Iowa Workshop on October 12, 2013.
- The body is not ready as any material.
- The body is ready for something else, not taiji material.
Two ways of body training
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
As for number 1, Shifu used an example of wood that is freshly cut to be used in furniture. The life force of the wood is still in the wood and therefore when you make fresh wood into a chair for example it will fall apart because there is still life in it. The wood must be soaked in water for a prolonged period of time to remove the life from it. Only then can you use it furniture because it will hold its shape. One must do the same with the body. We must remove the original power/movements before we can have the structure required for Taiji.
Thanks for sharing the analogy, Levi. That’s very helpful.
I misremembered this quote while i was practicing this morning. I was thinking it was “The body is not suitable Taiji material.” Is that the meaning? If it is, it is great comfort when i realize my own particular body is not suitable. It’s nothing new. Are you saying that every body will have this experience? It’s a very encouraging thought! There are no excuses to skip practicing if all bodies are not suitable. Therefore, my perception of my femaleness, shortness, roundness, stiffness, tiredness, or age have nothing to do with it. A tall, gangly, young, energetic, flexible man could ultimately have the same experience of being unsuitable for Taiji. Am i understanding this?
Yes. We must make the body ready for taiji . We are like a block of wood . To do taiji we must change our bodies. Foundations and yilus’.
You are right, Camille!