Rick Matz introduction to YiQuan

here at Cook Ding’s Kitchen.

Trying zhan zhuang instructions from Yao Chengrong

This post contains a translation of an article by Yao Chengrong with very clear instructions on basic zhan zhuang. These instructions are extremely easy to follow, though it’s a very different activity to try to do at first. The idea that perfect stillness is not really it due to being stiff also helps me. After [...]

Interview with Jan Kallenbach

Jan Kallenbach was called the best foreign kyokushin fighter by Mas Oyama. He also had a judo background before training in karate and then later training with Kenichi Sawai. This interview is quite good. Dutch with English subtitles. This whole blog site is very good. I have to go back and read the entire site.

Interview with Wang Xiangzhai

I can’t tell the original news source or the translation, etc., but this one is worth reading a few times from various angles: Interview with Wang Xiangzhai
He gives some ideas on what to focus on in Xingyi, Bagua, Taiji - a sort of “reducing to essence” approach that I tend to prefer, and some insights [...]

Rambling on combining and prioritizing different aspects of training, different “coaches”, old vs. new

That last topic got me thinking about all the aspects of training I need to work on (every single aspect) and how to do an optimal mix of cross training. Back in the day it seems some similar “cross training”, though less systematic and subject to a lot of constraints due to secrecy and [...]

Mike Patterson interviews Henry Look

Here is an excerpt from a 1994 Hsing-I Journal interview with Henry Look, a student of Han Xingyuan and Yu Pung Shi, who were students of Wang Xiangzhai, and Kuo Lien Ying, a grandstudent of Yang Ban Hou and Guo Yun Shen (teacher of Wang Xiangzhai) and a student of Cheng Ting Hua. Whoa.

Another clear article on zhan zhuang

Here is another very clear article on zhan zhuang from an yiquan point of view. I think it’s interesting that the author recommends starting with only 5 - 10 seconds. Time spent doing zhan zhuang is a big question for me now as I’m experimenting with it avidly. I naturally want to “progress” and increase [...]

Fascinating review of Yao Chengrong class

This review by a Chen taijiquan practitioner on yiquan class by Yao Chengrong republished over on Formosa Neijia is totally fascinating. Focusing on “essence”, “internal power” as a shortcut approach to skill in internal arts - I don’t see how one could go wrong if that is indeed possible… there is plenty of time to [...]

Rambling about standing, “mixed” ma, “science” and “living” arts

Reading all about yiquan lately is really getting me interested in standing again. It also keeps me interested in mma and the question of how the “mixes” are really trying to evolve into a perfect fusion. On the face of it, that is a weird interest. Most people interested in standing seem interested in useless [...]

Interesting interview on yiquan

This Site - YiQuan Online - has this interesting interview.
Lots of other good stuff to go back and read.