Vol 11, Issue 1/2003
A life-long process of learning
Interview with Zhu Tiancai. By Almut Schmitz
Zhu Tiancai is one of the outstanding representatives of traditional Chen Taijiquan and for the last twenty years has been accepting invitations to teach this art in many parts of the world. During a seminar in Munich, Almut Schmitz had the opportunity to ask him about his career and about training Tuishou and Chansigong. He took a critical attitude to Tuishou competitions because, in his opinion, the urge to win blocks the development of relaxation and softness. Moreover, Taijiquan ability can only be expressed in free fighting because the essential techniques are not permitted in Tuishou. He explains Chansigong, the silk-reeling exercises, as an important training method for communicating the basic movement principles of Taijiquan in seminars where time is short.
