Positive Mindset for Seniors

"What are the qualities that make one's mindset positive?
They include being able to:

Think in a calm, pacified, and reflective manner instead of being disturbed, agitated, and impulsive in one's reactions.

Put ideas together rationally and arrive at the right judgment even in the absence of obvious evidence or proof.

Decide, plan, and execute a course of action in a patient, persistent, and disciplined manner.

Recognize the changes and be flexible in adapting to them.

Observe and perceive things with a sense of humor instead of outrage, indignation, and anger.

Let go of useless and counterproductive thoughts, desires, and ambitions instead of being preoccupied with them.

Relax and meditate or rest.

Resist temptation and coercion."

- Michael Fekete, Strength Training for Seniors, Hunter House, 2006, p. 36

Well-Being

Taijiquan: Opening Posture

Here is a description of the beginning of the Opening Posture of Taijiquan from the book Traditional Chen Style Taijiquan by Fan Chun-Lei and A. Frank Shiery, p.37:

"1. Preliminary Stance: Stand naturally upright with the feet placed shoulder-width apart, toes pointed slightly inward, and arms hanging naturally at the side. The body should be kept upright with the shoulders relaxed, eyes slightly closed and breathing naturally. The body should face north. The mind should remain empty, calm and clear. This is the state of WuJi, (Negative Terminus in Taoist Teaching).

2. Commencing Form: The body should exhibit being relaxed externally while solid within. The head is held naturally erect as if pulled upward by an invisible string. Close the lips slightly with the tongue touching the upper palate. The toes firmly grasp the ground with Yongquan point pulled upward. The eyes are looking straight ahead with the chin drawn slightly inward. The hip is turned up and the coccyx turned back and upward with the waist directed downwards. The whole body should remain relaxed. A mind state of intent is maintained while the vital energy flows upward from the Dantian to the Baihui point, while the turbid energy flows downward from the Dantian to the Yongquan point. During this time, the body exhibits no external movement. Yin/Yang, for example, closing/opening, supple-firm and fast-slow are manifested internally, portraying the image of the Taiji, (Grand Terminus).

Key Points to Remember: For the beginner, the primary concern should be to cleanse the mind and spirit of tension and anxiety, removing all negative thoughts. This develops even-temperedness and an alert mind for quick movement and response. Once this technique has been mastered, the practitioner can begin to understand and practice Taijiquan more effectively."
- Fan Chun-Lei and A. Frank Shiery

Simplified Standard 24 Form Taijiquan

Chen Taijiquan

Tai Chi Worldwide

"No school of Chinese martial arts is as well known and popular as Taijiquan. It is suitable for both the young and the old, not only because Taijiquan possesses special features of stretching, flexing the joints, softly twining, exercising both the inside and the outside, dispelling diseases and prolonging life, but it is also the martial art that best reflects Chinese traditional philosophy. More and more people from other countries, especially those interested in Chinese culture, are beginning to practice Taijiquan. Taijiquan is becoming popular all over the world. Because of this, Taijiquan has no national boundary and is beyond the category of culture, and belongs to people everywhere."

- Traditional Chen Style Taijiquan: The Small Frame Method. By Fan Chun-Lei and A. Frank Shiery. Bloomington, Indiana, Author House, 2007. 151 pages. Black and white illustrations. ISBN: 9781425985851.

Chen Style Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine

Broadsword (Dan Dao) - Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan

Chen Style Taijiquan Broadsword. Research by Michael P. Garofalo. This popular webpage includes a comprehensive bibliography, scores of links to webpages, an extensive listing of the names and name variations for each movement (in English, Chinese, French, German and Spanish), selected quotations, sword techniques, performance times, a comprehensive media bibliography, and suggested instructional media for the Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan single Broadsword (saber, Dao, Dan Dao) 23 movement form. © Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, December 2007. 85Kb.

Taiji Saber

Taijiquan Sword

Taijiquan 24 Form: Standard Simplified

For the past weeks, most of my writing and graphic arts work has been focused on improving my webpage on the Standard 24 Tai Chi Form. I have finished a good third draft of this webpage.

Tai Chi Chuan Standard Simplified 24 Movement Form

Research by Michael P. Garofalo

- Bibliography, Links, Online Videos, Resources

- List of 24 Movement Names in English, Chinese characters, Chinese Pinyin, French, German and Spanish. Source references for movement names.

- Descriptions of each of the 24 movements with B&W line illustrations.

- Performance times, sections, quotations, notes on learning.

- Standard, simplified, Chinese National, Orthodox, 24 Movement Form in the Yang Style of Taijiquan.

Updated in March 2008

300Kb, HTML

http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/short.htm

This webpage was served to over 48,000 persons in 2007. It is one of the more popular webpages on the Cloud Hands Website

Tai Chi 32 Sword

32 Sword Form, Simplified, Yang Style, Taijiquan Jian. By Michael P. Garofalo. This popular webpage includes a comprehensive bibliography, scores of links to webpages; an extensive listing of the names and name variations for each movement in English, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish; a detailed analysis of each posture and movement sequence with explanations and numbered illustrations and detailed instructions; selected quotations; comments on 20 Taijiquan sword techniques; a comprehensive media bibliography; a chart of performance times; and, a comparison of the 32 and 55 sword forms in the Yang style. This is the standard, simplified, orthodox, 1957, 32 Taiji Sword Form, in the Yang Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. © Michael P. Garofalo, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, January 2008. 245Kb+.

32 Taijiquan Simplified Sword Form

Standard Tai Chi 24 Form

Tai Chi Chuan Standard Simplified 24 Movement Form

Research by Michael P. Garofalo

- Bibliography, Links, Online Videos, Resources

- List of 24 Movement Names in English, Chinese characters, Chinese Pinyin, French, German and Spanish. Source references for movement names.

- Descriptions of each of the 24 movements with B&W line illustrations.

- Performance times, sections, quotations, notes on learning.

- Standard, simplified, Chinese National, Orthodox, 24 Movement Form in the Yang Style of Taijiquan.

Updated in February 2008

210 Kb

http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/short.htm

This webpage was served to over 48,000 persons in 2007. It is one of the more popular webpages on the Cloud Hands Website

Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds the Mortar

New Definitions of the 8 Basic Techniques. By Zhenbo Sun. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of Tai Chi Chuan: Vol. 31, No. 5, October, 2007, pp. 45 - 48. Discussion of the 8 energies (Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, Kao, Ji) as found in King Kong Pounds Mortar # 2 movement of Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine.

Chen Taijiquan: Old Frame, First Form

2. Pounding the Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui)
Pounding the Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) [Chen Zenglei]
Diamond King Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) [Mark Chen]
King-Kong Nailed Fist [Jou Tsung Hwa]
Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) [Sim & Gaffney]
Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds with Pestle (Jin-gang Dao Dui) [Chen Xin 1932, 2007]
Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar [Zhaohua]
Pounding the Mortar [Mike Garofalo]
Martèlement du Mortier
Zerstoßen des Mörsers
Golpear el Mortero
金刚捣碓 : Jin Gang Dao Dui

Cloud Hands Website Usage in 2007

Cloud Hands Website: Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong
http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/index.htm
Published by Michael P. Garofalo


In 2007, there were 1,040,263 webpages (excluding graphics) server to people all around the world.


This website includes webpages on the Yang, Sun, and Chen styles of Taijiquan and many forms on Qigong. It also includes sub-folders on meditation, walking, yoga, and esoterica.


The most popular webpages requested were the Staff, Eight Section Brocade, Yang Long Form, Yang Short Form, Index Homepage, and the Qigong Homepage.


In addition, over 890,000 webpages (excluding graphics) were distributed from the subfolder on Months (http://www.egreenway.com/months/index.htm).


Therefore, the total 2007 traffic in webpages served from the domain www.egreenway.com was 1,930,263 webpages served.

Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine - Performance Times

Today, I studied some instructional DVDs by Chen Masters teaching the Chen Style Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine. Chen Zenglei did the form in 13:46 minutes; DVD 2005, #2, Part V., Essential 18 Movement Chen Style Boxing. Ren Guang Yi did the form in 9:18 minutes; DVD 2006. Jesse Tsao did the form in 11:03; DVD 2004.

List of Movements in Section I, Movements 1 -7, of the Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form.


List of Movements in Section II, Movements 8 -14, of the Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine

Chen Style Taijiquan, Old Frame First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu. By Michael P. Garofalo. 120Kb. February 2008. Detailed bibliography and links. List of movement names in English, Chinese characters, Chinese Pinyin, French, German, and Spanish. Detailed list of online videos. Notes on learning the Old Frame, First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu. Record of performance time of this form by many masters. Breakdown by Sections.

Chen Taiji Laojia Yilu: Sections

Sections of Chen Taijiquan, Old Frame, First Form

The Chen Old Frame First Form is often divided into sections for teaching and learning. Chen Zenglei provides a list of these sections which, he says, is based on the the sections proposed by Chen Xin:

Section Movement Numbers
I. 1 - 2
II. 3 - 6
III. 7 - 8
IV. 9 - 11
V. 12 - 15
VI. 16 - 22
VII. 23 - 26
VIII. 27 - 42
IX. 43 - 51
X. 52 - 61
XI. 62 - 67
XII. 68 - 70
XIII. 71 - 74

For my own learning purposes, I have divided the Chen Old Frame First Form into 10 Sections:

Section Movement Numbers
I. 1 - 7
II. 8 - 14
III. 15 - 21
IV. 22 - 28
V. 29 - 35
VI. 36 - 42
VII. 43 - 50
VIII. 51 - 58
IX. 59 - 66
X. 67 - 74


Notes on Learning the Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form
By Michael P. Garofalo

Chen Tai Chi Chuan Old Frame First Form

Chen Tai Chi Chuan, Old Frame, First Form, Laojia Yilu

I have been doing some research on the Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan, Old Frame, First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu. I have published this research as:

Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu
By Michael P. Garofalo
February 2008
Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Red Bluff, California
105Kb

This webpage includes:

An extensive bibliography of books and media products.

A comprehensive collection of links to Internet resources.

A detailed comparative list of the names of the 74 movements in this form: in English, Chinese Pinyin, Chinese characters, French, Spanish and German. Six reference sources for the movement names are cited.

Performance times for the form by Chen masters.

A comprehensive list of online videos on the Chen form.

Recommendations for the best learning resources.

Notes on learning the Chen Old Frame, First Form.

Quotes and poems.


Chen Taijiquan: General Index

Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form Lao Jia Yi Lu

I have been doing some research on the Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan, Old Frame, First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu. I have published this research as:

Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form
By Michael P. Garofalo
February 2008
Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Red Bluff, California
96Kb

This webpage includes a detailed bibliography with links, and a detailed comparative list of the names of the 74 movements in this form.

Chen Taijiquan: General Index

32 Sword Form, Taijiquan, Yang Style

32 Sword Form, Simplified, Yang Style, Taijiquan Jian. By Michael P. Garofalo. This popular webpage includes a comprehensive bibliography, scores of links to webpages; an extensive listing of the names and name variations for each movement in English, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish; a detailed analysis of each posture and movement sequence with explanations and numbered illustrations and detailed instructions; selected quotations; comments on 20 Taijiquan sword techniques; a comprehensive media bibliography; a chart of performance times; and, a comparison of the 32 and 55 sword forms in the Yang style. This is the standard, simplified, orthodox, 1957, 32 Taiji Sword Form, in the Yang Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. © Michael P. Garofalo, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, January 2008. 245Kb+.

32 Taijiquan Simplified Sword Form

20 T'ai Chi Ch'uan Sword Techniques

55 Classical Yang Taiji Sword




The Wild Horse Jumps Over the Mountain Stream




Zhong Kui
Vanquisher of Demons
Protector of the Home

I really appreciated the following email from Brad in Canada,

"I wanted to thank you for your web pages on the Tai Chi 32 sword form. I live in a small town in BC in Canada and have no access to any tai chi instuctors, so I started teaching myself from your website. I can't tell you how much learning tai chi has changed my life for the better. I have never felt so balanced and contented. Your website has changed me for the better. Thank you so much, I just cannot express how thankful I am."

Happy Chinese New Year

"Still lie the sheltering snows, undimmed and white;
And reigns the winter's pregnant silence still;
No sign of spring, save that the catkins fill,
And willow stems grow daily red and bright.
These are days when ancients held a rite
Of expiation for the old year's ill,
And prayer to purify the new year's will."
- Helen Hunt Jackson, A Calendar of Sonnet's: February

February: Quotes, Poems, Lore, and Chores

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Professor Bohn told me that "It`s New Year in China: the year of the rat, the element wood, the celestial stem Wu, and earth branch Zi!"



I am going to take a walk now. Enjoy your day.

Walking: Quotes, Poems, Bibliography, Notes