The Laughing Dragon Academy

06/28/2025

Tai Chi Chuan Zhong Ding.

"Zhong Ding" is a term used in Tai Chi that refers to the concept of "central equilibrium."
It refers to the idea of finding balance and stability in the body through proper alignment and distribution of weight.

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art and form of exercise that has been practiced for hundreds of years. One of the key concepts in Tai Chi is "Zhong Ding," which refers to the idea of central equilibrium. This means finding balance and stability in the body through proper alignment and distribution of weight.

To achieve Zhong Ding, Tai Chi practitioners focus on maintaining a centered and grounded posture, with their weight evenly distributed between both feet. This allows them to maintain their balance and stability even when moving or shifting their weight.

In Tai Chi, Zhong Ding is considered an essential component of good technique, as it helps to prevent injury and enhance overall performance. By practicing Zhong Ding, practitioners can improve their posture, increase their flexibility, and cultivate a sense of inner peace and calm.

Overall, Zhong Ding is a central idea in Tai Chi and represents the art's emphasis on balance, stability, and harmony. By incorporating Zhong Ding into their Tai Chi practice, practitioners can improve their overall health and well-being and deepen their connection to the ancient art.

12/14/2023

Please Note:

The last class of 2023 will be held on Saturday, December 23rd, and the first class of 2024 will be held on Tuesday, January 2nd. Enjoy the holidays!

07/25/2023

Shifu often references different books he's read on taiji and the other internal arts during his teaching. Someone asked for a list of books he is currently working with, so - here you go. Notes below each are by me.

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Chen Pan Ling's Original Tai Chi Chuan Textbook - Chen Pan Ling, foreword by Robert W. Smith, translated by Y.W. Chang and Ann Carruthers, Ed.D.
- The baseline written textbook for our Taiji form. Out of print, but you can find softcovers of it. Hardback, good luck.

The Art of the Straight Line: My Tai Chi - Lou Reed
- Yes, the Lou Reed of Velvet Underground. Lifelong martial artist. This is a collection of his writings about his martial arts journey along with other people he knew both inside and outside of music.

Nei Jia Quan - Internal Martial Arts: Teachers of Tai Ji Quan, Xing Yi Quan and Ba Gua Zhang - Edited by Jess O'Brien
- Plenty of great nuggets of wisdom in here. Chen Pan Ling's son Chen Yun Ching was one of the contributors.

The Dao of Taijiquan: Way to Rejuvenation - Jou, Tsung Hwa
- This is DENSE in its language. Out of print - any edition you can find in a used bookstore is good.

The Roots of Chinese Qigong, 3rd Edition - Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
- Dr. Yang has a LOT of decent books on martial arts currently in print. This is another author whose language is DENSE.

Tao Te Ching, The New Illustrated Edition of the Chinese Philosophical Masterpiece - Laozi, translated by Chad Hansen
- There are a ton of translations of this out there including free ones; this is the one Shifu is reading now.
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06/12/2023

UPDATE: We got some information through private contact. Thank you to those who responded to our request for help…it is greatly appreciated! It seems that it was compiled by 林肇海 (Lin Zhaohai) from Fuzhou, who taught the Wu style in Taiwan. We found a Bagua poster with his name on it with the same format as the Taiji Stick poster in the photos. More details are on our website at https://thelaughingdragonacademy.com/2017/06/12/seeking-tai-chi-stick-form-information/

I was looking through old posts and found this, with no real responses. I'm still curious about it though. Tagging some people in the first comment for any insight. Quote is from a different old post.
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"Seeking Tai Chi Stick Form Information
Recently, some leaflets were found in the back of a 1974 Chinese language version of “Chen Panling’s Taijiquan Textbook”. [Photos found in the linked album, which is the previous post: https://www.facebook.com/.../thelaughingdragon.../photos/...]
While the leaflet printed in red is obviously a list of the 99 Taijiquan form’s postures, the other two pages seem to describe a Taiji stick form. The smallest leaflet is the size of a postcard, and looks to be a miniature version of a larger poster. The largest leaflet has a handwritten list of the postures titles described on the miniature poster. Has anyone ever encountered these handouts in any other printings of the book? The first 24 postures seem like the standard 24 step stick form practiced by many schools. They are also similar to the 24 step stick form found in “The Complete Works of Chen Pan Ling’s Chinese Martial Arts Teaching Teachings” (中華國術教材全集) .
Note that this is NOT the “Thunder Stick” form that Master Chen Yun Ching taught worldwide for 10 years and documented on the “Thunders Stick Form & Function” DVD. Although both forms contain chops, stabs, sweeps, etc., it is not the same form.
The Taiji stick form found on the poster is also much longer than any other Taiji stick form found online, and the titles of each posture are Chinese idioms that are usually associated with sword forms. A translation of the postures on the poster can be found here. If anyone has found these or any other extra materials in 1963, 1968 or 1974 Chen Panling Tai Chi books, please let us know!"

1974 Taijiquan textbook by Chen Panling

06/08/2023

Here's a demonstration of the first section of Chen Pan Ling's 99 Posture Taijiquan Form done by Brian Bruning from our sister school Rochester T'ai Chi Ch'uan Center in Rochester, NY. It's a useful reference tool for students just learning the form, though the very first posture (opening) is slightly different from what we do. (We might put a video together ourselves, if Shifu Terry Price can be convinced).

Chen Pan Ling T'ai Chi Ch'uan Section1 by Brian Bruning The Rochester T'ai Chi Ch'uan Center - 12/29/2012

05/27/2023

Very good demonstration of Fa Jing. Note the sound that goes with the timing; root through ground at the same time as the relaxed limb strikes. Chen Pan Ling Taiji uses a rooting heel out to set power in much the same way. Chen Pan Ling's Hsing Yi Chuan (or Xingyiquan, depending on your preferred Romanization) has a follow step that serves much the same purpose, using root through ground to project power.

Got a different view on this? Comment below, we welcome the discussion.