Small circle

When you are accomplished with adjustment, a very small movement can be used to immediately affect the attacker's centre.
This imperceptible touch instantly renders the attacker subtly off-balance.
As the attacker seeks to re-gain the advantage, the student must continue to adjust themselves in order to maintain the uproot.

Presence, sensitivity and a lack of self-consciousness are all required.
The subtle adjustments taught throughout the Yang Cheng Fu form now come into play.
Overt, unnecessary stepping would break the connection between attacker and defender, rendering the tai chi ineffective.

Weight shift

Shifting the weight between the legs and turning the waist is an alternative to stepping.
It requires less physical effort and relies to a greater degree upon timing and accuracy.

Although stepping is a safer option when you are being attacked, you may not be afforded the time to step.
Skill with peng, listening and yielding is now paramount.

Functional stepping

Stepping enables you to remain close to your attacker: balanced, structurally aligned, relaxed, sticky and sensitive.
But it should not be arbitrary.
You should only step as and when you need to and then only in order to improve your positional relationship with the attacker.

Which form?

When speaking about the Yang Cheng Fu footwork, which form is considered?
Typically the long form.

This particular form is performed slowly whilst the several other forms are not so slow.
The weapons forms and pao chui form all require nimble footwork.

Also, there is more to the Yang Cheng Fu style than just form...

Adjustment

The function of adjustment is maintain the optimal position at all times.
This skill is trained throughout the entire Yang Cheng Fu syllabus with numerous partner drills teaching the skill.

Stepping in the form

During the long form stepping is minimal.
This serves a particular, specific martial purpose: adjustment.

Evading an attack is the first stage in countering the attack and this often - but not always - requires a step.
However, if your step is too large you will be too far away to remain sticky and deliver an effective counter.
Therefore, stepping is not about escaping.
It is about adjusting your positioning.

Yang style footwork

The Yang Cheng Fu style of tai chi is occasionally criticised on account of its apparent lack of dynamic footwork.
Usually the obese size of Yang Cheng Fu himself is cited as the reason for this.
This may be true but is not the real reason.

Form application

The form teaches the body to move into shapes that can be applied in self defence.
Each posture has a number of potential self defence applications.

Practicing the application of form postures is a way of understanding what the form can mean.
It teaches the student how to move their body relative to an opponent, meeting force softly, yet countering with power and stability.
In a form one application rolls into another and another.

Skills

Our students study a variety of skills:
• Close-range combat
• Kicks, punches, palm strikes, finger strikes, elbows, knees
• Optimal use of alignment and structure
• Whole-body strength
• Throws
• Weapons
• Defence against a knife
• How to deal with multiple opponents/gangs
• Seizing
• Joint locks
• Trapping
• Focus
• Accuracy
• Stickiness
• Physical sensitivity and awareness• Balance, rhythm and timing• Evasive footwork• Escape from holds
• Grappling whilst standing and on the floor

 

A kung fu student must become proficient with all of these skills.

Sophisticated

Students focus on maintaining optimal balance, structure and alignment at all times.
They are required to adapt, change and improvise relative to what the attacker is doing.
Stickiness, evasive footwork, whole-body movement and relaxation enable the student to change rapidly between striking, grappling and joint manipulation.
Combat is close range; closing-in quickly to incapacitate the opponent.

Unconventional

In conventional martial arts training a student uses aggression, strength and speed to defend themselves.
Tai chi chuan applications are somewhat different; more sophisticated.
Brute force and contracted muscles are unnecessary.
Healthy, natural body use is required.

Form

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eaJyW0oWRg

Form applications

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdqp1kQ3S0Q

Pao chui and large san sau

The challenging pao chui form is practiced solo and also partnered as the large san sau.
The student has to make continual adjustments against an opponent who possesses equivalent tai chi chuan skill.
 
It is not possible to practice pao chui unless the student has very sensitive, nimble feet.

Weapons forms

Black belt students learn a variety of weapons forms that teach agile footwork:

· Sabre form
· 2 person cane form/drill
· Staff form
· Walking stick form
· Straight sword form

These forms utilise the postures from the Yang Cheng Fu form, but the footwork is quite different.
Why is it different?

The reach of a weapon is greater and you need to avoid being hit.
In order to utilise the weapon fully, a student needs to move freely and comfortably.
Lumbering footwork is not adequate.
Weapons forms teach fast, responsive footwork and rapid direction changes.

Yang Cheng Fu form

The Classical Yang form does not involve any fancy footwork.
There is plenty of stepping throughout the form, but it is far from dynamic.
How come?

The Yang Cheng Fu form encourages the student to perceive stepping as being an 'adjustment'.
You alter position favourably by stepping.
But you only step if and when you need to.

Yang Cheng Fu form (excerpts)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfu4FjNIYiY

Other forms

We teach a number of forms derived from the Yang Cheng Fu form:

1. Sabre form
2. 2 person cane form/drill
3. Staff form
4. Walking stick form
5. Pao chui form
6. Straight sword form 

Yang Cheng Fu form

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIrC8KZKNpA

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