split screen, front view

60 movements of Tai Chi Chuan

William Chen's Tai Chi form on split screen

Through the use of split screen, Grandmaster Chen makes it easier to understand correct positions for hands and feet. ... In addition, he counts out each of the movements to correspond with the pictures in his books.

From: William C. C. Chen (Short Form DVD) (00:04:19 + 00:07:38)

To subscribe / watch split screen Tai Chi form, Part A, click on picture

To watch Part B (front view), click here

Yang Short Form - split screen, from behind

60 movements of Tai Chi Chuan

William Chen form on split screen


The Yang Short Form is broken into two parts (A and B), so that beginners can learn Part A first. This consists of the first quarter (or so) of the entire short form and has the most basic, simple moves. ...

From: William C. C. Chen (Short Form DVD) (00:04:13 + 00:07:39)

To subscribe / watch split screen Tai Chi form, Part A, click on picture

To watch Part B (from behind), click here

Yang Tai Chi Chuan Short Form - front view (1993)

60 movements (variation of Cheng Man-Ching's 37 postures)

William Chen Yang Short Form Kick

In its many variations, the Yang style Tai Chi form (exercise) is the most widely practised in the world. Grandmaster Chen is one of the world's preeminent teachers of Yang Tai Chi. ... He is a senior disciple of the legendary grandmaster, Professor Cheng Man-Ching, who studied with Grandmaster Yang Chengfu, a pivotal figure in making Yang-style the most popular Tai Chi form practiced today. Yang Chengfu was the grandson of Yang Lu-chan, the founder of the Yang style.

From: William C. C. Chen (Short Form DVD) (00:11:00)

To subscribe and watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

To watch credits for this DVD (clip with Tiffany and Max Chen), click here

Yang Tai Chi Short Form - 8mm from the 1970's

Rare early videos of Master Chen doing the form

William Chen doing Yang Short Form

By far, this is the finest video from the 1970's of Grandmaster Chen doing the Tai Chi form. ... He goes through the whole form clearly and slowly in a lovely environment (Greenwich, CT), and this is an excellent version for students to follow. (8mm, no sound, 1977)

From: William C. C. Chen and Wasentha Young (00:11:29)

To subscribe and watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

William Chen doing Yang Short Form

What makes this old video so interesting and calming is Grandmaster Chen's narration while doing the Tai Chi form. ... He quietly explains the principles behind the form, with emphasis on relaxation, flow, balance, and use of the whole body. (8mm, 1975)

From: William C. C. Chen (00:12:57)

To subscribe and watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

William Chen doing Yang Short Form in Hawaii

Here are clips of Grandmaster Chen doing the Tai Chi form with his students in his Hawaii workshop. We also see a little bit of the sword form as well. (8mm, no sound, 1970's or early 1980's) ...

From: William C. C. Chen (00:02:04)

To subscribe and watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

William Chen doing Yang Short Form

We see Grandmaster Chen in his late 30's doing part of the Tai Chi form in a park near his New York City home. (8mm, no sound, early 1970's) ...

From: William C. C. Chen (00:03:29)

To subscribe and watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

William Chen showing Yang Short Form move

Here we see Grandmaster Chen doing portions of the Tai Chi form in one of his early New York schools (and a nearby park). ... He often had visitors to his school from Professor Cheng Man-Ching's school in Chinatown, as well as local Karate schools, who came to push hands or spar. (8mm, no sound, early 1970's)

From: William C. C. Chen (00:01:55)

To subscribe and watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan - Chapter 1

Tai Chi form with instructions (Hanover, 2011)

William Chen teaching Tai Chi form

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) (00:04:55)

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

Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan - Chapter 2

Energy flow, sinking, and relaxation in the Tai Chi form

William Chen teaching Tai Chi form

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) (00:07:41)

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

Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan - Chapter 3

The role of the feet and inner thigh muscles

William Chen teaching Tai Chi form

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) (00:09:34)

To subscribe and watch this clip, click on picture

Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan - Chapter 4

Knee position and avoiding knee problems

William Chen teaching Tai Chi form

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) (00:02:49)

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

Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan - Chapter 5

Sinking requires relaxing and releasing the hip joints

William Chen teaching Tai Chi form

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) (00:04:50)

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

Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan - Chapter 6

Tilting to gain leverage. Keeping the back straight

William Chen teaching Tai Chi form

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) (00:03:28)

To subscribe and watch this clip, click on picture

Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan - Chapter 11

Mental aspects - energy flow and meditation

William Chen teaching Tai Chi form

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) (00:06:20)

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

Form and Application Demo

Tai Chi Chuan as self-defense. Cheng Man-Ching Forum 2004

William Chen teaching Nils Klug the Tai Chi punch

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 (00:08:08)

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

Workshop in the Body Mechanics of the Tai Chi Form

Cheng Man-Ching Forum 2004 (Hanover, Germany)

William Chen Yang Short Form Kick

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 (00:05:54)

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

Grandmaster Chen on his "60 Movements" Tai Chi Form (2017)

My 60 movements are derived from Professor Cheng Man-Ching’s 37 postures. I am using the term movements, which I feel is more descriptive than postures. I modified Prof. Cheng’s short form because during my first decade teaching I was often asked by my students about the “missing parts” of the Yang-style long form. It was not until I had taught for 20 years that I felt confident enough to make a change by adding various parts and removing some repetitions.

The 60 movements I have now adapted remain the same in basic idea and principle. The length remains unchanged, and I count each individual posture and each repetition as a movement. All movements are as slow, soft, and gentle in a continuous flow as Prof. Cheng’s original short form.

However, compared to versions generally taught, my 60 movements are slightly higher in stance and smaller in step. This difference is intentional. In the slow motion of Tai Chi Chuan, body weight is mostly on one leg. If the student is relaxed, as he/she should be, their weight tends to sink down. As a result, it may cause fatigue and exhaustion in the legs, which leads to an unconscious upper body tension. Ultimately, this might affect the smooth inner qi energy flow and body coordination.

My higher stances and smaller steps are designed to keep the body more relaxed. It makes it easier to release the crotch鬆胯, bend the knees and slide the tailbone backward while keeping the triceps floating in the air. This releases the tension in the ribcage. The hip-joints creasing and body sinking stabilizes balance and allows the mind to be focused. This contributes to the full commitment of the awareness brain to direct the movement of qi氣.

Qi is an action energy that is directed by the awareness in the brain. Fingers and toes are the remote objectives of the brain. The awareness rises, the toes crunch against the floor and the fingers spiral outward. The Chinese acupuncture diagram refers to the big toe and the thumb as part of the brain. I call the top of the head “brain No. 1,” the big toe “brain No. 2,” and the thumb “brain No. 3.” These three brains are the dynamic source of human action.

 

Without these dynamic sources, we were not able to build our modern civilization. To integrate these three brains in Tai Chi practice is the basic goal of the martial artist. When the brain is informed by a target, the toes step in and the fingers deliver the knuckles for a punch without any delay.

In the slow motion of Tai Chi Chuan, when the awareness brain is rising, the qi inflates and fingers move as the toes crunch. That is the central point of my 60 movements. The toes crunch, arms float, fingers move and body follows; it appears as if the fingers are dancing. Therefore, I have referred to these movements as “Finger Dancing” for the past 40 plus years.

I emphasize crunching and scooping toes into the ground in my Tai Chi classes. This helps to empower the flow of qi. The deeper the crunch into ground the more qi energy rises into the fingers. That enhances the martial artist’s strength in his/her action.

Crunching the toes builds up the toes’ strength which helps us to walk, run and jump. It is very helpful to seniors for maintaining or regaining their walking ability, stabilizing their balance and reducing the fear of falling. Strong toes make the legs strong, which enables an 84 year old like me to teach all my classes. When I teach for 5 or 6 hours in my annual domestic and oversea workshops, I never feel the need to sit. Also, I am very happy that I am still able to walk up the 10 floors in my building every day without depending on the elevator. Life is never happier than when one can live independently without depending on help from others.

In addition, the toes crunching against the ground creates a strong jet stream of oxygen-enriched blood (氣血), which raises the circulation level in the toes. This may be considered as a treatment or prevention of diabetic disease. At the same time, it optimizes the energy in the brain that helps our memory, thinking and learning. Furthermore it animates the motion energy qi to accomplish our daily physical activities.

Those who practice for general health will improve the oxygen-enriched blood level in the brain. This boosts the force of qi, which runs throughout the body’s meridians, resulting in good health and longevity.


Videos included in this channel

  • Tai Chi and martial arts
  • William C. C. Chen Tai Chi
    • Short Form
    • Body Mechanics
    • Push Hands
    • How to Punch
    • Long Form
    • Sword Form
    • Applications
  • Cheng Man-Ching Tai Chi
  • Dr. Ping-Siang Tao Push Hands
  • Max Chen MMA & Tai Chi
  • Tiffany Chen Tai Chi & Wushu
  • Josh Waitzkin Push Hands
  • Tuishou Chen Push Hands
  • Nils Klug Tai Chi applications

Subscribe to view all the videos on this channel. Includes full DVDs and exclusive videos from private collections not available elsewhere. A subscription has everything and costs less than many of the included DVDs.

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The Yang Short Form, shown here, is slow, gentle, even flowing and relaxing. It is the most popular Tai Chi style because of its a reputation for being excellent for stress reduction, self centering and living a more enjoyable life.

More videos from Grandmaster William C. C. Chen:

  • Tai Chi Body Mechanics
  • Yang Tai Chi Long Form
  • Yang Sword Form
  • Push Hands
  • How to Punch
  • Applications

More Yang Tai Chi Short Form videos:

  • Professor Cheng Man-Ching - Short Form, teacher of William C. C. Chen
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