Developing Peng Jin

 Watch this clip talking about Tai chi structure and Peng Jin

Stiff Mind

Stiff Mind

Stiff Body

This has nothing to do with flexibility.

 

Feet and Earth

I came across a great quote from Thich Nhat Hanh " Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet".

Which reminds me of how how I was taught , when placing the foot on the ground it is with sensitivity as you may need to pick it up without lurching or being off balance.

The ground may have an obstacle, hole, maybe avoid a foot sweep or you want to kick. Don't be mentally double weighted in your stepping.

Sensitivity in Tai chi

 I didn't write this. I tried out Co-pilot as an experiment and this what it came up with. If you click on the blue links it will tell you which website it has pulled from so credits go to them.

Developing Sensitivity in Tai Chi: The Art of Listening with Your Body

Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art, is renowned for its graceful movements and profound health benefits. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Tai Chi emphasizes the cultivation of internal energy, balance, and sensitivity. One of the key aspects of Tai Chi training is developing sensitivity, which allows practitioners to respond to subtle movements and intentions. This blog post explores the importance of sensitivity in Tai Chi and how to cultivate it through various practices.

The Essence of Sensitivity in Tai Chi

Sensitivity in Tai Chi refers to the ability to perceive and respond to the slightest changes in your partner’s movements and energy. This heightened awareness is crucial for effective self-defense and martial applications. It allows practitioners to anticipate and neutralize attacks, maintain balance, and flow with their partner’s energy rather than resisting it.

Push Hands: The Gateway to Sensitivity

One of the primary methods for developing sensitivity in Tai Chi is through the practice of Push Hands (Tui Shou). Push Hands is a partner exercise that involves controlled, continuous, and circular movements. The main goals of Push Hands include:

• Developing Sensitivity: Push Hands cultivates the ability to sense and respond to the subtle movements and intentions of your partner¹.
• Maintaining Relaxation: It teaches practitioners to stay relaxed under pressure, preventing stiffness and tension¹.
• Enhancing Balance and Stability: Practitioners learn to maintain their balance and stability when subjected to external forces¹.
• Applying Tai Chi Principles: Push Hands provides a platform to practice Tai Chi principles such as yielding, redirecting, and neutralizing force¹.

Sticky Hands: A Deeper Level of Sensitivity

Another practice that enhances sensitivity is Sticky Hands (Chi Sau). This exercise involves one person leading and the other following, maintaining light and unbroken contact. The leader moves slowly and gently, while the follower mirrors these movements without breaking contact or applying pressure². Sticky Hands emphasizes:

• Timing and Rhythm: Moving in sync with your partner while maintaining a constant flow of movement².
• Concentration and Focus: Letting go of distracting thoughts and emotions to remain calm and centered².
• Listening with Your Body: Using a light, sensitive touch to feel where your partner’s intention and power come from².

Practical Tips for Developing Sensitivity

1. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Regular practice of Push Hands and Sticky Hands will gradually enhance your sensitivity.
2. Stay Relaxed: Tension blocks sensitivity. Focus on staying relaxed and maintaining a soft touch.
3. Be Patient: Developing sensitivity takes time. Be patient with yourself and your partner.
4. Focus on Breathing: Deep, mindful breathing helps you stay relaxed and centered.
5. Work with Different Partners: Practicing with various partners will expose you to different energies and movement styles, enhancing your adaptability.

Conclusion

Developing sensitivity in Tai Chi is a journey of listening with your body and responding with grace and fluidity. Through practices like Push Hands and Sticky Hands, you can cultivate this essential skill, enhancing your overall Tai Chi practice and deepening your connection to the art. Remember, sensitivity is not just about physical touch; it’s about tuning into the subtle energies and intentions of yourself and others. Happy practicing!

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Step like a Cat

So I'm concentrating on my stepping in the form.

Instead of just rolling my weight onto the foot I'm mindful of remaining balanced in the supporting leg and being able to pick up the foot I've stepped with without lurching or losing balance. 

If the ground is ok where I've stepped, i.e., no holes, obstructions etc. then I shift my weight and only then.

In practice this means a nanosecond longer in the supporting leg before shifting my weight.

Autotelic

 Are you on a autotelic path? 

Do what you are doing for its own sake.

Then you are on the right path.

From "The Surfboard" by Dan Kieran.  unbound.com

Brilliant little book!

Taiji Classics- "Stand Like a Balanced Scale."

Counter-Point Neutralizing

 Over on the Slanted Flying website is this interesting article on counter-point neutralizing with a number of illustrated examples.

I remember Dave Martin, my Sun style teacher, showing me an example in response to a lock which was rendered ineffective by placing my hand on his chest.

The article can be read here

So what's the Hopping fuss?

Hopping in T'ai Chi seems to be something to ridicule. The students are just jumping to make the teacher look good. It's all fake.

Or is it. What's really going on?

In his book T'ai Chi Ch'uan for Health and Self Defense, T.T. Liang writes " When one has been struck and is just about to fall over, he must hop like a sparrow". One of my friends likens this to a T'ai chi version of a breakfall.

So it was great to come across a good article on shorelinetaichi.com which addresses hopping, the rationale behind it and places it in a proper context.

The article can be read here. and there are some good links at the end.

Three Tan Tien in a straight line

 An early lesson was that we aim to line up the three tan tiens in our tai chi form.

Here is a chap presenting this concept in a joyous manner

Inners, Outers and the 10 Co-ordinations

 A friend of mine who teaches Yang style T'ai Chi once asked me if I knew about the 3 Inners and Outers.

What he meant are the six harmonies, typically divided into the the 3 internal and 3 external co-ordinations. These are:

• The hands co-ordinate with the feet
• The shoulders co-ordinate with the hips
• The elbows co-ordinate with the knees
• The heart co-ordinates with the intent
• The intent co-ordinates with the Chi
• The Chi co-ordinates with the power

I knew these as part of the 10 co-ordinations, which are:

1. The head must co-ordinate with the coccyx
2. The neck must co-ordinate with the waist
3. The shoulders must co-ordinate with the inside of the thigh, where it joins the body
4. The elbows must co-ordinate with the knees
5. The shin of one leg must co-ordinate with the shin of the other leg
6. The toes of one foot must co-ordinate with the toes of the other foot
7. The spirit must co-ordinate with the mind
8. The mind must co-ordinate with the Chi
9. The Chi must co-ordinate with the strength
10. The inner aspects (spirit, Chi) must co-ordinate with the outer aspect ( the external form )

When the Hands lead the Body

When I first started learning the 2 person Tai Chi San Shou or "Dance of yielding equality" as it was called in our school, my teacher John Kells briefly mentioned the hands leading the body.

On the Slanted Flying website there is a post form 2018 which explores this concept in more detail.

 Additionally the article Moving from the Waist from Gerald sharp's Chiflow site also touches on this theme.

The Slanted Flying article can be found at: when-the-hands-lead-the-body-in-taijiquan/ 

and the Chiflow article  Moving from the waist is: https://www.chiflow.com/html/4Q_chiflow.pdf

Tai Chi Internal Exercises for Tai Ji Quan Practitioners

 A few years ago my friend Kevin Parker put together a little e-book with 31 exercises for practitioners of Tai Chi.

It isn't a beginners book and there is an assumption that the underlying principles of Tai Chi are understood.

You can find more information and the book here

Sitting while Standing

I thought this article on the Deep River Tai Chi and Bagua website was really good exploring the relationship between the hips and sinking.

Read it here

Revisiting Basics

Working on basic stuff. 

This week it's keeping the chin down and not allowing it to jut out and up.

I'm imagining the tip of Pixie's ears pointing up instead of angled backward. That works for me rather than imagining I've got a tiny ball pressed in under my chin.

Sword stuff

 Here are a couple of videos with sword exercises and principles which I like and find useful.

Practice

 

Practice with a quiet mind and a calm spirit. Thus while you practice T'ai Chi like a long river moving, or a beautiful girl dancing, inside you are dynamic, ready to release an active and nimble tiger when required.

BTCCA handbook second term

Mind

 

Use mind rather than force. When you use the mind, the force will naturally follow it. Use of force alone will make your movements too slow.

BTCCA Handbook for second term

Ribs

 

Compression

Open / Close

Pay attention to the opening and closing of the ribcage

Fall

 

Fall into your Feet