Tai Chi 'Sun Style' 73 Form Modified for health

Tai Chi "Sun Style" 73 Form - The competition form has been slightly modified for health to be suitable for most participants. Demonstrated by: Mike Soric in 2012 as part of demonstration for Master Trainer qualification. - at Townsville.

[@vickijanssens6514]

Thank you. I am new to Tai Chi and slowly learning this modified version for arthritis. I hope to be inspired to make it a long term habit. I am 76 years old.

[@pckennedy1723]

I'm slowly learning Dr. Lam's 73 -- six months into it after learning TCA & TCD, which I, of course, continue to practice. Watching this is a lovely respite and a real inspiration to me. Glad to see your happy move at the end, too. I like it all. Thanks.

[@kathleenhibbs4194]

Yes, I am taking Tai Chi for arthritis and it has been modified. I have also practiced Yoga for several years. This is similar but the dance-like moves of Tai Chi are what draw me to it more than Yoga. You have a beautiful, expressive style that I enjoy watching. Thank you.

[@MikeSoric]

Thank you Ivan for taking the time to comment. I have tried to demonstrate that a Tai Chi form, that was originally developed for competition, could still be performed by those that are a little less able and at the same time show slight modifications that are safe for most participants no matter what their skills or ability. My demonstration with slight modifications hopefully demonstrates that the Essential Tai Chi Principles can still be incorporated. Thank you again for taking time to comment. I appreciate your views.

[@MikeSoric]

Dear Yang Chesun. Thank you for taking the time to comment in such great detail. It is very clear that you have great knowledge and a keen eye for details. I appreciate your feedback. Thank you. You are also most correct in your comments about the minimum amount of modification and that my little demonstrate is a hybrid of the Sun 73 Competition Form and something that could be done by anyone. At the time of this demonstration I was midway through my own health challenges. This was performed to my capability at the time. When I teach this form to my participants I help them develop techniques that best suit their needs and capabilities. Sometimes this might include further pre-adjustment of feet to complete a turn or even a toe touch on the ground instead of a kick. For our school and Institute the underlying purpose is to empower the individual to improve their health through tai chi (whatever Style or Form they might like to learn). My health has improved and I hope my tai chi now reflects a balanced approach to strength and softness. Thank you again for your insight and willingness to share your thoughts. Keep well and above all enjoy your tai chi play for yourself. Regards Mike Soric (Tai Chi for Busy People)

[@RBucey1]

Awesome. Best Sun Style 73 form on KZbin I've seen. Going to recommend it to all my students.

[@kayrains3664]

That was great, Mike. Enjoyed watching. Also loved the venue.

[@MikeSoric]

Hi 1sunstyle. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I see by your profile that you are well versed with different Styles of tai chi and that you have a good understanding of the large variety of Forms within each Style. I believe that there are many displays of the Sun 73 Form that are more technical and physical than my interpretation. I aim to show that anyone with any skill or capability can enjoy tai chi as the forms are more about the Principles and how we interpret them as apposed to how technically correct the Forms/Movements are. Tai Chi for Health should always be about how tai chi is for the individual. I do agree that my demonstration would not be suitable as a true martial art defence sense, however as an internal form I find it helped me with my own health challenges at the time of this demonstration. thank you again for commenting and please feel free to share. Kindest regards from Mike Soric [Tai Chi for Health enthusiast].

[@MikeSoric]

Thank you Robert. Please note that the Tai Chi "Sun Style" 73 Form that I have demonstrated is not the more traditional competition form. You will notice that in this version we do not perform punch downs to the ground or sissor kicks in the air, also many of the movements are performed in a slightly higher stance with some foot adjustments to minimise knee joint twisting. The full instructional DVD is available from Tai Chi Productions, Australia. Please check their web-site. Enjoy

[@MikeSoric]

Thank you Kathleen. The 'Sun Style' 73 form is normally regarded as an intermediate form and can take a couple of years to learn. I would like to recommend that you might start with something a little easier like the Tai Chi for Arthritis gentle exercise program which is based on the 'Sun Style' movements and can easily be learnt in smaller stages. I have provided a demonstration on KZbin. Please check Dr. Paul Lam's Tai Chi for Health Institute web-site for an Instructor in your area. Enjoy

[@MikeSoric]

Thank you PC Kennedy and MHHS90 for your kind words. I do enjoy doing the SUN 73 Form for myself and like to just go with the flow "so to speak". The happy dance at the end was not intended to be on the video ... but that's the way life goes. Keep up your practice and home play. If possible find yourself an Instructor you like and get different perspectives. I normally advise our students/participants that the Sun 73 takes about 12 to 18 months to learn and a few more after that to incorporate some of the main tai chi principles. Take your time and be patient with yourselves. Thanks again and continue with your tai chi journey.

[@kathleenhibbs4194]

This is so lovely. I am new at Tai Chi and this has inspired me to keep doing it! Thank you.

[@jasonrebello]

Great Video Mike...Thanks for sharing!

[@MikeSoric]

Thank you Kay. Yes the Venue is quite special.really does have a 'Nice' feel about it. look forward to catching up with you in 2016 ... perhaps World Tai Chi & QiGong Day.

[@mhhs90]

Awesome!!! I just started Tai Chi and this video really helps me practice at home!!!

[@ChristoffelAng]

Hi Mike, consider doing the traditional routine if you're looking into the health aspects instead.

[@yangchensun5546]

My two cents' worth of comments... I would not call it "Modified for health" because Tai Chi is good for health even without the modifications. Rather, it's modified for those who have arthritis or are too old (and hence weak) to perform certain moves. From what I could see, the folowing changes were made: (1) The stance was marginally higher, but that's not really a major modification. You just go as low as you are comfortable... (2) The movements were less agile but more gentle, appearing more like Sun Tai Chi performed with a Yang style execution. (3) Cloud hands were performed with the arms in an up/down motion towards the end, whereas in the original form, they are more circular and the waist is turned a little more towards one side. Hard for me to describe it really...I need to perform it to make myself clearer. (4) The double kicks were replaced by some movements which would be manageable for elderly people and people with arthritic knees. This is the part where the real modification was made. The double kicks are found in the Chen Style, which is the oldest form of Tai Chi which has a historical record (Zhang Sanfeng is legend, and I do not believe that he created Tai Chi). Sun Jianyun is said to have walked out of the room because the committee which choreographed this Form wanted to include the double kicks. She objected to its inclusion because it was not a Sun Style move and not found in the traditional 97 form developed by her father, Sun Lutang. Therefore, the modification might cause the competition folks to cringe in horror but could well be what Sun Jianyun would like it to be. By including a Chen Style Double Kicks, it makes the Sun Style Competition 73 Form become a COMBINED FORM - like the Combined Competition 42 Form which has Yang, Sun, Wu and Chen movements in it. How would the Yang Style folks feel if their Competition 40 Form had a Sun Style movement in it? How about replacing one of the movements in the Chen Competition 56 Form with a Yang movement? How would the Chen Style folks feel about it?

[@plf5695]

Excellent. In fact Sun Style was developed mostly for health. The way you do it resembles Wu Hao Tai chi a rare style of Tai chi from which Sun Style was developed besides Xingi and Bagua. I've taught Yang style and have studied Wu style, not the Wu Hao though, the more known one. Lately I became interested in Sun by watching videos in youtube and managed to learn the long form and now the 73 thanks to my long experience in Tai chi and marshal arts. Now it's my favourite style and the one that I enjoy most in my daily practice. I like it because is mobile and uncomplicated compared to other tai chi. Thanks for posting it.

[@MikeSoric]

Dear P LF, thank you for taking the time to view , comment and add my KZbin to your list of Sun Style forms. As you have observed I have demonstrated a modified version of the Sun 73 Competition Form. I should point out that deep bends and high kicks had been omitted on purpose to show that anyone of any skill or fitness level could still enjoy a powerful Tai Chi Style such as the Sun Style. As a matter of fact I was in the midst of my own health challenges during this performance. As you already have established the Sun Style has evolved to take on many interpretations. Non are absolutely right or absolutely wrong ... just safe or not safe ... And as Mr Sun Lutan himself had done in forming his own style based on many other traditional forms in his time, I would like to encourage you to develop your own personality in your form, practice and tai chi play. Above all enjoy it and use the spiral force and chi to direct you. PS. I really enjoy playing with the Yang 24 Form for my self as it fits very well with my breathing pattern. All the best and please send me a video of your play. Kind regards Mike Soric

[@plf5695]

Yes I entirely agree with you that once learnt in the traditional way each person should adapt Tai chi to their own own needs, abilities or disabilities otherwise it would become mechanical.. In other words it would be like painting by numbers or always cook recipes as written in books. I think that since tai chi is an art one should be a bit creative and free with it just like with painting, music or cooking.

[@JohnJones-nc4pe]

What modifications for health were made?

[@MikeSoric]

Hi John. Thank you for your enquiry. The lower down movement were performed with a much higher stance and kicks were kept lower. The scissors kick was heavily modified by just lifting a knee and giving a light slap without trying to get both feet off the ground. The intention was to demonstrate that just about anyone of any age and fitness level could perform a safe interpretation of the Sun 73 Form. I will be re-recording all my previous videos this year. I have noticed that my personal interpretation has become more subtle and internalised therefore cultivating inner spiral force. I hope that my future videos will be able to reflect the inner intention. Kindest regards Mike Soric

[@katerinere5943]

This is so informative! I have been trying to research for a instructional vid similar to yours that really teaches the ideas in this video. The part at 1:09 is educational. Your lesson for sure is similar to the content of Dr. Ethan! Ethan's explanations are really insightful and he helped me on my school! He is an insightful Doctor on KZbin and he talks about mental health! I recommend you check his KZbin out and give the doc a like! 👉 #DoctorEthanOnKZbin