Oldtimers in Chen Villiage (video)

[B-Rad]

Found this today, thought some might find it interesting :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYgRnRS6RLQ

These kind of vids always inspire me to train more taiji quan, seeing people with good balance and grace in advanced age.

[B-Rad]

A few other nice vids in that person's profile too.

[ShaolinDan]

I hope this doesn't make me sound like a jerk...let's say that I'm asking this to check my own learning, and not to criticize anyone else,

but, is it just me, or are there structural problems throughout this video (i.e. knee past foot, knee collapsed..., etc.) ??

I know I'll be lucky to be doing taiji at their age, but still, I hope by then I've learned to stop making the mistakes I make now.

Anyway, yeah, don't want to criticize people practicing longer than I've been alive, but I also would like to check that what I'm seeing is really there.

Thanks for any responses.

[B-Rad]

I didn't notice much of the knee extending too far. The knee didn't seem to go past the toes which is the standard I'm used to in taiji. When learning longfist type stuff though the lower leg was supposed to be straight up (forming a 90 degree angle in the deepest stances). Of course the stance work was a lot deeper. I tend to have a bit more leeway when using high stances since there isn't the same kind of pressure. Some Shaolin related styles I noticed also will push the knee out further with the foot and knee angled inward I think because it doubles as an attack on the opponents knee.

What did you mean by the knee collapsing?

[B-Rad]

Though I've seen a lot of old traditional masters and teachers who aren't always the most structurally sound in their forms practice (Not all are experts on body mechanics and modern athletic training, and seem to just play things by ear).

[ShaolinDan]

By the knee collapsing I meant turning the rear leg in in bow-stance (as one would in long-fist[although turning the foot as well of course]), rather than keeping the knee out.

Just asking because I'm fairly new to Chen and thought I saw a lot of the things I'm trying to remember not to do. Doesn't really matter though, I really don't know the context of the film...

[Blacktiger]

Found this today, thought some might find it interesting :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYgRnRS6RLQ

These kind of vids always inspire me to train more taiji quan, seeing people with good balance and grace in advanced age.

Love it - nice find..

[YouKnowWho]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYgRnRS6RLQ

When you see some young people train their CMA, you won't be able tp predict their future. When you see old folks train their CMA, you can pretty much draw certain conclusion. This clip just don't give me the logical progression of beginner level, intermediate level, and advance level training stages. I can't project myself to train like a beginner (solo form only) when I am 80 years old.

When you was young and you was just a beginner, your training may be defined by your teacher. When you get old and you are a teacher yourself, what will be your daily training? Will you still be interest in the solo form training or PH that you have done all your life? Are you going to do somthing much more interest? What will that be?

[Violent Designs]

So in your opinion, what they are doing is example of the things that are "wrong" with Chinese martial art today?

Personally, I think so. But then again, solo form may be good exercise for elderly people, correct?

Much thanks in advance.

[YouKnowWho]

Someone may accuse me by comparing styles here but I still have to take that risk in order to express my honest feeling on this. If we look at this "Oldtimer in 保定 Baoding", it gives us some different image about TCMA. When we get old, we may lost speed and power but our love about "combat" should still be there. It's pretty sad to think "Oldtimer" = "health only". It doesn't have to be that way. To me "oldtimer" is just around the corner. This is why my feeling about this clip may be much stronger than others. Will I become "health only" person just in few more years? I hope not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5xXYMObi4o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv3bBQMY4Lo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgtGzYbOgwQ

[ShaolinDan]

YKW "Will I become "health only" person just in few more years? I hope not."

Have you written a book yet? :)

[YouKnowWho]

Have you written a book yet? :)

I'm still working on it.