Dixian 底线 (Bottom line) – Master Chen Zhonghua Zoom Lesson 2 on Augest 14, 2020
– We use the term dixian instead of “bottom line,” so that we can learn what Master Chen means for dixian. This is re-calibration.
– Don’t question a dixian
– Whenever he says not to ask that question, that’s a dixian.
– 3 types of dixian
- Principle
- Concept
- Suspended Head
- Action
- In with elbow
- Out with hand
- 13 basic moves in Taiji is the dixian (8 techniques (upper body) + 5 directions (bottom body))
- 9 steps in Circle. The 9th step is to settle. He only teaches 3 steps because otherwise we can’t do the form.
– Knowledge has no order. We sequence it to give it meaning.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
notes:
Dixian means bottom line. We need to have the bottom line clear to learn.
The dixian questions are not about right or wrong. It has a meaning, but we don’t discuss the meaning.
Three concepts:
Dixian
Recalibration
#3?
We can learn bottom line by memorizing it.
Learn to copy and reproduce this knowledge.
Never think of right or wrong when learning.
What are the dixian? Yin/yang is dixian. The basic rules of taiji. When you ask a question and Shifu cannot answer that it is because it is dixian. The 13 postures are the dixian. 3 categories; one principle, the other concept, and other action. The 13 movements are our alphabet.
There are 8 movements in the circle, but you need to start learning the 3 moves first.
13 postures. 8 techniques of hands and 5 directions of the feet. Proper taiji choreography your feet must move in 5 directions. Center does not move is requirement of zhong ding.
Once you understand bottom line you will decipher the movements and choreography. It is not random. It is science because it has a method.
Recalibrate you’re mind to di xian
Principle, concept and action are the three di Xian. There is no sequence. Commit this to memory. There is a sequence, but into is a method to ensure you will get it more effectively. You don’t understand until you understand. When learning you start from not having knowledge.
My notes:
Trinity
Theory must be independent of what you do.
Triangulation. When you have two lines, there is a point where they join.
At the beginning, when you pinpoint on something you cannot have distraction.
Even though you think you have changed, other people will know you haven’t. Habits die hard.
Continuing last class. 校对 Recalibration. Another element: adapt and retune your mind and body to something. Not against, with.
On a rifle, there is sights and a piece on the barrel, that you line up against a third point far away. Needs to be fine tuned so that the two line up properly. The gun has to be recalibrated before you can use it. Aiming is against an object. Calibration is done against a fixed target, the standard.
What are you calibrating against, or according to. Standard. The bottom line. 底線. Dixian. Basic premise. Foundation of the entire system, or else you cannot even continue.
You will realize that your assumption is not that accurate, but may not be 100% wrong. For example in with elbow, out with hand. Cannot question it because it is not something to discuss, it’s just something to learn. For example the letter A, don’t need to know why it is written that way, just that it is.
That’s why certain questions shouldn’t be asked. Why some questions are good / others a waste of time. When you ask questions relating to the standard, to the bottom line, you are wasting your time thinking about it. Like asking why is a yard x long?
Three points, that all support each other. First is recalibration, second is dixian.
Memorize the word so that you have that concept. If you understand it, you can tell in the questions that are asked.
A matter of following the instructions. The system is a system of shortcuts. To understand things in a much quicker way instead of spending a lifetime relearning. By copying and reproducing so that knowledge can accumulate.
Various standards that can be changed, improved. If it is more correct it is more complex. Such as need to go to school to learn it because there’s a lot of concepts that need to be built up.
English: You entire thought process must be combinations of these 26 letters and punctuation. Until this is too primitive; and we work with
Chinese basic element: 64. In their system, human intelligence is based on 64. In the past, with the Yijing, it became a technique of fortune telling instead of a philosophy.
In Taijiquan, the bottom line is more complex than in boxing. With 3 or 4 basic punches, you can quickly become good. Taiji based on 13. Upper body 8; lower body 5.
When your base is very big, it takes longer to proceed, but also the potential is higher.
In the positive circle, 9 steps, but usually doesn’t demonstrate all of them. 8 and 1 settle (adjust). Only teach 3 because this is the basic. If you know 8 of them, the yilu becomes too complex, because every movement needs to be broken into 8.
3 types: Principle, concept, action.
What are the dixian, guiding principles:
• Principle: Yin yang
• 虛領頂勁 xulingdijin. Suspended head
• Action: 13 moves. Your alphabet for movements.
• e.g. why doing taiji without the choreography, the direction is wrong. Look at the floor. In certain moves the center does not move. Without it, basically means you don’t know.
• Concept: Center. 中定 zhongding
When you know it, it is a science. It’s not random. It is a collection of rules of how things are.
Recalibrate your mind to dixian.
Use this concept to look at taiji anew.
Your understanding of the data is considered intelligence / knowledge. Meaning. Commit to memory. Relate things you know to why.
During the learning process you do not know the whole system. Learning is starting from not knowing the whole picture. No top no bottom. Only after you’ve learned it, you identify top and bottom.
The sequence is a method to get it more effectively.
参照物 canzhaowu reference points
校对 jiaodui recalibration