Sunday, March 1, 2020

Video of "joint" (square) form





There would be injury to the knee if the person in this video only attempted to turn the foot. When one turns the lower body as shown in the video the turning is done from the CORE not from the leg, foot, etc. In the Tai Chi classics this is an adage of "hand follows foot, elbow follows knee, shoulder follows hip".  This video of my longtime student and a certified teacher Jason executing just the 1st 15 movements of the "Square" Form, sometimes referred to as "Joint" Form. Although there is incredible "articulation" of joints, it's real purpose is to teach students how attain a “delineation” and to move one part of the body while keeping the other still...a difficult task for beginners. Jason used my letter about his Tai Chi expertise to assist in gaining entrance to the D'Youville College Masters Degree Program. 3 years later he used Tai Chi and Heart rehabilitation as his Thesis for a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. He is now a practicing OT in Colorado Springs, CO. His movements are very good, but the amazing thing was he learned the entire footwork of the 108 movement Square form FIRST at my urging. With his good work, I hope my present-day students can now see the importance of why I teach them lots of footwork first.

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