Saturday, June 14, 2025

A Kinetic Chain in Classical Tai Chi

 




Science of Yin & Yang a video

A "Kinetic Chain" in Classical Tai Chi 

The Kinetic Chain is an engineering concept adapted to describe human movement. It refers to the interrelated parts of the body, such as joints and muscles, and how they work together to perform movement. The concept was initially developed by Franz Reuleaux, a German engineer, in 1875 and later applied to the human musculoskeletal system by Dr. Arthur Steindler in the 1950s.

The kinetic chain theory proposes that movement in one part of the body produces forces transmitted to adjacent parts, creating a domino effect. This idea highlights that movement in one body part can significantly influence other body areas. The kinetic chain can be classified as either closed or open, depending on whether the distal part of the chain is fixed or free to move. During an open kinetic chain exercise, the hand or foot can move.

 In Classical Tai Chi, Nei Gong (internal discipline) facilitates an efficient transfer of Nei Jin (internal energy) throughout the body. One might say it is a chain of movement, a "kinematic chain," which refers to a coordinated sequence of movements. This is a process of "segmentation" where different body segments move in a specific order, transferring internal energy efficiently.

  • Classical Tai Chi movements emphasize the sequential activation of body segments, starting from a controlled dexterous contraction of the abdomen and moving through the body. 
  • The kinetic chain enables the transfer of energy from one part of the body to another, resulting in a continuous flow of movement.
  • Classical Tai Chi utilizes (the force exerted by the core on the body) and what are "rotational torques" in the core to generate power, which is transferred through the kinetic chain. 
  • Classical Tai Chi can enhance "proprioception" (awareness of body position) by providing internal motion focusing on the kinetic chain. 

 Classical Tai Chi involves a complex interplay of kinetic chain and segmented movement, essential components of its practice. The kinetic chain refers to the coordinated movement of the body's segments, where each part sequentially influences the others. This concept in Tai Chi is often described as a "silk reeling force," where movement originates from the core and is transmitted through the body, resulting in continuous and fluid motion.

In Classical Tai Chi, the kinetic chain is not monotonous but is based on the theory of Yin and Yang, where movements are balanced and complementary. For instance, core movements induce foot movements, creating a dynamic relationship between the upper and lower body. This interconnectedness ensures that each limb moves in conjunction with different timing, leading to the principle of "lower and upper body following each other."

Segmented movement in Classical Tai Chi involves the precise control and coordination of different body segments. This is evident in how practitioners perform movements requiring the body to shift weight and maintain balance, often involving single-leg support and transitions between different weight-bearing patterns. The biomechanical analysis of Classical Tai Chi movements has shown that these practices involve significant joint angles, moments, and muscle activity, particularly in the lower limbs. This emphasis on significant joint angles and muscle activity is stringently learned in the Classical Tai Chi Square Form.

The principles of a relaxed body further support the kinetic chain and segmented movement in Classical Tai Chi. The body must be relaxed to generate internal power from the core and express that power with the extremities. This approach enhances physical health and promotes mental well-being and balance.

 

Master Stephen Hwa and Classical Tai Chi 


Master Stephen Hwa is a prominent figure in Classical Tai Chi, which he learned from Grandmaster Wabu Young, who in turn learned from Great Grandmaster Wu Chien Chuan, considered the founder of Wu's Style of Tai Chi. What Master Stephen Hwa learned emphasized the concept of "Internal Discipline," which, in kinesiology terms, utilizes a "kinetic chain" in his teachings.

The kinetic chain refers to the sequence of body segments, aka "segmentation," that work together to move. Master Hwa's approach to classical tai chi is deeply rooted in this principle. According to Stephen Hwa, the power in Classical Tai Chi movements originates from the body's internal core—the abdomen and back—not from external parts such as arms and shoulders. This internal movement is essential for reaping the full benefits of Classical Tai Chi, including its martial arts applications and health benefits.

Stephen Hwa's teachings emphasize the importance of utilizing internal movements and internal power to guide and enhance external movements in Tai Chi. His book, "Uncovering the Treasure: Classical Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy and Health," provides a detailed methodology and training routine to achieve this goal.

To reiterate, Hwa's approach to Classical Tai Chi is based upon the teachings of Grand Master Young Wabu, a student of the legendary master Wu Chien Chuan. The kinetic chain is a fundamental aspect of Classical Tai Chi, emphasizing the integration of internal discipline with movements of the extremities.

The kinetic chain is utilized in various clinical conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders, sports medicine, neurorehabilitation, prosthetics, and Introduction to Orthotics. 

Classical Tai Chi teachings, as they include the concept of the kinetic chain in their context, emphasize the importance of using the kinetic chain to achieve the full benefits of Classical Tai Chi. 

 




Monday, June 9, 2025

Subconsciously cut Ox




 Reality of martial application


I've included more info on this, and there is a certain serendipity in Wu’s “ox plow” postures and one of my original articles at Cook Dings Kitchen.

ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ʀɪᴄᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴏᴋ ᴅɪɴɢ’ꜱ ᴋɪᴛᴄʜᴇɴ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ. ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱʟʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇꜱ ᴏɴ ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴍᴀʀᴛɪᴀʟ ᴀʀᴛꜱ. ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴛᴀɴɢʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴏᴅʏ ɪɴ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ꜱᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴍᴀʀᴛɪᴀʟ ᴀʀᴛꜱ. ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴇɴɪᴏʀ ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴅᴅɪᴇ ᴡᴜ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴀ ꜱᴇɴɪᴏʀ ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴡᴀ. ᴇᴅᴅɪᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴍʏ ᴛᴀᴇ ᴋᴡᴏɴ ᴅᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴜɴɢ ɢᴀʀ. ɪ ꜰɪɢᴜʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴜᴘ ʙᴜᴛ ꜱᴜʙᴄᴏɴꜱᴄɪᴏᴜꜱʟʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ. ʜɪɢʜ ᴋɪᴄᴋꜱ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ. ɪᴛ'ꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴇᴄᴏɴᴏᴍɪᴄᴀʟ, ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ᴋɪᴄᴋꜱ! ᴄʟᴀꜱꜱɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛᴀɪ ᴄʜɪ ɪꜱ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪɴɴᴀᴄʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴄᴏɴᴏᴍɪᴢᴇ ᴏɴᴇ'ꜱ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ. ʜᴇɴᴄᴇ, ᴏx ᴘʟᴏᴡ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴄɪʀᴄʟᴇ!


Ox Plow Posture 

Master Stephen Hwa and I have taught weightlifters, ballet dancers, karate practitioners, etc. Some seem to grasp "Yi" martial intent, and some do not. Master Hwa taught for years at a Karate school. For most, I saw that “Yi” was not easy to get, and "intentions" to do something else with the movement usually began to show early on.  


The dancers would not keep their heel down on the back foot and would rise on the toe, with "flourish" movements in their hands.  The weight lifters were incredibly stiff and inflexible around the upper chest and shoulders; the internal discipline of the core would elude them.  

Karate people seemed to be stuck on a permanent type of staccato movement; making movements continuously seemed to elude them.  I recall conversations with one long-time Karate practitioner who said in so many words that he could not understand why anyone called Tai Chi a martial art.  He implies that only Karate (or at least "his" Karate) could be a martial art.


Cook Ding, also known as Cook Ting, is a character from the Zhuangzi, a text foundational to Taoism. He is renowned for his skill in butchering oxen, which he performs with such precision and care that his knife remains sharp for nineteen years, only needing to be sharpened once a year because he cuts rather than hacks. His technique is described as being in perfect rhythm, akin to performing a dance or keeping time to music.


The story of Cook Ding is often interpreted as a metaphor for Tai Chi, emphasizing fluid, natural movements and the harmonization of body and mind. Tai Chi and Cook Ding's butchery highlight the importance of following the natural flow and structure of the activity at hand, allowing for effortless and efficient performance.


The ox plow posture, also known as the Wu Plow Oxen stance, is specific to Wu-style Tai Chi. It is characterized by an inclined posture that appears slanted externally but maintains a straight line from the crown of the head to the heels internally, ensuring the spine remains erect and allowing chi to flow freely.


One loses track of how many online reports portray Tai Chi as an ‘ancient Chinese art. ' It is a highly modern martial art. It was developed during the Chinese martial renaissance of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The fact is there is nothing ancient about Tai Chi. All of its Forms and theories are products of a distinctly modern ethos: economy of movement, efficiency of application, and sophistication within seemingly simple techniques.


Note: This “ox-plow” posture is considered anatomically correct and efficient for generating power from the legs in the Large Circle Form and transferring it to the body and hands. It is beneficial for martial applications, as it allows for the efficient use of the lower extremities and full body weight, reducing vertical movements to a minimum.


The posture considered anatomically correct for generating power from the body’s “Core” is the Small Circle Form of Classical Tai Chi. In Tai Chi, maintaining proper posture involves the principle of verticality, where the head is centered over the torso, the torso over the hips, and the hips over the legs and feet, ensuring a balanced and aligned body.


The ox plow posture is part of the Wu style Tai Chi, both Large and small Circles, which emphasizes economy of movement, application efficiency, and sophisticated techniques within seemingly simple forms.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

"Righting the Ship" in Tai Chi

Master Stephen Hwa YouTube 



Promoting Classical Tai Chi on YouTube


Master Stephen Hwa uses YouTube videos to promote classical tai chi, consistently creating engaging content that educates and inspires viewers to learn more about the practice. Master Hwa’s YouTube channel promotes classical tai chi by offering tutorials, demonstrations, and explanations of its benefits, always providing value to any student.


Classical Tai Chi YouTube videos promote the Art and share its numerous benefits. They also organize their content to cater to different levels of learners, ensuring that both beginners and advanced practitioners find value in the material.


Classical Tai Chi Blog, a number three Tai Chi Blog for many years, is prominent on platforms , helping to identify Master Hwa as having a significant following and engagement. Thus, YouTube videos are even more effective in promoting classical tai chi to a broader audience.


𝑱𝒊𝒎, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈! 𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌! 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑯𝒘𝒂, 𝑺𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 Thank you, Master Stephen Hwa, that is where Classical Tai Chi Group members can also reach me.




The following are essential insights regarding the Classical Tai Chi Blog. This blog focuses on the principles and practices of Classical Tai Chi, emphasizing the importance of proper alignment, structure, and the circulation of internal energy. The author of the blog, Jim Roach, is both a practitioner and an instructor of Classical Tai Chi. His posts offer comprehensive guidance on correct technique, particularly in how to utilize the torso, waist, and spine to initiate and enhance movements.


Furthermore, the blog delves into the philosophical underpinnings of Classical Tai Chi, referencing the Tai Chi Classics and the concepts of yin and yang, as well as internal movement and energy circulation. 


Sifu Jim Roach shares his personal experiences and insights as both a teacher and practitioner, offering practical advice and corrections for students, including recommendations to avoid excessive involvement of the shoulders or hips. Additionally, the blog addresses the martial arts components of Classical Tai Chi, discussing the cultivation of internal power and its application in the Form.

A Kinetic Chain in Classical Tai Chi

  Science of Yin & Yang  a video A "Kinetic Chain" in Classical Tai Chi   The Kinetic Chain is an engineering concept adapted ...