Master Chow always mention that in Taiji, every posture and every movement there is/are circle(s).
So that note and assess your posture and movement. If you don't find circle(s), then likely your posture is not "so" correct.
A scrapbook to note down the points of my Taiji practice. The pointers below are what I understand at that point in time, and the understanding may changes over time. Please feel free to share you comments with me.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Secret #1 - Sink in the back leg (虚实分明)
When doing the Tai Chi kata, it is very important to differentiate the substantial and the in-substantial clearly (虚实分明).
When moving (shifting weight) from leg to leg, there should be no change in height and minimum shifting of body forward or backward. The secret to this is to sink into the back leg and relax the hip-joint. This will automatically shift the weight to the front leg, without any shift in height.
When shifting backward, besides sinking the back leg, you have to imagine the back knee moving forward, which then allows for the front leg to retract back and straighten.
What I try to imagine is that the "weight" is shift at (or below) ground level to feet to feet. You should not shift the weight at upper body level as your chi will be floated up and you are not so rooted.
All these small and precise movement is to ensure that the force/chi is direct to where you want them to go without losing too much in the process of reaching there.
When moving (shifting weight) from leg to leg, there should be no change in height and minimum shifting of body forward or backward. The secret to this is to sink into the back leg and relax the hip-joint. This will automatically shift the weight to the front leg, without any shift in height.
When shifting backward, besides sinking the back leg, you have to imagine the back knee moving forward, which then allows for the front leg to retract back and straighten.
What I try to imagine is that the "weight" is shift at (or below) ground level to feet to feet. You should not shift the weight at upper body level as your chi will be floated up and you are not so rooted.
All these small and precise movement is to ensure that the force/chi is direct to where you want them to go without losing too much in the process of reaching there.
There is no secret.
As my master and alot of many masters before my master said, "There is no secret in Tai Chi".
It is just that whether the student
1) know how to applied the "secret" OR
2) know how to train to attain the "secret"
Many a times, what I see in Tai Chi is that, there is no standard training
methodology. A Tai Chi master may be able to execute a move and release the chi beautifully, and "easily", but could not properly translate it into words for the student.
This is and will always be the issue, as all internal art practices. Very person feels differently.
The only way is to trust in your master and TRAIN, TRAIN and TRAIN, and hope you get the right feeling one day.
That is why it is very important to have "do not expect any result" mentality while learning Taiji.
At the end of the day, you may not had learn Taiji, but through practicing Taiji, you had learn and earn a lot more and find yourself a better person.
It is just that whether the student
1) know how to applied the "secret" OR
2) know how to train to attain the "secret"
Many a times, what I see in Tai Chi is that, there is no standard training
methodology. A Tai Chi master may be able to execute a move and release the chi beautifully, and "easily", but could not properly translate it into words for the student.
This is and will always be the issue, as all internal art practices. Very person feels differently.
The only way is to trust in your master and TRAIN, TRAIN and TRAIN, and hope you get the right feeling one day.
That is why it is very important to have "do not expect any result" mentality while learning Taiji.
At the end of the day, you may not had learn Taiji, but through practicing Taiji, you had learn and earn a lot more and find yourself a better person.
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