In September, around 25 students and instructors joined Grandmaster Eng Chor for an afternoon workshop on tai chi applications, qigong and pushing hands. As always, the session was highly informative and thoroughly enjoyable.
We started the session with the tai chi levels and an explanation of the importance of practicing our tai chi with an even, flowing tempo. It’s the transition between each movement that creates the flow; we slowly move from one move into the next. Tai chi isn’t a series of postures, it’s a moving meditation; otherwise it would be like any other martial art. So attention to each transition movement is the key to graceful, elegant tai chi.All tai chi movements have a martial arts mechanism. These strikes or blocks inform the tai chi movement, but don’t dominate it. We practice our tai chi for health and relaxation; the application of each move is a matter of interest only.
Having said that, we then spent a very enjoyable period of time practicing the application behind some of the movements. 
For example, when we turn to hold the ball, we are turning to present a smaller front, then we block and push away. For slant fly, we step in close behind the opponent, grab one hand and use the other arm to sweep across the opponent to overbalance. If that wasn’t enough, we can also push our knee behind the attacker’s knee to force the person down.
If someone grabs our arm, we can turn the hand, as in repulse monkeys. If that doesn’t break the grip alone, then we can use the other hand to break the grip. Similarly, we can also use needle at sea bottom. A person grabbing your hand might expect you to try to pull it back, but they probably wouldn’t expect you to suddenly plunge towards the ground. Either they go with you or the grip is broken. If they remain holding on, you have your other hand to break the grip.
It’s a lot of fun to practice some of these moves 
(especially with a teenage son), but we must remember to be gentle, never aggressive. I spent quite some time at the workshop apologising to my partner Jacquie for being a bit enthusiastic with the blocks!
Grand Master Eng Chor frequently talks about the ancient Chinese proverbs. My favourite for the day was this: “Of 36 very good ideas, the best is to run away” or, in Chinese, "San Tze Liu Jor, Jooe Wei Sun Jor".
Suzette Hosken
Senior Instructor, Camberwell
