Olesya Amacker

The Sanshou Exercise is the highest level of structured practice in the Yang Curriculum. Although it resembles simply another version of the myriad of two-person fighting forms found in so many other martial arts, and is eagerly embraced by many martial artists as an addition to their repertoire of such “fight dances,” it is different […]

We examine the internal changes of the arms by learning to do them independently of any changes in the waist, and the real meaning of “whole body movement.”

Taijiquan is all about practice with a partner, and the more variety in those partners, the more complete is our learning. But the nationwide lockdown of all group activity has made that principle practice of our art ill-advised, even dangerous during this Coronavirus outbreak. In these weeks ahead, we need to try to get as

Chansijing, the “silk-reeling” employment of the musculature that is always referenced by the term “internal” (internal strength, internal force, internal movement, etc.), is a critical facet of the Yang Style of Taijiquan. In a previous talk, the different movements of the arms were explored, covering the basic changes of yin, yang, peng and an. Now

Beginning a series on the chansijing or “silk-reeling” movements of the body, this initial lecture demonstrates the basic principle with the four “internal” changes of the arms, yang, yin, peng, and an. Future lectures will cover the movements of the legs and the integration of such internal changes into the solo form.

A brief outline of the structural fundamentals of Taijiquan. These are the eight critical areas of study that are needed for the full realization of its true classical form. It is the neglect or misunderstanding of one or more of these vital practices that has seriously hampered the development of this great fighting art in

This talk explores the true meaning of invisibility as it applies to Taijiquan. This can also be regarded as an extension of the previous talk: “Is Taijiquan a Real Martial Art?”

This video addresses the rather paradoxical and contradictory reputation of Taijiquan in the world of martial arts as to its authenticity. Marketed as an exercise for the elderly and infirm, it also enjoys, in the judgement of history, a place as the greatest martial art ever created.

A look at one of the more enigmatic sounding examples of the Classics of Taijiquan.

In Part Two of my brief introduction to the Yang curriculum, I go into a little more detail concerning its five major elements, solo form, tuishou, Three-step tuishou, Da Lu, and Sanshou.