WAHNAM TAIJIQUAN SETS FOR INTENSIVE TAIJIQUAN COURSE
This is our basic Wahnam Taijiquan set, called “White Crane Flaps Wings”. Although it is short, it has all the movements needed for training fundamental Taijiquan skills and techniques, including practicing stances and footwork, generating energy flow, building energy at the dan tian, developing internal force, exploding force, as well as applying combat techniques for all the four categories of attack and defence
The other sets provide the material for combat application training during the course. As the course is very intensive, it will be very helpful if you familiarize yourselves with the sequences, so that you can focus on developing combative skills instead of worrying over how to perform the forms correctly or in the right order.
Should you find the movements in the video clips too fast to follow, you can refer to this picture series Combat Sequences of Wahnam Taijiquan (Revised Version) which show the relevant patterns in still pictures.
Basic Wahnam Taijiquan Set — White Crane Flaps Wings
This is the basic Taijiquan set in Shaolin Wahnam. Although it is a short, simple set, it has all the movements needed for training fundamental Taijiquan skills and techniques in our school, including practicing stances and footwork, generating energy flow, building energy at the dan tian, developing internal force, exploding force, as well as applying combat techniques for all the four categories of attack and defence.
This set manifests our principles of being simple, direct and effective. Those used to Yang Style Taijiquan being performed slowly may think that our basic Taijiquan set looks more like Shaolin Kungfu than Taijiquan, but if we compare to what has been recorded in classics, we believe it may actually be closer to what Yang Lu Chan practiced.
A video clip showing the set in slow motion can be viewed here and a series of still pictures of this set can be viewed here.Wahnam Taijiquan Combat Application Set 1 — White Snake Shoots Venom
“White Snake Shoots Venom” is the first of the Wahnam Taijiquan combat application set. It is formed from the first three combat sequences, namely Immortal Waves Sleeves, Low Stance Vertical Punch, and White Snake Shoots Venom.
Notice that the set should be practiced as chi kung, which means that you should be relaxed and focused, use internal force in both attack and defence, and not be tired or panting after performing the whole set.
A video clip showing the set in slow motion can be viewed here and a series of still pictures of this set can be viewed here.Wahnam Taijiquan Combat Application Set 2 — Green Dragon Shoots Pearl
“Green Dragon Shoots Pearl”, the second of the Wahnam Taijiquan combat application set, is formed from Combat Sequences 4 to 6, namely Green Dragon Shoots Pearl, White Crane Flaps Wings, and Striking Tiger Poise, where kicking attacks and defences against them are introduced..
The performance shown in the video clip is in real time, but as some of the patterns are so fast that it may not be easy to see them, the set is repeated with the movements performed more slowly
A video clip showing the set in slow motion can be viewed here and a series of still pictures of this set can be viewed here.Black Bear Sinks Hips
“Black Bear Sinks Hips” is the third of the Wahnam Taijiquan combat application set. It is formed from Sequences 7 to 9, namely Thrust Kick, Low Stance Single Whip, and and Black Bear Sinks Hips. Various kicking attacks and defences as well as some intricate footwork are introduced in this set.
A video clip showing the set in slow motion can be viewed here and a series of still pictures of this set can be viewed here.
Carry Tiger Back to Mountain
It is a misconception that Taijiquan is always performed slowly. In Wahnam Taijiquan some movements are performed slowly but other movements can be fast. This set, “Carry Mountain Back to Mountain”, for example, which is the fourth of the Wahnam Taijiquan set meant to train combat application, is performed fast. This video clip shows the set demonstrated by Grandmaster Wong in real time. Felling and qin-na techniques are introduced in this set.
A video clip showing the set in slow motion can be viewed here and a series of still pictures of this set can be viewed here.