[Here is a Cloud Hands Blog repost from June 19, 2009.]
"The Four Characteristics of Sun Shi Tai Ji:
1. The natural position of the body. The position of the body is more natural than in other forms of Tai Ji. The basic position - San Ti Shi - comes from Xing Yi. It differs from the traditional basic position - Hun Yuan Zhuang. The position of the body is higher (angle with the knees of 135°), the axis head - centre of gravity falls on only one foot and not with equal distance of the two feet, the feet are positioned one compared to the other according to an angle of 45° and not in parallel or are aligned like usually used in other schools of Tai Ji. All these characteristics respect the natural positioning of the body with two consequences. Initially a practice more favorable to health, without excessive wear (of the knees in particular). Then, a good balance between stability and flexibility.
2. Flexible and fast movement. The movement of the feet is flexible and fast: as soon as a leg advances or moves back, the other leg follows immediately. One does not find in Sun Shi Tai a horse riding stance with feet equal distance apart or the bow and arrow posture of traditional Tai Ji. In Sun Shi, one uses the free steps coming from Xing Yi and of Bagua. The centre of gravity always falls on one leg; a foot supports all the weight of the body, the other follows, free. The steps forwards are the steps of Beng Quan, and backwards the steps of Pi Quan. The steps of rotation correspond to the steps of Ba Gua. Sun Shi is light, fluid and fast. It is compared with the water which runs and with the clouds which slip into a windy sky.
3. The specific figure of Kai He. Sun Shi Tai Ji has a very specific figure; Kai He (to open - to close) which is found neither in other forms of Tai Ji, nor in Ba Gua or Xing Yi. This Kai He appears with each connection and transition. It makes it possible to control and adjust breathing and to accumulate the Shi (energy potential) in order to prepare for the next change.
4. It is an art which aims at effectiveness in combat. Sun Shi Tai Ji is truly an art of combat. The amplitude of the gestures is limited, the course of the hands are direct, natural and aims to be effective. . It is not the force of the arms which strike, but the sum total of the elastic force of each movement carried out on a correct and uniform axis of gravity."
- Master Bob Melia, Sun Shi Tai Chi
Sun Taijiquan: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Instructions, Quotes, Glossary
By Mike Garofalo.
Research by Mike Garofalo
Sun Taijiquan Website Index Page
Sun Lu Tang (1861-1933) Biographical Information
Sun Tai Chi Chuan International Competition 73 Form
Instructions, Bibliography, Links, Resources.
Sun Taijiquan Blog
Sun Taijiquan Dictionary
Sun Lu Tang's Xing Yi Quan (Hsing I Chuan)
Sun Lu Tang's Baguazhang (BaQua Quan)
Sun Taijiquan is reputed to help with osteoarthritis. I have problems with arthritis in my feet, shoulder, tailbone, and hands. Nothing actute at the present time, but annoying. Sometimes, I have to adjust my workouts in the gym, in yoga, or in my taijiquan practice to manage the discomfort from increasing osteoarthritis.
Help with Arthritis: Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Yoga, Walking, and Diet Bibliography, links, resources, recommended books, information, quotations, tips, and research. By Michael P. Garofalo.
Showing posts with label Sun 73. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sun 73. Show all posts
Monday, April 14, 2025
Friday, January 10, 2025
Sun Style Taijiquan 73 Competition Form
Here are a number of my posts from 2020, 2017, and 2006 regarding my practice of this Tai Chi Chuan Form beginning nearly two decades ago.
Starting in February, 2020, I intended to begin classes in Vancouver led by Jill Ross on the Sun Taijiquan. She teaches at the Cascade Athletic Club on Thursdays in Vancouver, Washington. However, this class was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has studied and learned a number of Sun Style forms developed by Dr. Paul Lam.
I attended the Tai Chi for Arthritis Level I and II weekend workshop in Pleasant Hill, California, in 2006. The workshop leader was Master Trainer Troyce Thome. She was assisted by Robin Malby.
Here is a post of mine from 2017:
"Recently, a couple of people have written to me regarding the Sun Style of Tai Chi Chuan. In particular, they wanted information to help them in their regular practice of the Sun Style 73 Taijiquan Competition Form.
All I could do to help them was to refer them to my incomplete webpage on the subject, which I first published in 2003. That webpage provides information on the many books, and instructional DVD and VHS resources about this Sun Tai Chi form.
One person, David Dight, expressed interest in finishing this former Sun 73 webpage project of mine. Fine. Onward. Best wishes, David.
As for me, I have not practiced the Sun 73 form since 2013, and I only learned to do a good solo performance up to Movement 40. I enjoyed playing those 40 movements at home alone for a decade.
This led me to reflect on the many Tai Chi and Qigong forms I have learned, practiced, and played since 1985. I have learned many and have forgotten many. Typical for a dilettante, some would say; and, rightly so. Nevertheless, I dabble and enjoy. Better half of a new good boysenberry pie for a change, rather than just eating peach cobbler all the time.
I taught the first 40 movements of the Sun 73 Competition Form to my Tai Chi students at the Tehama Family Fitness Center in Red Bluff, CA, from 2006-2010; and Yang style from 2002-2016. I prefer variety: Yang 24, Chen 18, Sun 40, Yang 108, sword form, cane form, Qigong forms, and yoga vinyasa forms, etc.
Many people do not have ready geographical access to, or the financial resources for paying for studying person-to-person with a current master of the Sun Style of Tai Chi Chuan. Yet, they are eager to learn and practice the Sun Taijiquan Competition 73 form. Using books and instructional media, you too can learn from the Masters.
Only YOU can actually make the effort, learn, practice, do the work, do the lessons, memorize the movements, imitate, persist, exercise, play, practice, TRY, embody the skills, practice ... Gongfu (Kung Fu) "Mastery due to hard work!"
The following text was written by Mike Garofalo in 2006:
"Lately, I have been studying and practicing the Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan 73 Competition Form. I have been using instructional videotapes by Paul Lam, Liang Shou-Yu, Jesse Tsao, Men Hui-Feng, Li Cheng-Xiang, and Jiang Jian-Ye to learn the form.
Sun Style Taijiquan is done at a "lively step" pace. The average time for the performance of the form is around 6 minutes for 73 movements.
Complete Performance of Sun Taijiquan International Competition 73 Form
Time Performer Source
5:31 Liang, Shou-Yu Sun Style Taijiquan with Applications, VHS, 1996
5:17 Tsao, Jesse Tai Chi Sun Style Competition Form 73, VHS, 2002
9:22 Jiang, Jian-Ye Sun Sytle Tai Chi Competition Form 73, VHS, 1997
7:30 Lam, Paul Sun Style Tai Chi - 73 Forms, The Competition Form, VHS, 2000
5:42 Men, Hui-Feng Sun Style Tai Chi - 73 Forms, The Competition Form, VHS, 2000
3:52 Li, Cheng-Xiang Sun Style Long Competition Form 73, VCD
My favorite instructional videotape is Sun Style Tai Chi - 73 Forms. The Competition Forms. An instructional videotape by Dr. Paul Lam. Narwee, Australia, East Action Video, 2000. A competition form created by Professor Men Hui Feng of Beijing University based on the Sun style. "This detailed instructional video includes a demonstration of the set by its creator, Professor Men Hui-Feng. Sun style is characterised by its powerful qigong elements, agile steps and flowing movements." VHS, 103 minutes. Contents: Introduction to Tai Chi and the Sun style. Comprehensive instructions. Demonstrations of the complete set by Dr. Paul Lam from front and back views. A demonstration by the creator of the set, Professor Men Hu-Feng. ASIN: B000066G1T."
My webpage on the subject of Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan provides a list of the movements in the Sun Style 73 competition form.
Sun Lu Tang's original Taijiquan form was longer, 98 movements. The 73 version includes a few new kick moves, but is otherwise 80% the same as the original. Both of these two forms, and other shorter Sun Tai Chi versions (e.g., Dr. Paul Lam's 'Tai Chi for Arthritis' forms), are all the same style ... lively steps, feet close together, erect posture, turning-spins, and the "open and close" qigong move."
Grandmaster Sun Lu Tang says,
"There is great emphasis on the method of cultivating the body. All people - men, women, the old, the young - may practice in order to replace temerity with bravery, and stiffness with pliability. Those who are extremely weak, who suffer from fatigue and injury or illness, or who have weakened your qi from the practice of other martial arts to the point that you no longer have the strength to train, all of you may practice Tai Ji Quan. With practice, the qi will quickly come to a balanced state and will become strong, while the spirit naturally returns to a state of wholeness. Disease will be eliminated, and the length of life increased."
- Grand Master Sun Lu Tang, A Study of Taijiquan, 1921, p. 60.
Here is a post of mine from 2017:
"Recently, a couple of people have written to me regarding the Sun Style of Tai Chi Chuan. In particular, they wanted information to help them in their regular practice of the Sun Style 73 Taijiquan Competition Form.
All I could do to help them was to refer them to my incomplete webpage on the subject, which I first published in 2003. That webpage provides information on the many books, and instructional DVD and VHS resources about this Sun Tai Chi form.
One person, David Dight, expressed interest in finishing this former Sun 73 webpage project of mine. Fine. Onward. Best wishes, David.
As for me, I have not practiced the Sun 73 form since 2013, and I only learned to do a good solo performance up to Movement 40. I enjoyed playing those 40 movements at home alone for a decade.
This led me to reflect on the many Tai Chi and Qigong forms I have learned, practiced, and played since 1985. I have learned many and have forgotten many. Typical for a dilettante, some would say; and, rightly so. Nevertheless, I dabble and enjoy. Better half of a new good boysenberry pie for a change, rather than just eating peach cobbler all the time.
I taught the first 40 movements of the Sun 73 Competition Form to my Tai Chi students at the Tehama Family Fitness Center in Red Bluff, CA, from 2006-2010; and Yang style from 2002-2016. I prefer variety: Yang 24, Chen 18, Sun 40, Yang 108, sword form, cane form, Qigong forms, and yoga vinyasa forms, etc.
Many people do not have ready geographical access to, or the financial resources for paying for studying person-to-person with a current master of the Sun Style of Tai Chi Chuan. Yet, they are eager to learn and practice the Sun Taijiquan Competition 73 form. Using books and instructional media, you too can learn from the Masters.
"With the development of information technology, the learners should further enhance their knowledge and perfect their skills through reading books and using the multimedia resources, such as video tapes and VCDs. Sometimes, to some extent, you can master the competition routines even without a coach in person. Quite a number of people are known to have learned and practice Tai Ji Quan by using the multimedia teaching materials and some even won places in competitions besides keeping fit. But of course, if given a chance, it is always more beneficial to learn personally from masters."
- The Competition Routine of Sun Style Tai Ji Quan, Edited by Zhong Shan, p. 138.
Only YOU can actually make the effort, learn, practice, do the work, do the lessons, memorize the movements, imitate, persist, exercise, play, practice, TRY, embody the skills, practice ... Gongfu (Kung Fu) "Mastery due to hard work!"
The following text was written by Mike Garofalo in 2006:
"Lately, I have been studying and practicing the Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan 73 Competition Form. I have been using instructional videotapes by Paul Lam, Liang Shou-Yu, Jesse Tsao, Men Hui-Feng, Li Cheng-Xiang, and Jiang Jian-Ye to learn the form.
Sun Style Taijiquan is done at a "lively step" pace. The average time for the performance of the form is around 6 minutes for 73 movements.
Complete Performance of Sun Taijiquan International Competition 73 Form
Time Performer Source
5:31 Liang, Shou-Yu Sun Style Taijiquan with Applications, VHS, 1996
5:17 Tsao, Jesse Tai Chi Sun Style Competition Form 73, VHS, 2002
9:22 Jiang, Jian-Ye Sun Sytle Tai Chi Competition Form 73, VHS, 1997
7:30 Lam, Paul Sun Style Tai Chi - 73 Forms, The Competition Form, VHS, 2000
5:42 Men, Hui-Feng Sun Style Tai Chi - 73 Forms, The Competition Form, VHS, 2000
3:52 Li, Cheng-Xiang Sun Style Long Competition Form 73, VCD
My favorite instructional videotape is Sun Style Tai Chi - 73 Forms. The Competition Forms. An instructional videotape by Dr. Paul Lam. Narwee, Australia, East Action Video, 2000. A competition form created by Professor Men Hui Feng of Beijing University based on the Sun style. "This detailed instructional video includes a demonstration of the set by its creator, Professor Men Hui-Feng. Sun style is characterised by its powerful qigong elements, agile steps and flowing movements." VHS, 103 minutes. Contents: Introduction to Tai Chi and the Sun style. Comprehensive instructions. Demonstrations of the complete set by Dr. Paul Lam from front and back views. A demonstration by the creator of the set, Professor Men Hu-Feng. ASIN: B000066G1T."
My webpage on the subject of Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan provides a list of the movements in the Sun Style 73 competition form.
Sun Lu Tang's original Taijiquan form was longer, 98 movements. The 73 version includes a few new kick moves, but is otherwise 80% the same as the original. Both of these two forms, and other shorter Sun Tai Chi versions (e.g., Dr. Paul Lam's 'Tai Chi for Arthritis' forms), are all the same style ... lively steps, feet close together, erect posture, turning-spins, and the "open and close" qigong move."
Grandmaster Sun Lu Tang says,
"There is great emphasis on the method of cultivating the body. All people - men, women, the old, the young - may practice in order to replace temerity with bravery, and stiffness with pliability. Those who are extremely weak, who suffer from fatigue and injury or illness, or who have weakened your qi from the practice of other martial arts to the point that you no longer have the strength to train, all of you may practice Tai Ji Quan. With practice, the qi will quickly come to a balanced state and will become strong, while the spirit naturally returns to a state of wholeness. Disease will be eliminated, and the length of life increased."
- Grand Master Sun Lu Tang, A Study of Taijiquan, 1921, p. 60.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)