Speed in Taiji

by webmaster2 on 2008/02/25

Hong’s form of taiji has no ‘rehearsal movements’ or pre-movements, its just the useful stuff. Don’t load your taiji with rehearsal movements and unimportant movements.

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Todd Turik February 25, 2008 at 1:47 pm

For me, this sounds like part of the lessons we were focusing on at the last Maple Ridge workshop. It seemed that the points of focus that stood out for me were spiral movements working toward a single point (as with the pole exercise) and using direct lines of movement when coming into the opponent (as with the partner work we did). I think, in many respects, these two items are the same. While so much of this statement rings true and is in keeping with what I do understand, the struggle is ongoing.

Conceptually, the notion of streaming your movements so the rear end is bigger and moves to a single point of focus (fingers) and then beyond, is really well put to practice when doing the pole exercise. That is, big rotational movements that are not spiralled to the target point are useless and, even worse, result in moving the end of the pole (or one’s hand) as it becomes off target. And yet, when I do the first movement of the form, I am consistently corrected for having "moved" my hand. This week I reflected on this and realized that the hand can better stay on track when I place my mind intent on the application of this move; the stick between my two hands representing the opponent’s arm (something learned from a previous workshop). Now, conceptually, I am closer (from what I gather at least). The next challenge, how do I make the big movements from behind support this? It was a great relief to hear Master Chen tell us that the shoulder movement, as in "don’t move the shoulder", relates specifically to not changing the line from shoulder to kua; it must stay connected. I tend to tighten up when I try to keep everything connected and it feels like I am fighting myself. This is in keeping with the concept of "everything is locked and only one thing moves". I feel that the answer is that we need to be strong as we rotate but I tend to confuse strong and "locked" with a notion of fixed in place. If I understand it correctly, the hinge we create is kept in position. With no useless movements occurring, the structure is maintained and the hinge is not lost.

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Chen Zhonghua February 25, 2008 at 1:54 pm

[quote]the rear end is bigger and moves to a single point of focus (fingers)[/quote]
Please go here to see more on this.
[url]http://chenzhonghua.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=675&Itemid=224[/url]

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Chen Zhonghua February 25, 2008 at 1:57 pm

[quote]This week I reflected on this and realized that the hand can better stay on track when I place my mind intent on the application of this move; the stick between my two hands representing the opponent’s arm (something learned from a previous workshop). Now, conceptually, I am closer (from what I gather at least).[/quote]
This is very good. Took lots of practice, mistakes and tries to get here!!! Now you know that "understanding" is not understanding unless it came through years of meaningless hard work!

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Chen Zhonghua February 25, 2008 at 2:08 pm

[quote]The next challenge, how do I make the big movements from behind support this? It was a great relief to hear Master Chen tell us that the shoulder movement, as in "don’t move the shoulder", relates specifically to not changing the line from shoulder to kua; it must stay connected.[/quote]

A. When you use a pair of pliers, you focus the power of the whole body onto the hand which holds the pliers.

B. When you push a wall or a car, you focus the power onto the feet only.

A is a bigger circle supporting a small point. B is an even bigger circle supporting a small point. B is difficult to see (understand). You have to think about and try it.

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Chen Zhonghua February 25, 2008 at 2:24 pm

[quote]I feel that the answer is that we need to be strong as we rotate but I tend to confuse strong and "locked" with a notion of fixed in place[/quote]

Get these concepts and words out of your mind!!! I have been trying very hard to install(?) new words in students but have very little success.

Go here: [url]http://chenzhonghua.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=676&Itemid=224[/url]

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