My secret to learning: Get next to uber-intelligent, skilled, and talented people then make lots of mistakes. One mistake is to not pay attention to the core, yes, even in Square Form, exclusively summed up in something that he says which is: "For the beginner, the difficulty lies in the mental discipline in which all attention has to be concentrated on the core region." I think the problem of "attention to the core" comes from certain factors, one of which is the "Western" concept of "exercise" which goes for "repetition" in all its forms. The best advice I can give is not to go after repetitions as though it is a contest to see how many that one can do. The object is to simply feel the stretch and energy flow, keywords, "simply feel", not to engage in trying to strengthen the core like a sit-up or crunch. The difference in the latter is one of building muscle for muscle sake, in the former it is to tune the nervous system so that it can move the extremities from the core. Square Form is an excellent way to "tune the nervous system" because its controlled movement creates a venue where localized nerve impulses do not flourish...but precision does.
World Tai Chi Day Square FormThe Square Form: Each movement in the Square Form always starts and ends with a complete stop. The movement itself is rather resolute and brisk. The playtime of the entire Form, therefore, consists of stopping time and movement time with both times comparable. The "stop" or "pause" between moves in the Square Form is a great opportunity for the practitioner to do the following:
• Examine body structure and feet position. Is everything in the right place?
• Enjoy the sensation of stretching, rooting,
... and prepare for the next move so that it will be carried out with conviction and intent.
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