Shen Men Tao

[Sifu Stier]

Large Frame or Small Frame.....Same End!

Small Frame Tai-Chi Chuan Form Sets are usually quite challenging for new students to perform with the correct speed, smallness of circularity, and power issuing postures. So, the Set is initially modified to some degree by allowing the movements to be performed with larger circles, a slower speed, and no power issuing, much like the Large Frame Sets are performed. As the movements are sufficiently refined, the circles are made smaller again until at the proper size, speed is increased again, and power issuing is added to the appropriate postures again, thus completing a Small Frame, Small Circle, Fast Speed Form Set.

In a similar fashion, Large Frame Tai-Chi Chuan Form Sets make use of essentially the same process. The Set itself, such as Yang Long Imperial 108 Forms Set, is already designed to be practiced with larger circularity, slower speed, and without forcefulness in order to encourage a relaxed and flexible use of the body, better balance and overall stability, and to circulate and store chi internally.

It is understood that such performance of the postures as a training exercise must be modified to a smaller, faster, more powerful manner of performance if the postures are to be used for self-defense and fighting. It is exactly through this process of gradual refinement from Large to Small within the context of the same Form Set which results in the so-called 'fast sets' of some schools which are actually not a separate Set, but only their Large Frame Set performed with faster speed and smaller circles!

In any event, if one begins with a Small Frame Style of Tai-Chi Chuan, such as the Wu Yi-Hsiang or the Sun Lu-Tang Sets, the movements are expanded initially, then recompressed to application size. If one begins with a Large Frame Style like the Old Frame Chen and Yang Sets, the movements are already expanded as part of the normal performance of the Set, but will gradually be compressed in size and increased in speed to permit effective martial applications. Each method starts with a different 'look' and 'feel' in training, but will potentially and preferrably end with the same appearance and sensitivity of touch in application.

Traditionally, schools like Shen Men Tao which include both a Large Frame Slow Set and a Small Frame Fast Set will teach the slower, larger set first. In this way, all of the benefits of the Large Frame training are insured, and the student practitioner has an opportunity to embrace the foundation principles in the movements before attempting to apply them with smaller circularity and greater speed and power for fighting.

[beausimon]

Hi Sifustier,
Looking forward to the Shen Men Tao website. Will it have a forum for discussions as well?

Do you have elderly beginning students ? If their physical condition, especially their knees is not conducive for the large frame sets, do you start them off with the small frame sets or do you modify the large frame step size and stance depth for them?

Thanks.

[Sifu Stier]

Easy Beginnings to Challenging Completions!

Beginning students are not expected to perform the Large Frame Long Imperial 108 Form Set in the same manner as an expert, experienced practitioner would. Regardless of age or gender, beginners practice the Forms with less knee bend, shorter stances, with less strength and flexibility demands, and with less balance and body control demands in their performance of the exercises. Elderly practitioners may choose to use this athletically less demanding style of performance as a normal course. Others are encouraged to gradually lengthen and lower their stances and decrease their speed in order to sink their chi to Tan-Tien and lower their center of gravity to Tan-Tien or lower by making the greatest muscular efforts in the legs rather than the arms and shoulders.

P.S. I hope to include a Discussion Forum Board on the Shen Men Tao website, and to openly invite other Masters to post their experienced, expert comments on the subjects discussed there. Should be informative and fun!

[Zhang Wuji]

Hi StierSifu

There was one question floating in the back of my mind all this time.
Does Shen Men Tao teach all 3 internal arts - Xingyi, Baguazhang and Taijiquan?

I was quite surprised that you had knowledge of virtually all the Taijiquan styles, and in depth knowledge of some "secret" styles like the fast form. From your other posts, it seems you also have a working knowledge of the other 2 arts. In any case, it was obvious you had trained in all 3 arts, and their sub-species.

How is it that you managed the time (leaving aside the effort for now) to learn all 3? Or was it a case of your "majoring" in Taijiquan and "minoring" in the rest? If so, what is your primary art?

Please don't take these questions as disrespectful. I am only curious, because learning all 3 arts at their highest levels is a breath-taking feat. Personally, I would like to learn no more than 2 arts, and if necessary only focus on one.

[Sifu Stier]

Three Arts as One!

Hello Wuji and All!

The Shen Men Tao 'Mission Statement' is to implement a System of Moving Taoism through the practices of Old Yang Style Tai-Chi Chuan, Sun Style Pa-Kua Chang, and Shansi Hsing-Yi Chuan. The Form Sets of each Style are taught as if that was the only Art being taught, without blending elements of the other two initially. Students may begin learning any one of these three Styles that most appeals to them, and so in most cases they commence with learning the Old Yang Style Long Imperial 108 Forms Set. Those students who continue to study over a number of years time will eventually learn the Form Sets for all three methods in turn.

Our Founder, Dr.Lee Wing-Wah, was most influenced by the teaching and personal demonstration of the late Sun Lu-Tang Sifu, whom he considers to be the most accomplished Internal Style Master to date. Sun Sifu not only fully mastered a major style each of these Internal Arts, but also perceived the common denominators which unite them. In so doing, he experienced their unifying principles as One Art, rather than as three unrelated arts, and at a more deep and profound level of understanding than anyone else of his era.

According to Master Sun's teaching, to fully master the foundation principles of any one of these three Styles is to have mastery of all three. All that remains to be done then is to experience the manifestation of the same principles in the Form Sets of the remaining Styles, looking for the 'internal' similarities among them, rather than seeing only the 'external' differences in their movement patterns. This perspective of Three Arts as One School makes the task of learning and mastering all three less daunting than trying to do so with completely unrelated styles with differing principles and techniques. It is still quite challenging to do, however, but it can be done by any intelligent, self disciplined practitioner!

Along the way to advanced levels of expertise and mastery, the three become One Art which automatically and spontaneously expresses itself according to need and circumstance. As such, I can't really say that I have a favorite among the three at this point in time. I have trained in these Arts so intensely for such a long time that they are no longer merely something I know about or something I regularly do, but instead are an integral part of who and what I am as a person. This is the intended culmination of Shen Men Tao training. I am these arts, and they are me. We are ONE!

[beausimon]

Thanks Sifustier.

The Shen Men Tao 'Mission Statement' is to implement a System of Moving Taoism through the practices of Old Yang Style Tai-Chi Chuan, Sun Style Pa-Kua Chang, and Shansi Hsing-Yi Chuan.

Is Sun style Taijiquan also taught as part of the Shen Men Tao system, given Dr Lee Wing-Wah's high regard for Sun Lu-tang sifu ? Do students have the option to choose Sun style instead of Old Yang style ?

regards

[Sifu Stier]

Re: Sun Style Tai-Chi in Shen Men Tao!

Hello Beau!

Initiate Instructor Level Practitioners in Shen Men Tao have the opportunity to learn Sun Style Tai-Chi Chuan, and the Wu Yi-Hsiang Style Tai-Chi Chuan from which it came, after achieving expertise in the Old Large Frame Yang Long Imperial Form Set, the Yang Pa-Hou Small Frame Form Set, and the related Weapon Form Sets for Straight Sword, Saber or Broadsword, Staff, Spear, and Halbred or Long Handled Broadsword. Most students never get this far. I am but one of five students out of many, many who have studied with Master Lee through the years to be taught this material. I guess others just didn't want it badly enough, or were contented with the initial material they were taught. My interest personally has always been to acquire the skills of the 'Old Masters' by learning and practicing the same material they did, and with the same manner of performance as they did. In this regard, a teacher with personal association and experience in training with such Masters has been invaluable!

It is Lee Sifu's opinion that Sun Style Tai-Chi Chuan better represents the blending into One Art of Tai-Chi, Pa-Kua, and Hsing-Yi, than it represents 'Tai-Chi Chuan' as an individual Art. He believes that the Old Yang Style Form Sets represent the apex of Tai-Chi Chuan training as an individual style, and offers the greatest potential for high level skill development with Tai-Chi Chuan movement patterns and techniques. Thus, this is what beginners are taught as the Tai-Chi Chuan section of Shen Men Tao.

Nonetheless, please remember that mastery of the foundation principles in one internal method is essentially to have mastery of such principles in any and all internal methods. One can then learn any Internal Style Form Set and perform it with immediate expertise and excellence, just as Sun Sifu did! All such methods are then but variations on a theme which is common to all!

An example of this would be my own pursuit of learning the Old Frame Chen Style Tai-Chi Chuan in order to practice the same Form Sets that Yang Lu-Chan Sifu practiced initially, and modified to create his Long Imperial 108 Forms Large Frame Set. The major challenges were to memorize the sequence of the postures and to mentally 'see' myself performing them with a different 'look' than the Yang Style Sets have. It was really quite easy coming from a Master Grade Level of practice in another Tai-Chi Chuan Style.

[beausimon]

Hi Sifustier,
Thanks for giving us an insight into the Shen Men Tao system.

[Sifu Stier]

Nature and Taoism!

The Shen Men Tao practitioner, and indeed any person wishing to apply Taoist Principles to everyday life experiences, must be a keen observer of Nature.....by definition ~ A Naturalist.

Proceeding then from a naturalist's perspective, the Taoist looks impartially at the similarities and differences among the many living things encountered in the normal course of daily activities. And also looks specifically at the similarities and differences between all of these things and self.

In so doing, it becomes ever more clear that an energetic web connects all, and that the energy is dynamic, active and alive. In fact, without it present within you, your body would be lifeless! So, what is the nature of Nature? Does this connecting energy function according to known principles or does it just randomly express itself?

The ONLY way to know for certain is to study and observe Nature. And not by only watching an occaisional nature program on the television. Let such programs motivate you to hike outdoors, wade and swim in rivers and lakes, go on a wilderness camping trip, buy a telscope and study the sky at night.....anything that will get you outside in all kinds of weather, both day and night, to see and smell Nature, and hear Her words of wisdom!

It is often the Voice of Silence that resonates most deeply within!

[Ray]

...

[Sifu Stier]

*****

[Sifu Stier]

Circles and Points!

The Internal Schools of Soft Style Kung-Fu which comprise the Shen Men Tao System (Tai-Chi, Pa-Kua, and Hsing-Yi) depend greatly on the Theory of Circles and Points for their martial effectiveness. According to this theory, defensive techniques and offensive combinations both reach maximum efficiency through circular patterns. The rounded, curving movements of full circles, figures of '8' like the Infinity Symbol, and S-shaped hand patterns allow the defender to intercept incoming blows with a 'soft', sliding entry contact which can then redirect the opponent's force either upward and outward to the side, or downward and outward to the side. Such responses clear opposing strength, power, and speed away from the vulnerable centerline targets of one's body, while simultaneously turning the opponent's body sideways to present counterstrike targets which are difficult or impossible for him to defend.

This theory also envisions an 'energy ball' which surrounds the entire body by way of extending one's natural 'defense energy' (Wei-Chi) outward in all directions from within, and a smaller energy ball which emanates from the interaction of the bi-ploar energies (Yin-Yang) flowing between the hands. These energy balls are further envisioned as containing a solid pyramid within them which has four base corner points and a peak point. All five of these points touch the inside of the circles, ready to transmit the internal power of the chi from within to one of the points. The external power of the body mass in motion also converges with the chi at these points to be released and projected outwardly in union with one another. Thus, both internal and external strength join to move in the same direction at the same speed, and come to be focused on the same point at the same time!

Additionally, the use of relaxed and flexible circularity enables extremely fast combinations of movement both defensively and offensively since all techniques are devoid of disconnected linear and angular movements which must come to a stop in one direction before proceeding in another direction or changing to a different technique. Instead, chi flow and body weight are both allowed to manifest themselves simultaneously in rapidly repeating patterns. So rapidly, in fact, that they are either difficult or impossible to see! The soft style technique is therefore felt by an enemy more easily than it is seen.

[beausimon]

Hi Sifustier,
Will you be putting up Shen Men Tao training and sparring video clips at the Shen Men Tao website?

Thanks.

[Sifu Stier]

Yo, Beau!

That's a Big 10/4, good buddy! We be Jammin'!

[Reed]

from a student of Sifu Stier

Before I began training with Sifu Stier I had already seriously dedicated myself to learning Pa Kua &/or Tai Chi, although at this time I had no skill whatsoever and did not really have the slightest idea what I was getting into. I had been training for about 5 years. I had studied Yang, Wu (Wu Jian Quan), and Chen styles under three different teachers (had tried to give it up after the first teacher) and had almost come to the conclusion--after a useless period of self-teaching--that I would either have to move to New York or San Francisco, or learn Chinese & leave the country, to actually learn anything.

I've now been training with Sifu Stier for abgout 10 years. I can feel Chi spiral in my arms & legs and use my intention to change & guide that spiraling. I am beginning to generate quite a bit of soft force in strikes. My speed & agility have increased perhaps 5- or 10-fold since I started with Sifu. I am beginning to understand how the I Ching relates to internal energy movement and martial arts--not just philosophically--but in actual energy dynamics and body movement (see any of Sun Lu Tang's books). I cannot begin to tell you how deep this traditional Taoist art is. I suspect it is the very same with any traditional Taoist boxing style or other Taoist arts (those that in one way or another have escaped corruption). For example:

How can standing in San Ti (Hsing Yi) feel almost the same energetically as Circle Walking (Pa Kua)? Why is Tai Chi called Tai Chi (why energetically)? How do Pa Kua's Trigram Palms (see almost any Pa Kua manual) relate to the I Ching? Why do your arms sometimes goosebump when you touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth? Why do youur hands sometimes filll with blood when you activate Chi? How can you practice with full mental sensitivity & intention--and fight without thinking? How does Tai Chi spring from Wu Chi to become Yin & Yang & the 8 Trigrams & the 64 Hexagrams & the 10000 things? And what does the Earlier Heaven Sequence have to do with any of this? Or the 5 Elements? How do martial art routines simultaneously record Chi flow, educate about Chi Flow and induce Chi flow? How do martial art routines directly relate to Taoist alchemy & spiritual transformation? These are the kinds of questions you ask--and are given practical answers to--when studying a traditional internal style art.

Now don't get the wrong idea: I've been studying with Sifu Stier 10 years and am only now feeling (& intending!) fully connected Chi flow in some of the beginning exercises--although I've learned most of the basic barehanded form sequences of our system. Also, the questions I just listed are really examples of my questions. And sometimes Sifu answers my questions. And sometimes (more often than not) he says go practice. But what's really going on is this: Sifu has given me a complete Taoist system that at once helps me ask the right questions (for me) and gives me all the tools I need to discover the answers myself. I hope you appreciate the depth of this kind of gift.

One of Shen Men Tao's main attractions is that we practice Tai Chi, Pa Kua & Hsing Yi--the 3 main Chinese internal arts--as separate traditional arts that manifest identical Taoist principles. (This is true--and the more you know about Chinese martial arts the more astonishing and magical this truth really is. Again, see any of Sun Lu Tang's books.)

Anyway, it's alot of work but also alot of fun, and the results are real--energy with sensation and soft force--not just ideas. Most importantly, like any Taoist art, Taoist boxing is about the nature of reality and our path to God. Shen Men Tao says this up front and means it.