In answering a student question, Master Chen Zhonghua dealt with a higher level skill in Taijiquan practice: connections of body parts and movements.
Author: Chen ZhongHua Length: 36 min. In: English Year: 2010 Difficulty:3/5 At:Edmonton
Taiji Movement Connections 1 Online Video Trailer
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I really enjoyed this video. The concept of “No Deficiency/No Over-Extension” was very good. I find this is a problem I have. The description of “skating” across the ice (versus digging into or jumping from the ice) finally made sense after watching the video a second time. This is a very good analogy.
Also the concept of “lever” is slowly starting to make sense. I had read about taiji coming from wuji before but couldn’t understand it. The description that Master Chen showed of wuji moving in between Yin and Yang made sense. I realize my concept of Yin and Yang was wrong, it is not necessarily that one is strong and one weak for example, it is that they are opposites. It seems to be about Yin-Yang separation, the positive circle and the Practical Method, I now see, teaches this. Contrary to this, for example, in “tossing”, there is no Yin-Yang separation.
Master Chen, so when doing the final move of the positive circle where the arm rotates and stretches out, there needs to be an opposite sinking and dropping of the left kua and weight into the ground to produce Yin-Yang separation (ie., stretching of the body in both directions along the same line)? In this case would the central axis of the body (huiyin to baihui) be the “wuji” point or area about which the Yin-Yang separation occurs (which is why it is important to keep the head suspended as opposed to just dropping the body) or is it the front kua area?
Thanks!
Gary Readore
In regard to Yin and Yang: in the case of a titer totter. One end is doing this to the other end. One end is up while the other end is down. It is yin and yang. It does not mean that piece of board is broken. It does not mean the board becomes disconnected. It does not mean one end is stronger than the other end.
In the positive circle (3 counts). 1. come inwards, using the rear kua as pivot. 2. turn left and sink, using true center of spine line as pivot. 3. put outwards, using front kua as pivot. The power arm has to be longer than the weight arm in a lever situation. The above does that. If the front kua does not move, the downward movement of the rear kua (which is one of the move difficult things to do on earth) will produce “Sink down and grind out”, bouncing the opponent.
Master Chen,
This description of the 3-count positive circle puts a clearer image in my mind to imitate. Thank you.
Kelvin
I like the seesaw analogy a lot. The three count description of the positive circle including pivot points is helpful as well.
Thanks,
Todd
This video has many valuable details and reminders. The specific detail shown at the beginning of video I want to keep visually in mind while doing the circle. I really enjoy watching the way Master Chen engaged the students. It’s very real to me as if I was there with them. Thank you!
This is one of the most helpful Taiji video’s I’ve ever seen…it shows you how to get your taiji push hands ability out of the realm of normal interaction with your opponent…the use of aim is almost like having a third arm to fight with though the effect is subtle your opponent cannot fight against it. On the receiving end of it, it just feels like this thing you have to constantly deal with that isn’t really there but is very tangible nevertheless. On the usage end it feels like the “one” little extra thing you need to break out of a “matched” state…alot of fun to play with in a cooperative manner with a push hands partner… it seems like training your eyes on a fixed point in positive circle is not only designed to keep you from tossing but perhaps training your ability to aim and utilize points outside of your physical structure…also don’t miss Master Chen’s notes on the three pivots in the comments that go with this trailer!!!!! awesome!!!