The Tan Tien is the centre of your being. It is about 2 finger widths down from your navel (in acupuncture, the point is Chi Hai = Ocean of Chi) and about one-third way into your abdomen. The Chinese believe the Chi accumulates there.
Good health is when Chi or the energy of life circulates freely throughout the body. When Chi is blocked, ill health results. So the aim of Tai-Chi is to initiate and maintain the flow of Chi through a series of slow, graceful and continuous movements.
Do not worry about moving the Chi at the start. Worry about being so relaxed when moving that when Chi spontaneously moves, it will not be blocked. Practise the physical first. When you start a new cycle of movement by shifting your weight, start that movement from the Tan Tien.
It is interesting that Sports Science today says almost the same thing. It talks about triggering the core muscles (abdominal & back muscles) before initiating any functional moves like throwing or lifting.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The moving foot has no weight
I think I worked you all hard last Wednesday. I tend to teach too much. Take home one or two important points and work on them. I am sure I will be repeating most of what I say. You will also note that I keep ticking you off for the same habits of movement. Ha! Ha! They say you have to practice a movement 5,000 times for it to become a habit. That may be a bit optimistic.
Following on the last posting, many of the masters have noted that the moving foot must carry no weight. What it means is that you have to draw your weight away from that foot to be able to lift it off the ground and then move it to its intended spot. If there is a bit of weight at the lifted foot, then the move will be hurried and both the start of the lift and the deposition of the foot will be jerky.
Therefore, it is the transition between one stance and another that is important. In order to "flow like a stream" one move must flow to the next with no noticeable pause. Beginners tend to note particular stances eg Single Whip and a following stance eg. Pat High Horse and practise these stances while in a stationary pose. This is not a good way. It is better to concentrate on MOVING from one stance to the other.
Practise the needed weight change to free one part of the body (and one leg). Once the moving leg has touched the ground, then practise the smooth flow of weight change to complete the move and set up the next move. Enjoy!
Following on the last posting, many of the masters have noted that the moving foot must carry no weight. What it means is that you have to draw your weight away from that foot to be able to lift it off the ground and then move it to its intended spot. If there is a bit of weight at the lifted foot, then the move will be hurried and both the start of the lift and the deposition of the foot will be jerky.
Therefore, it is the transition between one stance and another that is important. In order to "flow like a stream" one move must flow to the next with no noticeable pause. Beginners tend to note particular stances eg Single Whip and a following stance eg. Pat High Horse and practise these stances while in a stationary pose. This is not a good way. It is better to concentrate on MOVING from one stance to the other.
Practise the needed weight change to free one part of the body (and one leg). Once the moving leg has touched the ground, then practise the smooth flow of weight change to complete the move and set up the next move. Enjoy!
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