Interview conducted by Master Ding, and originally published in Tai Chi & Health magazine Volume 1, Issue 4, Spring 1995
Taken from the book
*»Tai Chi Chuan Relevations:Principles and Concepts«*
Yang Sau Chung and Ip Tai Tak demostrating sword application
MasterDing(MD): Were there dlifferences in the Yang Style Tai Chi form when you began to train under Master Yang?
Grandmaster Ip (GMI): Previous to learning under Master Yang it was very obvious that there were differences in my Yang style Tai chi form. As a result of this I had to relearn the whole form. Master Yang’s movements were simpler to the eye, yet had focused precision to match. Even though the movements seemed simplistic, the traditional form was more difficult to master as it involved many intricate subtleties needing only very small movements, which are hardly noticeable to the eye. When he was cortecting me, Master Yang often told me that he was screwing my structure down, In other words he was reinforcing the structure so that it could enable the Chi-power to be more concentrated and thus more projected. Practising the corrected form brings quicker results.
Master Yang also said that if the form’s postures and movements were not correct, whatever time and energy is put into the practice, the effort is wasted. It can be likened to pouring water into a bucket full of holes. Water cannot be retained in the bucket, so therefore time and energy put into filling the bucket can never yield the desired results. Practising the correct form ensures that the time and effort put into the practice is not wasted. Each practice session helps to concentrate and harness the power a little more i’e’ the bucket without holes can retain water without loss each time it is filled a little.
MD: What other differences are there?
GMI: The traditional Yang Form has more meaning and enables
me to cultivate more power quicker. The Chi energy is more focused and direct,
hence more effective for self-defence
application. The form uses numerous circular movements within
various postures through the use of hip movements. The previous form that I had
learnt had no depth or meaning. Correct weighting is also very important.
Practitioners should ensure that the weighting within the forward postures
should always be 70/30 (70% of the weighting on the front leg and30% on the rear
leg) and should never be double-weighted i.e. 50/50.
I have also observed that a number of Yang Style forms are often too relaxed and
flowery. Traditional Yang style postures are simple and yet contain various
subtleties incorporated within them. Practitioners should always seek out a
Master who can demonstrate and show such levels of teachings. Without it, people
often get stuck at their levels and are unable to progress any further in Tai
chi chuan training. It is common to find these people giving up Tai Chi or using
an external martial arts approach to explain the principles and applications of
Tai Chi Chuan. The latter approach usually leads the practitioner further and
further away from gaining insight and understanding of the true meaning of
Internal Martial Arts.
MD: What was the training like under Master Yang?
GMI: Master Yang was a traditionalist. He taught on an individual basis and expected high standards from all his students. The training was very tough indeed! I often remember having to change T-shirts during my training sessions for they were always drenched with sweat. Master Yang would sometimes tell me that people nowadays generally do not train very hard when compared with his own or previous generations training.
For instance, Master Yang’s father, Yang Cheng Fu, often woke him early in the mornings, even in the very cold winter, insistent that he should train in the courtyard. Without training, Master Yang was not allowed back into the house. During bitter cold winters in China, to survive, young Master Yang had to train in the courtyard in fear of freezing to death. He would practice his form over and over again just to keep himself warm. Only after diligent practice was he allowed back into the house to have breakfast. Master Yang often said that his father would practise intensively in a cycle until he was completely exhausted. After an intensive session his father slept only by lying on a thin board rested at an angle on the wall. By doing this, should he sleep too comfortably, and roll over, he would fall offthe board (thereby waking himself), wash his face with cold water and resume training again. This cycle was continuous so that he trained intensivelv 24 hours a day.
MD: What are the essential points when practising Tai Chi
Chuan?
GMI: There are three important aspects of training that one has to take into consideration to improve one’s Tai Chi Chuan:
a. Correct practice of the form
this will enable one to circulate Chi energy and also gain better understanding
of its applicability.
b. Zhan Zhong Chi Kung training
This form of training not only helps practitioners to focus and harness Chi but
also strengthens one’s stability and balance.
c. Push Hands
This enables one to develop one’s sensitivity and Ting Jin (or listening energy)
for self-defence applications. If the individual carries out these three
important approaches in training, his Tai Chi Chuan will progress much more
quickly to a higher level.
MD: What advice would you give to individuals who want to
improve their Tai Chi Chuan?
GMI: The individual should seek out a reputable, skilled and
knowledgeable Master. The attitude and approach of the student is also very
important. In ancient times, before an individual was
accepted to undertake training, his character was assessed. This
assessment would continue throughout his training from the initial to advanced
stages. Failing such testing meant that the student would no longer be allowed
to study the art further.
Constant and regular practice is vital. Results in one’s training are measured in ten-year periods. To be good in Tai Chi Chuan, you have to be committed and able to endure hard training. Correct postures are important. These are the building blocks for strong foundation. Bad postures give rise to poor foundation and further training will yield little gain.
MD: Often I hear people say that if they are intelligent they could learn the form quicker and are able to achieve high levels in Tai chi chuan more eosily. what is your view about this?
GMI: The training in Tai Chi Chuan is quite different from
ordinary academic studies. The individual will still need to practise to gain
better understanding of the form.
In Chinese, we often use the millstone to explain the concept of correct form
practice. For example, wheat grains are put in the mill to be turned into flour,
which can then be used for numerous purposes. Form practising is similar in that
over a period of time of continued practice you will gain better understanding
and insight into different aspects and applications of Chi within the form. Some
intelligent people often ask the Master to teach more postures at each session
so they can memorise and remember more moves. However, each correct posture
needs to be practised regularly before learning new moves otherwise the ful|
essence of the postures is not grasped. Time spent
learning a few postures coffectly at each session is more valuable and important
than learning many postures incorrectly.
MD: Some practitioners often try to learn from different Masters who are condacting various workshops or seminars. Will they be able to learn much Tai chi to improve their levels?
GMI: People attending such workshops or seminars do gain some understanding of the different approaches of Tai Chi Chuan as demonstrated by these Masters. People generally learn numerous forms, pushing hands, weapons, etc. These are merely movements and often taught only at basic levels. To achieve high levels in Tai Chi Chuan, you should seek out the best and continue to study with that Master. Higher levels or skills are nonnally only taught to people who have stayed with the Master for long periods of time.
The time factor is not the only determinant. Your character and
personality are also taken into account because the Master needs to feel that
the individual is worthy of the true transmission’ Hence, you can see why a
Master teaching thousands of students may only have a handful of disciples. The
late Master Yang Sau Chung only accepted three disciples – myself, Chu Gin Soon
and Chu King Hung.
MD: Practitioners often get asked what family style of Tai Chi
Chuan they practised and whether they are big or small circle?
Could you explain what they mean?
GMI: Big or small circle often means that the form is
practised
with larger or smaller circular movements (for example Wu Style is said to be
small circle). However, other than this framework, the less known versions of
the Yang Style form are classified into three types – stork, tiger and snake.
Stork – the postures in the form tend to be much higher.
This
form is ideal for weaker or older people to practise.
Tiger – the postures are of medium height and should be aimed at by all practitioners.
Snake – the postures are very low. This is the most
difficult
form to master. Only the inner disciples are taught this higher level. This form
is not suitable for everybody to practise. We hear stories of different
generations of Yang Masters who develop such flexibility and dexterity that they
are able to practise the form under table tops and even pick up coins from the
ground with their mouth while in »snake creeps down« posture. Practitioners
should not attempt to practice this snake form without the supervision and
instruction of a knowledgeable and experienced Tai Chi Master.
MD: We often hear stories of the Yang Masters’ power and applications for self-defence. What was training under Master Yang Sau Chung like in this respect?
GMI: My Master often stated that to understand Chi energy
and its self-defence application, one needs to experience being attacked or hit
by the Master. He often stressed that if he did not hit or attack the student,
they would not understand nor learn the true internal concept of self-defence.
In Chinese (Cantonese), this process is called:
»BUT DA BUT GAU’« or »Not to hit, is not to teach«
For instance, to cook a dish, you first need to know the right
ingredients. To taste such a dish, one needs to use the senses of
touch, smell, sight and taste, to really appreciate the true flavour of the dish.
Therefore, the only way to understand is to experience. In the past, when these
Yang Masters taught their students, they had to endure very harsh and tough
training. Some of these students often got injured or gave up studying Tai Chi
altogether, as they could not endure such rigorous training.
I have personally undergone 34 years of this type of training.
Initially, when I practised advanced pushing hands with my Master, as soon as I
had contact with him, I was immediately thrown to the wall. Often when pushed, I
would bounce off the wall like a ball. During the earlier stages of my training,
I often saw »stars« and got very breathless. Over a period of time, through such
regular practice, I became stronger. Depending on the intensity of Chi energy
applied by my Master, I was able to cope with the force to some degree by
feeling and reacting to it, something that can only be learnt through such
conditioning and experience.
Master Yang could use any part of his body to apply his Chi energy, for example in Fa Jin (or issuing energy). In my training session, I was usually exhausted and drenched in sweat after practising advanced pushing hands with Master Yang. However, he still appeared as fresh as when he first started the session. Not even a drop of sweat! He was always able to control the Chi with such precision and focus at all times, using minimal or no movement at all. His power was indescribable and had to be felt to be appreciated.
MD: What other aspects of training would you give to Tai Chi Chuan practitioners to help them improve their standards?
GMI: People need to be aware of three other principles:
a. Yuen (or circular)
Tai Chi Chuan movements are usually circular. However, within this circular
nature,the shape could change, for instance, smaller and large circles, oblong
and so on.
b. Wan (or smooth flow)
Movements practised need to be smooth and in flowing momentum. There should not
be a break from the beginning to the end i.e. like the Yin -Yang symbol, one
flowing into the other.
c. Tuen (or united)
The movement practised should be co-ordinated and balanced.
MD: I would tike to thank you for this rare interview. I am sure that
I have guined a more expansive view of Tai Chi Chuan and that readers will
undoubtedly gain a valuable insight into Tai Chi Chuan.
Thank you