Suz

Fist covering hand downwards and Forward double push hands- Toronto North York Taiji Class on August 10, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/08/19

Fist covering hand downwards

Stretch right hand from elbow – straight forward, pull back towards left. Left hand covers the right arm, circle the elbow, stretch right arm while placing left hand middle of chest(thumb near chest), rotate the hip towards left stretching all the way while locking right elbow and shoulder.

Drop both hands on the side.

Double negative circle- right hand near the face -left hand straight-left hand palm up drop just above right knee making fist- right hand make a fist- stretch downwards just above right knee – make a fist left hand and stretch opposite side opening the Kua towards the left. All one move

The lock is on right side and the stretch from the hip is towards the left.

Forward double push hands

Right hand positive circle start with elbow in out with hand 2nd positive circle elbow in touch the elbow to right side, lock and rotate torso to left as much as possible

Open left foot using the heel, lock the left side

Step forward pulling right foot ret on toes

Right hand forward, palm up, slightly bend the elbow, left hand palm up and beside the elbow

Step the right foot out 90 degrees lock right side, pull the left foot and place it beside right foot hands placed in front of the body… double push hands, palm facing downwards, chest height.

Fist Draping Over Body (Pi Shen Chui) and Lean with Back (Bei Zhe Kao) Toronto North York Taiji Class on July 13, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/07/19

Fist Draping Over Body (Pi Shen Chui) and Lean with Back (Bei Zhe Kao) 

Double negative circle: Left hand negative circle, right hand elbow in place hand in punch form just above the left knee, right hand negative elbow in place hand in punch form just above the left knee. Repeat twice.

Right arm turn clockwise and raise the arm to crown. Hand in punch form. Left hand rests on the Kua and stretch open. The line and the stretches should be from left heel to right

Cross Hands (Shi Zi Shou) Toronto North York Taiji Class on June 29, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/07/19

Cross Hands (Shi Zi Shou) 

Double negative circle, left arm stretched on left side and right arm stretched on the right side higher than left arm, Continue the negative brining arms in a cross position, right above the left, hands in punch form, opposite to the chest, elbows tucked and facing the ground, same time  slide right foot heel first to the right and land.

The Fist of Covering Hand (Yan Shou Gong Chui) Toronto North York Taiji Class April 27, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/05/30

The Fist of Covering Hand (Yan Shou Gong Chui) Toronto North York Taiji Class April 27, 2017

Double half negative circle open stretch. Over the top full double negative

Left hand palm up stretch forward. Right palm protect face

Right hand fist. Slide on top of left arm while pulling left arm in a fist position on side of torso

Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) Toronto North York Taiji Class on April 20, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/05/30

Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) Toronto North York Taiji Class on April 20, 2017

Right turn palm motor. Positive and negative circle at the same time. Close left feet. Finish with left turn palm motor

Wade Forward in Twist Steps (Qian Tang Ao Bu) Toronto North York Taiji Class on April 13, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/05/30

Wade Forward in Twist Steps (Qian Tang Ao Bu) Toronto North York Taiji Class on April 13, 2017

Open left leg stretch arms open as if going through a canal. Left arm cross the right arm while left leg pull up.

Lean left leg on toes and rest ->

Land left leg on the heel with toes up. Rotate the left fixed knee-heel-toes triangle on the heel to land the toes.

Watching the teacher during practice i

by Suz on 2017/03/31

Watching the teacher during practice sessions 

In the beginning I used to observer my teacher’s external form. Where is his hands, the right or left moves first, what’s the next move, how high is his hands. Then I learned to observe beyond the physical form. Where is the weight, his focus, which parts of his body he is locking and releasing, path of movement and connection, parts that are strong and relaxed. How the weight is counterbalanced with hands out stretched, or leaning forward/backward.

Then Self-reflection and assessment is key. Understanding how the body works and moves. Physical appearance: grounding, stretching out, grounding more while expending to maintain balance.

Why we shift weight and settle into posture by dropping weight. – My observation of my teacher- dropping weight grounds the body and creates effectiveness. I.e. stepping into opponent’s space- weight forward – settling into pose, structure and weight drop to create effectiveness.

First Closing (Chu Shou) -Toronto i

by Suz on 2017/03/31

Toronto North York Taiji Class on March 30, 2017

3 steps

Half horse stance posture

Bring right hand 45 degree palm up – Just above the left thigh

Bring left hand near right hand 45 degree palm up, elbows touching in a straight line Pull elbows to dantian at the same time bringing left foot (with toes) in beside the right foot. Rest the heel of the foot. All should be one action, like a bullet.

Things to check.

  • Keep hands straight and locked at all times
  • Keep back straight and lock the right side. Imagine there is a bar from back of right shoulder to right heel.

Push Hands North York Taiji Class i

by Suz on 2017/03/24

Things to remember 

  • Never push your opponent- just stretch your body
  • Find an empty space and direct the force to the emptiness
  • Constantly adjust to your opponent push by filling the space between you and your opponent.
  • When stretching, stretch along the length of your body ( vertical stretch)
  • Lock one side always so you can move your other part.
  • When your lower body is advancing your upper body will need to retrieve backward.
  • When stretching arms, lock shoulders and wrist, cage ribs. Energy will come from chest
  • The closer you are the more you will be able to stretch
  • When moving your body forward “sneaking in” to get closer to your opponent, feet in first then hands.
  • Chest/ rib always tucked in/ caged
  • Lock elbow, shoulder and wrist and open your Kua. Force will come from hip.
  • There are always 3 points, if you gave one point to your opponent, then lock/control the other two points

Brush the Knee in Oblique Stance (Lou Xi Ao Bu) – Toronto North York Taiji Class on March 24, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/03/24

6 steps

While still weight on right leg and left resting on toes

Right had negative circle (elbow from above), left hand negative circle – (stretching back)

Left leg open forward with heel

Step down (toes should be straight pointing straight forward)

Left hand negative circle and make a fingers “ring” (thumb touching middle finger)

Right hand positive circle

Things to check.

Elbows should be above left thigh

When arms stretched elbows should be pointing to the earth

Center always locked and stretched

North York Taiji Class on Feb. 9, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/03/17

Block Touching the Coat (Lan Ca Yi) 

6 moves

Wrist cross (Like X) right hand on top of left, fingers pointing downwards.
Lower right elbow open

right hand positive circle, left hand close to left hip.

Shift weight on left foot, right arm positive circle and left negative right, leg stretch to horse stance (all same time) landing on heel

Rest the right feet

Stretch right arm positive circle

Toronto North York Taiji Class on Feb. 16, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/03/17

Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi) 

6 moves

Right hand positive circle twice (move 1, 2 and 3)

4 – Bring left hand middle of the right arm, both hands at the front of torso, left arm elbow touching left ribcage.

5- Pull left leg to rest toes near right leg – same direction and right feet

6- Rest both palms face down – fingers stretched – elbows slightly bend and tucked in

Toronto North York Taiji Class on Feb. 23, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/03/17

Single Whip (Dan Bian)

7 moves

1, 2, 3 twisting towel

4- Right hand thumb touches middle finger (making a circle) – right foot toes turns inside

5- left legs opens with heel horse stance

6- Rest the toes of left leg

7- Left hand positive circle

Adjust posture so elbows and knees are slightly bend and hands are stretched (Like T). Drop shoulders “resting” wrists stretched. Keep the right hand thumb touching middle finger (circle).

Toronto North York Taiji Class on March 9, 2017 1

by Suz on 2017/03/17

Turn Left and Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Zuo Zhuan Shen Dao Dui)

6 moves

1-      Left hand negative circle – right positive circle same time – both elbow in the middle of torso close to the body. Right fingers still holding the “circle”

2-      Left opens negative circle stretched right hand near left elbow.

3-      Standing Buddha’s Warrior– stretch arms, keep wrists straight and open the chest by stretching , tummy tucked in, left shoulder backwards

4-       Open left feet from heel to left

5-      Turn left while dragging right leg and resting on the toes of right foot  (same as last moves of golden warrior –  Pull right leg in front of you together with right arm resting on toes / elbow in – raise leg – knee should touch the elbow. Rest of the body shouldn’t move.

6-      Last move of golden warrior except rather than fist in palm, left hand palm open rests on left hand (fist posture) (Legs same as starting position, elbows touching body.)

Toronto North York Taiji Class on March16, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/03/17

White Crane Spreads its Wings (Bai He Liang Chi)

4 moves

1-      Hands cross X fingers down and stretched

2-      Stretch your arms forward while right leg with toes only stretch backward, slightly right side, knee straight. Curve and lower the back.

3-      Land the heel of the right foot – put your weight on right leg and lock your right side

4-      Pull your left leg and land on your toes, while hands in positive circle stance. Left hand palm above left knee

 

Toronto North York Taiji Class on Feb. 2, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/02/06

Twisting towel – Ning maogin
Straight torso – spine stretched – legs apart –bend knees a bit just to make upside down U shape … Imagine there is a horizontal bar just below navel area, stretched forward and vertical rod from head to ground

Fingers always stretched and slightly open, except the thumb, thumb touching forefinger. Arms at navel level, stretch forward tucking elbow towards the center of your body- keeping wrist locked (wrist doesn’t movie) elbow straight – shoulders locked (moving only within its socket)

Toronto North York Taiji Class on Jan 19, 2017 i

by Suz on 2017/01/19

Positive circle

Lower body

Legs apart – toes aligned with the other foot heel – foot open 45% outward and the other feet, toes close inward a bit – leaning closer to the front foot – Knee 90% measured at the ankle

Eyes

Choose a focus point and keep your eyes pinned to the focus point always

Upper body and movement

Shoulder and wrist locked- fingers stretched – index finger pointing towards your focus point and not above your eyebrow – start with palm down pointing towards the ground- bring elbow to right ribcage from waist twist all the way inside without losing your focus point.

Repeat- in with elbow – turn with waist – out with hand. Keep elbow bend all the time. Torso straight- knees turn up and down but not up and down.

45% in and out finger always pointing

Power comes from the heel