Phoenix seminar notes

• Reference points: counting is to establish a standard for us to be able to teach and communicate
• Direction: must not lose the aim.  Don’t lose the 45 degree facing when practicing the foundational exercises
• Positive circle 3 count:  1. in elbow; back shoulder to forward foot is the axis.  2. rotate waist don’t involve spine and don’t lose previous axis.  3. push foot, aim at hand. There is a split in the middle.  Again don’t lose previous two axes

• Feels like your body is splitting apart
• Five bows in body are in five directions
• Double heavy – two parts next to each other are “joined” in movement.  The error is when they are stuck together
• It’s important to stick to the system to learn.  Don’t overthink the principle just follow the method and it will lead to the principle
• Changing the pivot changes the size
• 3 lines in positive circle; keep each of them without losing any and add the others
• The dantien and knees (the dang) – being able to switch the pivot between the three points
• 覆蓋對吞 apply (gauze), to cover / aim / swallow.  Method of fighting – to swallow and spit
• Lancayi and other stepping moves – front shoulder and kua can’t move forward with foot
• 360 turn has to have axis down shoulder
• Rubber cord example: Learn how to not move the root, then how to not move the tip, then eventually how to not move a point in the center to match
• Don’t move the hand!

Day 2 notes

• Revolution vs rotation.  They happen in different dimensions.  Rotation inside structure / revolution outside structure.  Hard to understand because in one dimension, one part is not moving but in another dimension it is moving.  Movement is relative
• 5 points outside the body create the external structure; inside one dot
• Real movements are not linear; there is an allowable amount of give but the bend is aimed by the dot
• 合力 he li (combined force) is invisible but more sophisticated.
• Hooks and anchors- relationships between different points.  Have to be able to see the points and how they relate by observing Master Chen
• Must pay attention to minute details in the action.  Don’t get it because you aren’t listening and in your own dimension or have deviated from the original lesson
• Arch has to be empty inside.  Gave an example using his phone tripod with a stick interrupting the middle of the tripod to make it unsteady.  The feet have to have the arch
• Special positions / weak points qiao.  You want it to be in your dantien. Guan (fortress) guard the strategic spots.  玄? Xuan (mysterious) sort of like timing and positioning – being in the right place at the right time?
• Get the feeling of making the large movement. Did an exercise to make the line with the front kua as in the second step of positive circle, except with a large movement disregarding other restriction
• First, when joint is not moving, next joint can move.  The not moving joint can transfer the movement to other joints.
• Two ends of my thigh have to rotate in different directions
• The front has to be dead or else the aim changes
• We talked about resonance and Master Chen described how he applies it to measure and apply power.  From a physics perspective resonance seems to relate size with efficiency
• Real learning happens when you don’t understand and discover it after being able to do it – train the system and you will find the concepts when you become capable
• Withdrawing elbow have to make sure not to add with shoulder and add the heel