Over the years, as I have progressed in my understanding of what I think is Tai Chi, I have made notes.
**
These notes came from teachers, masters, students, books, videos and sometimes from within.
This page will present those notes to you in no particular order so that you might examine your own understanding of the matter.
This may be a long journey and confusing at times . . .
but where have you heard that before?
**
What you might read below may or may not be the whole truth. . . . . that is for you to discover in your own time.
*********************
**
These notes came from teachers, masters, students, books, videos and sometimes from within.
This page will present those notes to you in no particular order so that you might examine your own understanding of the matter.
This may be a long journey and confusing at times . . .
but where have you heard that before?
**
What you might read below may or may not be the whole truth. . . . . that is for you to discover in your own time.
*********************
Analogy of water:- in pushing hands, if one person is resistant the other may 'flow' around this and reach the body.
**
Invincibility depends upon self,
vulnerability of the enemy depends upon them.
**
As a general rule the eyes will look to the leading hand (Yang) thus training you to look where an opponent might be. With the hand just below eye level it equates with looking at the opponent's chest.
**
Tactics in Tai Chi are to close the gap with the opponent, hence nearly all moves advance.
**
Mostly strikes are open palm - which is more relaxed and causes less injury on impact . . . to yourself.
**
Tactical advantage comes from the direction changes that occur in every move. . . this prevents the opponent from becoming either mentally or physically centred.
**
Focus your mind on your centre of gravity. . .
keep your back straight and turn the waist (hips to neck) -
The parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated.
**
**
Invincibility depends upon self,
vulnerability of the enemy depends upon them.
**
As a general rule the eyes will look to the leading hand (Yang) thus training you to look where an opponent might be. With the hand just below eye level it equates with looking at the opponent's chest.
**
Tactics in Tai Chi are to close the gap with the opponent, hence nearly all moves advance.
**
Mostly strikes are open palm - which is more relaxed and causes less injury on impact . . . to yourself.
**
Tactical advantage comes from the direction changes that occur in every move. . . this prevents the opponent from becoming either mentally or physically centred.
**
Focus your mind on your centre of gravity. . .
keep your back straight and turn the waist (hips to neck) -
The parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated.
**
Follow the intention of the opponent, give up your own resistive strength, go with their force then take advantage when it is used up. Give up your fear of being pushed over - learn to let go and relax.
**
When you have a partner act as though no one were there, when on your own act as though you have a partner.
**
Try to learn from the experience of your own practice.
**
Tai Chi is intended to improve the quality of your life,
not add to your problems.
**
When low in spirit that should be the time to practice.
**
**
When you have a partner act as though no one were there, when on your own act as though you have a partner.
**
Try to learn from the experience of your own practice.
**
Tai Chi is intended to improve the quality of your life,
not add to your problems.
**
When low in spirit that should be the time to practice.
**
Fear of making mistakes makes us tense,
mistakes give you valuable information to gain
in knowledge and skill, do not fear them.
**
Find the balance between the defeat of your mistakes and the inflation of your successes.
The middle way is calm and relaxed.
**
Learn to feel the air with hands and arms.
Be sensitive to it and feel it when you do the form.
Think of 'wave hands like clouds'.
mistakes give you valuable information to gain
in knowledge and skill, do not fear them.
**
Find the balance between the defeat of your mistakes and the inflation of your successes.
The middle way is calm and relaxed.
**
Learn to feel the air with hands and arms.
Be sensitive to it and feel it when you do the form.
Think of 'wave hands like clouds'.
Breath should become finer, thinner, slower, longer and silent.
Breathe through the nose. . . in continuity.
**
Move as one unit . . . feel the energy
feel the chi.
**
Breathe through the nose. . . in continuity.
**
Move as one unit . . . feel the energy
feel the chi.
**
Relax all the muscles and bones in your feet and ankles. This leads to greater relaxation, stability and grounding as your connection with the earth improves.
**
No leaning ! In any direction. Follow this rule for more effortless and sensitive balance.
**
If you try and predict an opponent's move then you have moved into the future and are no longer in the present where something different may happen.
**
Stepping will often be like a cat, or walking on thin ice, check the ground before weight transfers. This enables you to withdraw the step at any time yet retain balance and control.
Remember that you would normally be stepping to the side of your opponent, therefore place your foot accordingly.
**
When you push a ball. . . it all moves.
So it should be with your own movement.
**
Pay attention to the joints, for it is through them that energy must transfer from one part of the body to another.
**
When moving through a posture if you can 'bounce gently and feel the energy hit the floor and rise again then the energy is not locked in your joints. . . a useful little test of posture.
**
**
Energy follows your mind.
All effective movement comes from your centre.
**
So it should be with your own movement.
**
Pay attention to the joints, for it is through them that energy must transfer from one part of the body to another.
**
When moving through a posture if you can 'bounce gently and feel the energy hit the floor and rise again then the energy is not locked in your joints. . . a useful little test of posture.
**
**
Energy follows your mind.
All effective movement comes from your centre.
**
Don't struggle; you gain through relaxation and thought.
Think it happening.
**
Can your own mind make you ill?
Most people believe this.
Can your mind make you better?
Most people doubt it!!
**
To engage Chi.
Be smooth and relaxed.
All movement continuous as is breath.
Circular movement
Absorbed, concentrated mind.
Completeness - each movement uses whole body.
When you practice engage with the above principles.
Note. Many years ago I knew these words,
it is only today that I begin to understand what they mean.
Richard.
**
Think it happening.
**
Can your own mind make you ill?
Most people believe this.
Can your mind make you better?
Most people doubt it!!
**
To engage Chi.
Be smooth and relaxed.
All movement continuous as is breath.
Circular movement
Absorbed, concentrated mind.
Completeness - each movement uses whole body.
When you practice engage with the above principles.
Note. Many years ago I knew these words,
it is only today that I begin to understand what they mean.
Richard.
**
Be aware of gravity.
Here... stillness is real, movement an illusion.
Now. . . silence is real, sound an illusion.
(not sure where that came from but I like it greatly, it speaks volumes to me even though the words do not.)
**
Yi dou chi dou. . . intention arrives, chi arrives.
**
Be the student to the end of days.
**
Keep hips free and knees in line with toes.
**
Keep all joints open and the chi will flow.
**
Be mindful of the dynamics of the dominant hand and foot.
**
Ming Men means 'gate of life' and is
in lower back opposite dantien.
**
Do you need to understand why or how when it has worked effectively for 2,500 years?
**
Here... stillness is real, movement an illusion.
Now. . . silence is real, sound an illusion.
(not sure where that came from but I like it greatly, it speaks volumes to me even though the words do not.)
**
Yi dou chi dou. . . intention arrives, chi arrives.
**
Be the student to the end of days.
**
Keep hips free and knees in line with toes.
**
Keep all joints open and the chi will flow.
**
Be mindful of the dynamics of the dominant hand and foot.
**
Ming Men means 'gate of life' and is
in lower back opposite dantien.
**
Do you need to understand why or how when it has worked effectively for 2,500 years?
**
Chi Kung strengthens the transformation of Chi through posture, breathing and imagination.
**
Because of the slow, flowing movements the body can relax and in that calmness, external tranquillity becomes internal.
**
When you are centred the tranquillity is projected outwards again.
**
Your mind should direct the relaxation and not just observe it.
**
Be realistic in your expectations of change.
**
**
Because of the slow, flowing movements the body can relax and in that calmness, external tranquillity becomes internal.
**
When you are centred the tranquillity is projected outwards again.
**
Your mind should direct the relaxation and not just observe it.
**
Be realistic in your expectations of change.
**
Circular movements hide the beginning and end of a movement (technique) from the observer. Any defence against the 'circle' is deflected tangentially.
Optimise all your movements by the use of circles.
**
Be aware of and protect your centre, physically, mentally and psychologically
**
Mind first then the body.
Use mind then muscles.
Concentrate on the mind not the breathing.
**
Seek stillness in your movements.
**
Optimise all your movements by the use of circles.
**
Be aware of and protect your centre, physically, mentally and psychologically
**
Mind first then the body.
Use mind then muscles.
Concentrate on the mind not the breathing.
**
Seek stillness in your movements.
**