User:Sleepwiththefishes/Feng Zhiqiang

Feng Zhiqiang

Feng Zhiqiang (冯志强; 1928-2012). His family was from Shulu County, Hebei Province. Feng studied Liuhe Xinyi Quan under Hu Yaozhen. Feng was one of Chen Fake's last students, training Chen style t'ai chi ch'uan with Fake from 1950 to 1957.

After Chen Fake's death, Feng became one of the leading proponents of Chen style t'ai chi ch'uan first within China then internationally. He summarized his understanding of martial arts to create a new training program which he called Chen-style Hun Yuan taijiquan (陳式心意混元太極). This new system is being practiced world wide.

12 Principles of Tai Chi practice
Feng emphasized 12 principles of Taiji practice
 * 1) Heart and spirit empty and tranquil from beginning to end.
 * 2) Central equilibrium.
 * 3) Use the mind to move qi. The heart is the commander.
 * 4) Start with sinking and dropping.
 * 5) Search for soft and smooth
 * 6) Inside/outside and upper/lower should work together.
 * 7) The transition of yin/yang will help you find hard/soft.
 * 8) The silk-reeling force should be present throughout the body.
 * 9) Search for open/close by folding the chest and stomach.
 * 10) Concentrate on dantian to improve neigong (internal skill)
 * 11) Keep your heart calm, mind quiet and practice slowly (stillness in movement). The form is a moving standing pole (huo zhuang)
 * 12) You will be successful if you know how to practice and how to nurture yourself (yang sheng)