Hao style Tai Chi Chuan Blog

2011-11-03T03:28:00.000-07:00

I am hard at work on my third book on the Hao style Taiji Quan. The book explains and demonstrates all of the movements in the 96 Long Form. Each four-movement sequence, called "Units" or "Forms", will have a short instructional video and audio to go along with the text.

Here is a sample of how I envision the video and audio working together in tandem with the text (not shown here):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8LQFD8J-Kc

Hao style Taiji Quan: Dynamic Hand Fighting (Push Hands)

2010-02-16T01:21:00.000-08:00

Why do we only practice dynamic Hand Fighting and not stationary Hand Fighting? Because dynamic Hand Fighting is very agile and avoids the defects of stationary Hand Fighting which is lifeless and dull. When you practice dynamic Hand Fighting, keep your upper body completely stable so that you cannot only control your opponent with your touch posture, step up posture, sticking posture, and following posture, but you can also issue your power properly.

Hao Taiji Quan: The basic methods of practicing Hand Fighting (Push Hands)

2010-02-01T02:20:00.000-08:00

There are two basic ways of practicing Hand Fighting in Wu style Taiji Quan: one is stationary and the other includes movements. Wu Yu Xiang and Li Yi Yu taught us the dynamic Hand Fighting with steps. You and your partner move in a straight line - each partner alternates between moving forward and backward. Your arms apply ward-off, roll back, press, and push; these four movements are practiced repeatedly back and forth.
[Note: These Hao Taiji Quan blogs are greatly simplified explanations of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a complete copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer (over 100 pages), follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao style Taiji Quan: Theories of Hand-Fighting

2010-01-22T02:07:00.000-08:00

Practitioners should acquire a complete understanding of the theories of Taiji Quan. You appear very collected and comfortable, but inside you are filled with ‘Qi’, which is ready to be transferred and circulated throughout your entire body. Your entire body is like a balloon filled with ‘Qi’ and it does not matter if you attack, defend, turn, or change movements, there are no hollows and projections, no severances and protuberances, and your ‘Qi’ will never be dispersed. From the beginning to the end of a fight, you neutralize one attack after another. You become one with the universe; this is why Taiji is refined and ingenious.

[Note: These Hao Taiji Quan blogs are greatly simplified explanations of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a complete copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer (over 100 pages), follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao Taiji Quan: Hao Yue Ru's third rule regarding Hand-Fighting

2010-01-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

Transfer means three things: first, ‘Mind’; second, ‘Qi’ (concentration/mind); third, 'Spirit'. The entire body should be filled with 'mind', ‘Qi’, and ‘spirit’, and equally distributed throughout the entire body. ‘Stationary’ means emptiness. ‘Activity’ means mindfulness or mind. The mind is quicker than physical strength. “Borrow your opponent's force to attack him back and four ounces draw out a thousand pounds”. Always strive to use 'mind' to cultivate and circulate the 'Qi', never use real physical force to circulate the 'Qi', and never let go of your ‘Qi’.

[Note: These Hao Taiji Quan blogs are greatly simplified explanations of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a complete copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer (over 100 pages), follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao style Taiji Quan: Hao Yue Ru's second Hand-Fighting (Push hands) rule

2010-01-20T01:45:00.000-08:00

You should acquire a precise understanding of the concept of fullness and emptiness and how they relate to the center of gravity. Emptiness does not mean absence of strength. Fullness does not mean being heavy and stationary. You should always remember that when you bend your knees and push off on your heels not to become double-weighted. You should always know which leg is more “full” and which is “empty”. Study this diligently, especially when you are learning the Form.

[Note: These Hao Taiji Quan blogs are greatly simplified explanations of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a complete copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer (over 100 pages), follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao style Taiji Quan: Hao Yue Ru's first Hand-Fighting (Push hands) rule

2010-01-08T02:56:00.000-08:00

Keep your body straight - from your tailbone to your face. You will become very stable once your upper body becomes straight, and you will be able to move freely at will. This means that you will be able to support the eight directions, and you will become very agile.

[Note: These Hao Taiji Quan blogs are greatly simplified explanations of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a complete copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer (over 100 pages), follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao style advice for Hand-Fighting (Hao Yue Ru)

2010-01-02T02:40:00.000-08:00

The heart and soul of Taiji Quan does not depend on how beautiful it looks externally, but, rather, on its internal applications. When you practice Taiji Quan on a regular basis, you should strive to understand its pliancy and agility. Agility is everything. When you move your feet, you feel as though you are floating, suspended, through the air; you feel like you are floating in the air like a balloon. As your skill increases, you become very pliant and it seems as though you are dancing but unaware of it. You have reached a stage where you can do as you please with your movements. Understanding the Taiji Quan principles, becoming proficient in the 96-movement Form and the Body Methods, studying diligently, and generating Qi - once you attain these four steps, then you will be able to master the coordination of your body. There is nothing that says that you are not practicing properly if you follow this advice.

[Note: The blogs on this site are greatly abbreviated versions of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer, follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao style Taiji Quan - Push Hands and the 96 Form

2009-12-30T03:24:00.000-08:00

The Walking Frames (Form) and Hand-Fighting (Push Hands) should be practiced diligently to improve your skills. Ultimately, the goal in Hand-Fighting should be when you control your opponent, but he will not control you. An integral part of becoming proficient in Taiji Quan is by practicing foot work. You can start practicing Hand Fighting after you have mastered the basic principles of Taiji Quan and achieved a solid foundation of the Walking Frames (the 96 movement Form). Practicing Hand-Fighting means mastering the ability to immediately adapt to changing conditions. If you ignore the solid foundation of Walking Frames then you will never reach the level of becoming a master and you will never really understand why Taiji Quan is an amazing martial art.

Hao Shao Ru explains: “If there is nobody fighting you, imagine that you are fighting someone; if there is someone fighting you, imagine that nobody is fighting you; Walking Frames equal Hand Fighting, Hand Fighting equals Walking Frames, they are tied up with each other.” Both are used to improve their respective skills, and neither should be neglected.

There are nine basic Hand-Fighting techniques in Hao style Taiji Quan. Refer to this Hao Hand-Fighting video to see the applications in real time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Num-zFlfY4

[Note: The blogs on this site are greatly abbreviated versions of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer, follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao Taiji Quan - Mastering coordination

2009-12-25T02:33:00.000-08:00

The heart and soul of Taiji Quan does not depend on how beautiful it looks externally but rather on its internal applications. When you practice Taiji Quan on a regular basis, you should strive to understand its pliancy and agility. You should feel that you are full of Qi and your entire body is just like a balloon. Agility is everything. As your skill increases, you become very pliant and looks as though you are dancing but unaware of it. You have reached a stage where you can do as you please with your movements. Understanding the Taiji Quan principles, becoming proficient in the 96-movement Form and the Body Methods, studying diligently, and generating Qi - once you attain these four steps, then you will be able to master the coordination of your body.

[Note: The blogs on this site are greatly abbreviated versions of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer, follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao Taiji Quan - Mind

2009-12-23T02:07:00.000-08:00

When you practice the Hao style Taiji Quan, you need to be calm. When you are relaxed, every movement will be controlled by your mind (Yi). First, move your mind, then, perform the movements. After a long period of practice, you will be able to use your mind to move Qi. Then, use Qi to perform the movements. Master Hao Shao Ru calls this: “The unification of mind, Qi, and Quan (external movements).”

[Note: The blogs on this site are greatly abbreviated versions of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer, follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao Taiji Quan Breathing: Exhalation and Inhalation

2009-12-17T02:17:00.000-08:00

Taiji Quan exhaling and inhaling is really an analogy, which explains “storing and releasing, opening and closing, drawing in and expanding”. It doesn’t relate to normal breathing at all. The distinction needs to be clarified and understood properly. The words “inhale” and “exhale” have nothing to do with our everyday natural breathing, but are simply analogies of Taiji Quan applications. Most practitioners do not understand the distinction between these two types of breathing and this misunderstanding may cause some very serious difficulties for practitioners if they do not understand the Hao style Taiji breathing analogy properly. There are three basic Taiji breathing characteristics:

1. Taiji breathing only relates to Taiji Quan

2. Taiji Quan breathing is controlled by the mind and is passive

3. Taiji Quan breathing is performed according to the differing needs of each Taiji Quan practitioner

[Note: The blogs on this site are greatly abbreviated versions of my eBook: Hao Taiji Quan Primer. If you would like to order a copy of Hao Taiji Quan Primer, follow this link: http://sites.google.com/site/haotaijiquanprimer/]

Hao style Taiji Quan: Five Bows

2009-11-26T02:01:00.000-08:00

“I store my strength just as if I draw a bow; I release my strength as if firing an arrow.” Master Hao Shao Ru uses the analogy of a bow and arrow to discuss the power of this Hao style Taiji Quan as a martial art. There are five bows in this analogy. The main bow is the upper body and the arms and legs make up the additional four bows.

Hao style Taiji Quan considers the spine to be the main bow. This main bow runs the length of the spine – from the top extremity of the spine (the first vertebra) to the bottom extremity (the coccyx). The juncture where the waist meets the spine (Ming men) is the handle of this main bow.

There are two arm bows. The hands and shoulders are the extremities and the elbow is the handle of the bow.

Each leg represents a separate bow. The hips and feet are both the extremities of the bows and the knees function as the handles of the bow.

Understanding the five bows helps to explain the notion of storing and issuing power. The main bow is most important. All five bows must work together, and all four bows must support the main bow.

Once practitioners become advanced enough to integrate Qi into the five bows, then their power (Jing) can be channeled to a specific point on the body and the power can issue from this location. True power comes from understanding the main bow and four supporting bows and how they work together to store and issue power.

Hao Taiji Quan: Three empties cover one full

2009-11-09T00:24:00.000-08:00

Three empties cover one full takes the fullness/emptiness concept to a new level. In the Hao style, both arms and one leg must always be ready to transfer – this is known as “empty”. The remaining leg must always be stable – this is what is known as being “full”.

This technique is essential in both the Walking Frames (Form) and Hand-Fighting (Push-Hands). While most of the weight is placed on one leg in Three Empties cover one full, the mind needs to be equally aware of the three empties to maintain a constant balance throughout the body. Ultimately, a practitioner’s real abilities (fullness) will never reveal themselves, and the intentions (emptiness) will never be neglected.

Practicing Hand-Fighting (Push-Hands) will help to understand the importance of storing and hiding power from the opponent until it is time to issue power. An empty mind is essential to controlling the momentum so it does not become apparent to the opponent, while still having all the momentum there.

Hao Taiji Quan: Folding

2009-10-22T02:27:00.000-07:00

Folding means that you can connect two opposite parts and unite them, for instance, if there is a top, there is a bottom; if there is a bottom, there is a top. Folding not only explains people’s inner power, but also their Body Methods. Folding is used to describe the movements of people’s inner power. This means that when you want to push down, you must also have the intention of moving up by using your mind. There is a precise correlation between the physical movement and its internal (mental) counter movement. There are eight folding possibilities - four are basic, normal parallel folds, and four are diagonal folds. Your spine will become the center of the body as you learn the proper folding technique, and the body is divided into two equal parts.

Hao Taiji Quan: Momentum

2009-10-16T00:47:00.000-07:00

Momentum is a tricky thing to master, but with a few guidelines the challenge of overcoming this hurdle should become easier. The first thing that needs to be done is to set up an even circumference. This circumference needs to be equidistant from the waist at all times. The waist is the center of momentum; it is here that Qi is generated and spread throughout the entire body. It is also here that mind activates the body to perform the Form.

Momentum is directly linked to control of the eight directions. This means that your mind must control all directions of the Form. The eight directions must be directed from the waist and imagined as eight equally straight lines extending out evenly from the waist. These equal distances are the foundation of building good momentum. When movements are "open", this means that the momentum increases evenly from the waist to the eight directions. When movements are considered "closed", this means that the momentum contracts evenly through the eight lines back to the waist. Whether the momentum expands or contracts, the most important thing to remember is that the momentum itself is passive and the waist (center) is always active - the waist is always the ruler or master of the body and momentum. Momentum carries through to the arms and hands as well, since there will be a feeling of liveliness and roundness between the hands and chest through continued practice. This liveliness is the core component of Qi, which, in turn, is expressed through momentum.

Relaxation (body) and Emptiness (mind) in Hao Taiji Quan

2009-10-08T02:29:00.001-07:00

A key component of Taiji Quan is relaxation. The problem is that many people place too much emphasis on relaxation alone. The problem with this is that the body becomes slack, stagnant, and lifeless. If a body is too relaxed, then there will be a lack of momentum (an essential component of Taiji Quan that separates the novice from advanced practitioners).

Emptiness is the part of practice that focuses on the mind (Yi). When Relaxation and Emptiness reach a state of complete harmony, then real Taiji Quan begins. Emptiness (mind) is a very real and vital component of the practice of Taiji Quan. If the mind is empty and focused, then the body will also become relaxed and focused, and they must both must work together.

The best way to improve Taiji Quan skills is to be sure to start each session with an empty mind and relaxed body. When this happens your body relaxes and the Walking Frames (Form) and Hand-Fighting (Push-Hands) patterns take on a life of their own. At the highest level, the practitioner loses himself so completely in the form that he becomes one with the universe; the practitioner inhales and exhales Qi.

Most practitioners will commence their practice in a tense or troubled state of mind. Tension is Taiji Quan's worst adversary. Another very important point to remember is to make sure never to focus on physical strength but always to use mind to guide the Form. Ultimately, mind (Yi) will rise and Qi will sink. You will feel that your muscles separate from the bones.

Hao Taiji Quan: Physical strength vs. Qi and Jing

2009-09-30T03:33:00.000-07:00

Brute physical strength is actually a weakness in Hao Taiji Quan and always leads to being double weighted. Taiji Quan is considered an internal martial art for two reasons: mind (Yi) and life force (Qi). The mind controls the physical movements of the body as well as the internal power that accumulates in the waist through dedicated practice. Qi is like a magnetic flow of energy, which emanates from the waist. The circulation and flow of the blood throughout the body generates a sensation of magnetic waves that pulse in rhythm to the flow of blood. This circular force is called Qi. Through consistent practice and by adhering to the Body Methods, Qi will transform into internal power known as Jing. The importance of mind in generating this energy cannot be stressed enough.

Mind (Yi) in the Hao style Taiji Quan

2009-09-28T02:54:00.000-07:00

Physical force should never be used in Hao Taiji Quan. This cannot be stressed enough, and is crucial to understanding Hao Taiji Quan. The mind (Yi) is the true source of strength in Taiji Quan, not physical strength. The mind controls the power and strength of both the Walking Frames (Form) and Hand-Fighting (Push-Hands). Mere physical force is lifeless and dull and often results in being double-weighted.

The mind (Yi) controls all the movements of the body. When we say that we are "using mind", we're essentially saying that we are tapping into and taking full advantage of all the sensations and thought processes that control and direct the internal energy (Qi and Jing) in our bodies.

When the mind (Yi) synthesizes with the body and controls the movements of the Walking Frames (the Form) and Hand-Fighting (Push-Hands), the "inner" and "outer" aspects of Taiji Quan work in harmony. When the mind becomes fully involved in the practice of Taiji Quan, then the higher nervous system is affected and consciousness and awareness work together to perfect the Taiji Quan movements. All the difficult movements are mastered and the mind (Yi) controls and directs internal power (Qi) throughout the body.

Mastering the Hao style

2009-09-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

There are three basic steps to mastering the Wu/Hao style Taiji Quan: Walking Frames, Body Methods, and Internal power 'Jing'.

1. Walking Frames (96 Long Form)

It is imperative that learning the Form, the Walking Frames, be done correctly from the start. Mistakes at the beginning will only yield more serious mistakes later on.

2. Body Methods

After you have learned the Form in its entirety, it is time to focus on the Body Methods, which were discussed in the previous blog. Start with one or two Body Methods until they have been internalized and completely understood and then add one at a time until all thirteen have been mastered. The Body Methods are the key to storing and unleashing the "inner" power of Taiji Quan.

3. Yi (mind), Qi (energy), and Quan (body)

The third level is the most interesting since it activates three separate parts that work together to generate and sustain Qi. The three parts are: Yi (mind), Qi (energy), and Quan (body). Every movement in Hao Taiji Quan must begin with the mind. The mind then activates the Qi, which, in turn, moves the body and generates internal power (Jing).

Body Methods - Hao Taiji Quan

2009-09-19T02:02:00.000-07:00

The Hao style has developed a specific set of guidelines to master this style. These are called the Body Methods, and are practiced one at a time until all have been mastered. The thirteen Body Methods all help to develop and generate internal power, Qi and Jing.

Hao Taiji Quan: Torso, Leg, and Arm Methods

2009-09-17T03:38:00.000-07:00

The Hao style also places great emphasis on the Torso Methods, Leg Methods, and Arm Methods.

The Torso Methods means keeping the spine straight at all times. The Leg Methods adhere to the same set of rules in keeping the body upright and straight and also uses Yin/Yang to distinguish between ‘full’ and ‘empty’. The Arm Methods means keeping the hands as upright and straight as the spine and making sure that the arms never push beyond the front foot. All three of these methods work together and the movements are always controlled by the mind.

Hao Taiji Quan characteristics

2009-09-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hao Taiji Quan has a set of essential principles to guide practitioners in their practice. Beginner students will have a difficult time understanding most of these principles, but, as they practice, these principles will start to make sense and their knowledge and understanding of Taiji Quan will deepen.

Hao Shao Ru’s father, Hao Yue Ru, took the original Wu Yu Xiang style, which consisted of 53 Forms and expanded it to the 96 Form that is taught today. Three of the main principles of the Hao style are:
1. ‘Inner’ always leads the ‘outer’
2. The mind controls Qi throughout the body
3. The mind cultivates 'Jing' (vigor), Qi (breath), and 'Shen' (spirit).

Internal power of Hao style Taiji Quan

2009-08-28T02:33:00.000-07:00

It is important to remember that “inner” leads “outer” in Tai Chi Chuan. The mind controls the inner workings of Tai Chi Chuan while the body is an outward manifestation of the Qi and Jing.

Connectivity of Yin/Yang in the Hao style Taiji Quan

2009-08-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

Yin and Yang must always complement each other. Yin/Yang are opposite forces, but they always work together.

The two important complementary forces in Tai Chi Chuan are durability and flexibility. Mind represents durability; we use our minds to strengthen our bodies by directing and channeling Qi. The process of channeling this force is flexibility, which is the strength of Tai Chi Chuan.

The difference between Yin/Yang

2009-08-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

When discussing Tai Chi Chuan and Yin/Yang, the Yin represents the inner aspects of the art while Yang represents the outer aspects of this art form. Yin normally represents that which is hidden from the opponent, and Yang represents that which is seen by the opponent.

The strength of Tai Chi Chuan consists of two concepts: flexibility and durability. Flexibility means that the mind and body are relaxed thereby allowing the internal energy (Qi) to circulate freely throughout the body. Durability does not refer to physical force, but rather to the control and power generated by internal power of Tai Chi Chuan makes a very strong and durable body.

Yin/Yang is a delicate balance that pervades all movements in Tai Chi Chuan. If there is no balance between Yin/Yang, the body becomes “double-weighted”. This means that the body is out of balance and out of alignment and that the dual concepts of Yin/Yang have not been understood, practiced, and implemented.

Durability means being completely stable and yielding at the same time. Stability implies correct balance, which, in turn, implies the correct interaction between Yin/Yang.

Yin/Yang - Unity and opposition

2009-08-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

Yin/Yang are both unified and opposing forces: full and empty, inner and outer, strength and spirit (jing and shen), soft and hard, movement and rest, etc. When practicing Taiji Quan, Yin/Yang must pervade every aspect of this art form. The mind and body work together to generate Qi (life force), which, in turn, contains Yin/Yang movement within itself.

For a demonstration of Yin/Yang in motion, I would like to refer back to my YouTube presentation of Master Hao Shao Ru performing a Hand Fighting (Push-Hands) sequence with a student. Master Hao is at least half a century older than his student and yet his movements are both effortless and powerful at the same time. This video offers a great example of Yin/Yang working in unity and opposition. Master Hao and his student are engaged in a specific pattern of steps and arm movements (unity), but within this unity there is opposition with Master Hao dominating every aspect of the sequence.

The interaction between Wuji, Tai Chi, and Yin/Yang

2009-08-06T04:01:00.000-07:00

Wuji is a state of rest. Once movement begins, then it is called Taiji. Once Taiji begins, then Yin/Yang begin their symbiotic dance of constant change. As the Walking Frames reach the last movement, Yin/Yang gradually return to a state of rest. Yin/Yang have now become unified.

For more videos, you can go to my YouTube page:

http://www.youtube.com/user/haotaichichuan

Wuji and Taiji in Hao Taiji Quan

2009-08-05T02:23:00.000-07:00

Imagine a fully inflated balloon at rest. Your body should feel like this balloon before any physical movement has begun. This is Wuji. Wuji is a state of nothingness and emptiness. Once the balloon is set in motion, then Taiji occurs. Taiji is the interaction between Yin/Yang and represents anything that has been set in motion. Wuji is a state of complete relaxation or "rest" in the very first posture of the form.

Here is a video of me in the Preparation posture. When the Qi started to flow through my body, that is when Taiji (internal movement) guided Quan (external movement) and the physical manifestation of the Hao Form commenced.

Yin/Yang in Hao style tai chi chuan

2009-08-04T00:39:00.000-07:00

Place one of your hands in front of you with the palm facing down and you will arrive at a very simplified definition and differentiation of Yin/Yang. The part of the hand that faces the sun (the top of the hand) is Yang (light). The part of the hand that is hidden from the sun (dark) is Yin. If you now flip the hand over so the palm faces upward, the same syllogism holds true. The palm now faces the sun and is Yang (light) and the opposite side is now hidden from the sun and is Yin (dark).

In Taiji Quan, the part that the opponent sees is Yang, the part that the opponent does not see is Yin.

If we revisit the meaning of the word Taiji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) again, we can apply the Yin/Yang analogy to it as well. Taiji, the inner mechanics, would be represented as the unseen or hidden aspect of the art form and would be called the Yin . Quan, the outer manifestation of the form and its physical movements, would best be represented by Yang, the part of the form that is visible.

In Taiji Quan, the Yin/Yang interaction is best summed up in the following words of Hao Shao Ru: “I know my opponent very well, but my opponent does not know me at all. I control others - others cannot control me.”

This is a video of Master Hao Shao Ru (left) demonstrating the interaction of Yin/Yang. Pay special attention to the video at 1:48 since this is a perfect example of Master Hao Shao Ru demonstrating the interaction of Yin/Yang and internal (Yin) energy against his opponent.

Hao style tai chi chuan video

2009-08-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

This is a video of me performing the final movements of the Hao style form. I will be blogging and posting additional videos about specific aspects of the this rare style of tai chi chuan that is one of the three original tai chi chuan styles (along with Chen and Yang). These posts will all be brief explanations of the thoughts and teachings of the Grandmaster Hao Shao Ru who passed away in 1983. The Hao Taiji Quan Primer, a book that I am writing about the Hao style and the teachings of Hao Shao Ru will be completed by Oct. 2009. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me at the following email address:

danilomarrone@gmail.com

Hao Tai Chi Chuan blog: Definition

2009-06-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

The Hao style offers a concise explanation of the term Tai Chi Chuan (hereafter called Taiji Quan). Taiji is defined as the inner or hidden aspect of this art form, while Quan is the external aspect. The movements which are guided by the mind and Qi, two concepts that are hidden from view, are Taiji. The physical manifestations of the form, the part that can be seen by an observer, is known as Quan or the external aspect of the style. The Quan aspect of the Hao style looks deceptively simple, but the hidden Taiji aspect is extremely powerful. When these two parts work together, Taiji guiding Quan, then we have real Taiji Quan.

Danilo Marrone: Bibliotheca Walleriana research - Pages 1-3

2008-04-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

There is a sensuous beauty to books that are hundreds of years old. Books are immortal - the direct chain that links the past to the future. But more than this, books are the sights and sounds of bygone times. Books are linked to their authors and the printers who published them. When we hold a 1543 edition of Copernicus’ De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the revolutions of the heavenly spheres) in our hands, we not only link ourselves to the past, but the past reaches out and touches us in a singular way. We can actually smell the past - the progress of the past to present time - through the book. Books can be works of art or they can be kept in complete disrepair, but there is always a sense of wonder that assaults me when I touch books that are very old. A closed book can be many things - a title, a display, a part of a library, a work of art. It is only when we open a book and read the passages it contains that the book comes alive. Every book has a particular smell attached to it from a previous owner or from adventures of survival in times of persecution and betrayal. Books are power; that is why our most precious books are protected in vaults in great libraries around the world. If you burn a book, then you are burning knowledge. Knowledge is sacred. The burning of books is the murder of ideas. It is tantamount to burning a national flag.

The main objective of this story is the adventure of books – both real and imagined. It is the story of the adventures of books from bygone eras, and the smells and scars of books say a lot more about a time in the past than we might have considered before.

Reading through the entire Bibliotheca Walleriana, the private library of the surgeon Dr. Erik Waller (1875-1955), was like communing directly with the past. Each book in the collection had its own particular smell, what I like to refer to as a "book scent". For some odd reason, books retain smells of bygone times intact. When I came across Copernicus's famous book, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the revolutions of the heavenly spheres), from 1543, I felt as though I was transported back to that time and place just by the smell of the book; I smelled Copernicus's time and place in history. I was transported back into time in a very literal manner.

I would like to share some of my personal experiences with this collection and the ideas evoked in me from the books, Waller's notes, and the notes of the booksellers. I will follow the layout of the Bibliotheca Walleriana, and I will discuss each book that evoked something special in me.

Let's begin with incunables. Incunables are books that were published from the first printing of Gutenburg's Bible between 1465-66 until 1501. The word "incunable" is derived from the Latin word to "swaddle in cloth". It simply describes the infancy of printing. Waller owned 150 incunables - an astounding amount considering that not many incunables were printed between 1465-66 until 1500.

©Danilo Marrone 2008

Danilo Marrone: Bibliotheca Walleriana research - Introduction

2008-04-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share some of my research into the amazing Bibliotheca Walleriana, the world's largest private medical library, which was donated to Uppsala University Library in 1955 by Dr. Erik Waller. I spent two years going through every book in the collection (22,000 books) to gather information about Waller's collection strategies, the prices of books, and facts and special information about some of his very rare books. The results were amazing. I found a letter written by Edward Jenner, the first person to develop vaccination, and how sad he was that people were not taking his discovery of the vaccine seriously. This letter in itself is priceless and I will share his words with you in a separate blog. I will begin by submitting the first pages of my research into the Bibliotheca Walleriana and I will be adding more posts everyday. If you get the chance to travel to Uppsala university, then, by all means, be sure to go to the Special reading room and request some of your favorite books from the collection for your reading pleasure.

Wet Dreams - The diary of a surf junkie: Surf Wars

2007-08-02T01:23:00.000-07:00

Nick and I went over to Diamond Head to surf for the second consecutive day. Yesterday's session was fantastic. I caught one of the best rights of my life - controlling the wave and really riding it to its full extent (I'm goofy foot). I also had some spectacular wipe outs as well. One forward summer-sault stands out.

Today was different. The waves were slightly more wind-blown which meant that the wind surfers were out in droves. At first they kept to themselves but then they decided to scale an all-out war against the normal surfers who were surfing at Cliff's. It got to be quite ridiculous. They were dropping in on all of our waves and they really started to piss everybody off. They would be dropping in on the same wave as a normal surfer and smirk; it was an awful feeling and tensions started to ride high. I finally decided that I wouldn't be Mr. Nice Guy anymore and that I would simply drop in on them and let the chips fall where they may. Sure enough - a windsurfer started to smirk at me, expecting me to pull out of the wave, but I caught the wave and then turned toward the windsurfer and accelerated towards the person. The smirk turned to shock and then despair as I surfed at the person like a man possessed. Wisely, the person turned and got out of there with a surfing hell hound on their tail. After a while the wind surfers left us alone and we found ourselves virtually alone at Diamond Head in the middle of the day. Four of us surfed undisturbed for a good 45 minutes before the next crowd arrived.

Wet Dreams - The diary of a surf junkie: Bleachers

2007-07-31T03:43:00.000-07:00

Today I went surfing by myself at one of my favorite surf spots on the south shore of Honolulu. It has an official Hawaiian name, of course, but I like to keep my readers guessing and I like to come up with my own names for surf spots. Yesterday I surfed a spot that I like to call "S", but today I surfed at "Haole Bleachers" (transliterated as "White/Foreigner Bleachers"). This is an extremely local spot with plenty of young and aggressive local surfers - perhaps tomorrow's new surf super stars - and they really make you feel like a complete novice as they carve through the waves with fierce abandon. I give them their cherished section and have therefore set up off to the right in my own personal section that I call Haole Bleachers since I feel like a spectator when watching these young teenagers whoop, holler, and perform acts of worship on the waves - they're unbelievable.

So, today I paddled out to the Bleachers and it was jam-packed with surfers of all ages. I recognized several of the regular faces. There was "Granny" sitting on the outside like Cleopatra herself with enough bracelets to sink an ocean liner. She sat on her 11-foot board with her pompous and stuck-up attitude. When she caught the best waves, she would scoff at those looking on as though everyone were beneath her. Then there was Mr. Psychotic who paddled all over the place and never caught a wave - scaring us half to death with his bizarre roundabout way of attempting to catch waves, which, in essence, meant that he "snaked" at least ten people in the span of five seconds - sending us paddling for dear life to get out of this lunatic's way.

There were two very cool locals who happened to be hanging out with many of us at Bleachers. They were very down to earth and surfed on body boards. That's right, they stood up and surfed on their body boards and they really ripped. I spoke with them and asked them for some pointers on how they went about mastering this art form. This is the second time I've seen people surf on body boards and I really want to try it myself sometime soon.

It was a small day, but I still had fun. I tried doing a butterfly work-out but my cap hampered me. Dragging the board behind me wasn't too much of a problem, though, and that's saying a lot. Hasta la vista.

Wet Dreams - The diary of a surf junkie

2007-07-29T23:31:00.000-07:00

I hit the waves today at 1:00 p.m. with my buddy Nick. We zipped over to "S" on our scooters and an idiot driver almost hit me but I honked at him and scared the crap out of him. The same thing happened a few days ago when an ignorant cab driver nearly rammed me.

I paddled around on the outside hoping for a big set but not much came my way. Nick was catching plenty of waves on the inside section, so I paddled over to where he was and immediately started catching some waves. The wave of the day came toward me in all its emerald beauty. "S" is a very fast-breaking wave; timing is everything or you end up buried under water which churns at you and has little or no compassion whether you make it out alive or not. It came up fast, no one else was on it, so I grabbed my chance. I paddled hard to generate some speed and the wave lifted me up and guided me to the left where I did a cut-back and floater and still managed to land the wave without falling off and glided to a comfortable halt. I was hollering and hooting at the great ride and told Nick that it was a shame that no cameras were in place for that wave. Another wet reality in what amounts to a wet dream in paradise. Hasta la proxima.

Bibliotheca Walleriana - The History of Medicine

2007-05-14T02:17:00.000-07:00

I spent two years going through the entire collection of the Bibliotheca Walleriana, the largest collection of medico-historical books ever collected by one person: Dr. Erik Waller (1875-1955). He was a surgeon and bibliophile based in Lidkoping, in southern Sweden, who specialized in collecting books dealing with the history of medicine and science. He was a friend of both Professors Harvey Cushing and John Fulton of Yale University whose collections together with the collection of Arnold C. Klebs formed the basis of the famous Yale Medical Library. Dr. Waller corresponded with all the leading medico-historical scholars and booksellers of his day. My research yielded 150 pages of single-spaced notes on the books in his collection. I am in the process of reviewing and updating the information before continuing with my doctoral thesis on the collection. There is a two-volume catalogue of his collection that was compiled and completed by Hans Sallander in 1956. There are over 21,000 books in Bibliotheca Walleriana and this does not include the 35,000 other items that he collected that have yet to be catalogued (autographs, portraits, coins, medallions, etc.).

The collection was bequeathed to Uppsala University Library in Sweden in 1955. For more information on the Bibliotheca Walleriana, please contact me directly or visit the following website:

http://www.ub.uu.se/arv/special/ewaller.cfm

Wu/Hao tai chi chuan - "Three empties cover one full"

2007-04-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

The Wu/Hao style has developed several methods to improve the practice and application of this art form. "Three empties cover one full" may sound slightly cryptic, but isn't too difficult to understand. In essence, it means that one leg must always be "full", while the other leg and the arms are "empty". To be "full" implies intention or complete commitment. To be "empty" means ready to transfer motion or to be alert. In a combat situation, one leg must be "full" while the other leg and the arms are ready to react to any given situation; they are "empty" and can move at will. If both legs are "full" then the practitioner becomes double-weighted and will be relatively easy to defeat in a self-defence or combat situation. The correct way to apply the principles that guide tai chi chuan are flexibilty, adaptability, and effortless movements. One leg must always be rooted or placed firmly on the ground when issuing or receiving energy, but it must also be ready to transfer to the other leg at any given moment. "Three empties" are always both arms and one leg. "One full" is always the rooted leg. (Source: Hao Shao Ru: Wu/Hao style tai chi chuan)

Tai chi breathing in Wu/Hao tai chi chuan

2007-04-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

Aloha fellow tai chi chuan practitioners:

I'd like to clarify a key point in tai chi chuan, especially with regards to the Wu/Hao style. Tai chi breathing and natural breathing are two entirely different things. Natural breathing is automatic and regulates itself. Tai chi breathing is an analogy or comparison. This is essential to understanding one of the main components of the Wu/Hao style. When we speak of inhaling, we are not inhaling air in the normal sense of the term. Instead, we imagine that we are inhaling the opponent's incoming energy. Once the energy has been neutralized, we then store that energy and turn it back against the opponent. We are now exhaling or issuing power or force. Simply moving the abdomen in and out and believing that this is tai chi breathing is incorrect and could be harmful. (Source: Hao Shao Ru, Wu/Hao style tai chi chuan)