Monday, March 5, 2012

Secret #4 - Free the mind

Another tips given out during the pushing hand session with Master Chow.


Our mind is easily drawn to the point of contact, whether the contact is direct or indirect. Once the mind is "trap" at the point, that point will become stiff, harden, stagnation and chi will not flow.


For example if your arm is grasp tightly and your mind is trap at the contact point of the grasp. Then most likely you are trying to twist your way out at the point. However if you free your mind, you will be able to relax and lead your mind to the shoulder, elbow, waist and lastly finger to turn your arm.


This is just an example, there are much more subtle usage but the idea is the same.
Free the mind.

Secret #3 - Natural human responses

During a pushing hand session with Master Chow on Sunday, he showed and mentioned the following.

Its is human nature that when we move to extreme, we will then move the opposite (Ying and Yang balancing each other). For example, if the attacker push with his right hand, the defender will yield till the right hand becomes "empty". At this point, attacker will (by nature) automatically move his left hand to counter balance the right hand. 

This is like reading your opponent's mind in advance, but its actually natural human responses.