Liked on YouTube: Learning and evaluating students for Internal Discipline of Small Circle Tai Chi mp4

Learning and evaluating students for Internal Discipline of Small Circle Tai Chi mp4
Learning and evaluating students: With the https://ift.tt/2OfwbtJ Master Hwa has made a Gem for learning. I cannot say enough and rightly so because as he says, "...it is streamlined to facilitate student learning..." I only tell a little of my own experience here as I have gone on to digest what he passes on through "Teachable" and use it for my own classes. My experience has been: There is an adage that only those who pay the most $$$ for Tai Chi lessons will stick around. I have found in many ways, this only works if the $$$ also comes with a good student. Above all, In the relationship between teacher and student, the ball is ultimately in the student’s court. No one can teach you if you’re not willing to be a student. The corollary is true as well: A motivated student can learn from even a mediocre teacher. And when a real student meets a real teacher—that’s when the student’s world changes...I have been motivated to learn. That happened to me when I met Master Stephen Hwa. Years ago when I was teaching Wu's Style large frame at my own studio, my calligraphy teacher told me there was a Tai Chi teacher at the Chinese club who was called the "General" because of his strict teaching and call for dedication. Well, I had approached him years before that, in my early 30's and although he was strict, he was fair. My own teacher from "T" Tai Chi came with me to approach him to learn Chen Style, we had both grown disenchanted with "T" style. He told me that he would teach me but he would not teach my own teacher...why? Well, as Master Hwa says at about 17:15, teachers not only taught but they EVALUATED students attitude to see if they not only can learn, have talent, show promise but above all have a good attitude. I still do much the same, it is ingrained when I teach. I don't tell students I can't teach them but their "attitude" does do the "weeding out" process itself. My hopes in a non-pandemic future lean toward making it much more of a discipline that keeps students interest. Master Hwa talks about "...students complain because they think the teacher holds back...". My experience has also been that students complain about everything under the sun and I will leave it at that. The story from the calligraphy teacher was that the teacher told prospective students the charge for the class was $100 but if they stayed the course he would give it back to them...I like that quite a bit. However, much like Master Stephen Hwa, that teacher never charged me one thin dime...I learned a lot and above all am still continuing to learn and how to teach...I like that even more.
via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGO77LzDRps

"Muscle Memory" means putting brains into muscle

 "Square Form Manual", Stephen Hwa, Ph.D. , "J.R." James Roach, "Classical Tai Chi Forum Index", J. B. Milne "Wuji (無極) Positions & Zhan Zhuang (站桩) Applications".

CLASSICAL TAI CHI IS A MIND/BODY DISCIPLINE

HERE IS A MIND/BODY SKILL INSTRUCTION TO TRY

IT'S ALL ABOUT A "MIND/BODY CONNECTION", NOTE THE WORD

"CONNECTION"

(ALSO "MUSCLE MEMORY" IS A MISNOMER)

I have heard the term “muscle memory” applied as a “rubber stamp” to the skills of Classical Tai Chi for years and it is misnomer, a disservice. It is definitely true although that skills in Classical Tai Chi require the strengthening of certain muscles, namely core muscles, leg muscles, etc. The learning process and memorization of new skills occur almost exclusively in the brain and not in muscles. The term “neuroplasticity” comes to mind as there are changes well into older age that occur in the brain even altering the information the brain sends to the core muscles, etc., then “changes” the movements that are made.

As an excerpt from Joe Milne’s Wu Chi treatise states, it is extremely important not to rely on “muscle memory” aka “auto-pilot” when practicing….autopilot makes practice worthless.

"Sensing Practice - Wu-chi / Wu-Ji"

Before stepping the first step in your Classical Tai Chi walking practice let the concentration now center on the soles of the feet, upper body weight should flow evenly down the legs and spread out along the soles of the feet

 In the beginning, the weight might only be felt at the heel and points on the ball of the foot, behind the little & big toes

 From your standing position (Wu-chi), slowly lower your left knee moving your weight to the left foot (notice the upper body turns to the right)

 Return to Wu-chi, now try the right knee

 Return to Wu-chi, now square the shoulders, feel the weight move to the heels.

 Return to Wu-chi, slowly try to squat, most people, in the beginning, will feel the weight transfer either to the outer edges or inner edges of the feet.

 From Wu-chi, raise one or both arms, un-tuck the tailbone, move your eyes to the horizon, try any and all movements and notice the pressure changes on the soles of the feet, neck and the rest of the body parts.

 As we progress through the various position/postures of the Form practice remembering the even displacement of weight on the soles of the feet & the natural movements of the body becomes very important.

Let us relegate muscle memory to the learning of “external martial arts” or conventional “exercise” because they come with their own starting and finish lines. Internal discipline is internal, works from inside out and conveys many sensations of feeling good and well being

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Liked on YouTube: Lower foot Lower quarter body

Lower foot Lower quarter body
Think you have the video right from just one view?...think again... "Grasshopper". You can send me your own video OF YOURSELF doing this and I will be happy to critique it...you need to view it several times initially and read these instructions: Stepping, walking, shifting weight are all dependent on the lower body and it is not easy. My own teacher Master Stephen Hwa says "...it is difficult...". The physical internal discipline of the core for the lower body is not readily recognizable for many just starting out and even for many, they think they "...got it..." and they do not. Most think that simply putting the toe down slowly is "internal" but it is not and it has to be powered by the core...not the leg. Per his instructions from 2007 and the DVD, you will note at .20, (20 seconds) into the video you will see a "crimp" appear in Master Hwa's shirt. This is indicative not only of the foot lowering the toe BUT ALSO MEANS THE PELVIS HAS PUSHED BOTH SLIGHTLY FORWARD AND DOWN TO LOWER THE FOOT. THE MOTION IS REALLY THE BEGINNING OF WHAT THE FOOT AND LEG WOULD DO IF THE PRACTITIONER TURNED 90 DEGREES "HALF-BODY", ETC. EXCEPT IN THIS CASE THE ENERGY JUST PLACES THE FOOT DOWN FORWARD. HIS LEFT SIDE REMAINS STILL WHILE JUST THE RIGHT SIDE MOVES. He talks about it here from the book, p 91: Lower body movements are the foundation of Tai Chi. Poor footwork and poor lower body posture will prevent one from learning Internal Discipline later .I. using core power for leg movements, such as lifting and stretching the leg 2. keeping the body's center of gravity under control, not allowing the body to fall forward as in the common walking motion 3. pulling the body forward or backward not pushing by the leg. During push hand and Form practice, the sitting back move is often followed by the body moving forward move. To make this transition from "sitting back to moving forward" smooth and effortless, one can take advantage of the stored "sitting back" energy in the forward leg by depressing the toe down with the pelvis drawing the body forward to start the forward motion by pulling with the forward foot. The cycle of back and forward moves can be practiced while waiting in line, watching TV, etc. It strengthens the lower back and stimulates the internal organs.
via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCL9aZjSPUU

Lower foot, lower quarter body...is difficult

 Lower foot, lower quarter body...is difficult

(video link)

Think you have the video right from just one view?...think again... "Grasshopper".

You can send me your own video OF YOURSELF doing this and I will be happy to critique it...you need to view it several times initially and read these instructions: Stepping, walking, shifting weight are all dependent on the lower body and it is not easy. My own teacher Master Stephen Hwa says "...it is difficult...". The physical internal discipline of the core for the lower body is not readily recognizable for many just starting out and even for many, they think they "...got it..." and they do not. Most think that simply putting the toe down slowly is "internal" but it is not and it has to be powered by the core...not the leg.

Per his instructions from 2007 and the DVD, you will note at .20, (20 seconds) into the video you will see a "crimp" appear in Master Hwa's shirt. This is indicative not only of the foot lowering the toe BUT ALSO MEANS THE PELVIS HAS PUSHED BOTH SLIGHTLY FORWARD AND DOWN TO LOWER THE FOOT. THE MOTION IS REALLY THE BEGINNING OF WHAT THE FOOT AND LEG WOULD DO IF THE PRACTITIONER TURNED 90 DEGREES "HALF-BODY", ETC. EXCEPT IN THIS CASE THE ENERGY JUST PLACES THE FOOT DOWN FORWARD. HIS LEFT SIDE REMAINS STILL WHILE JUST THE RIGHT SIDE MOVES.

He talks about it here from the book, p 91:

" During push hand and Form practice, the sitting back move is often followed by the body moving forward move. To make this transition from "sitting back to moving forward" smooth and effortless, one can take advantage of the stored "sitting back" energy in the forward leg by DEPRESSING THE TOE DOWN WITH THE PELVIS DRAWING THE BODY FORWARD to start the forward motion by pulling with the forward foot. The cycle of back and forward moves can be practiced while waiting in line, watching TV, etc. It strengthens the lower back and stimulates the internal organs."

Multitudes of Yin/Yang

             Multitudes of Yin/Yang Junctions

I call this "Multitudes of Yin & Yang Junctions" and we talk about the use of "multitudes" of Yin/Yang junctions here in what for many is an abstract area of the body...but we talk in technical NOT abstract terms: The PHYSICAL internal energy in all your movement eventually needs to penetrate the gluteus maximus. So let us talk about where it is, how to find it by simple relaxation standing and once you have it you can use it better as you gain proficiency. When you just stand with the waist relaxed you are able to take the stress off of the hips. When the waist is tense, the pelvis is braced on the hips. That puts a torque pressure on the knees and ankles, causing the feet to pronate or supinate.

When you open up the lower back and turn your feet parallel, about shoulder distance or hip distance apart, you can take a lot of tension out of the tailbone area, relaxing the buttock and hip muscles. This is important for mobility because it allows you to turn the pelvis without tilting the pelvis. This way, you can learn to keep the femur in line with the foot, and move the pelvis around the hip joint.

So, if this post gets you thinking even a little bit about that area, we have done our job. Did you know that you can simultaneously improve your posture, stabilize your knee and hip joints, and relieve your lower back pain by engaging the trio of muscles that make up the gluteals? Primary among these muscles is the underappreciated "emperor" of postural integrity, the gluteus maximus-along with its retinue of the deeper gluteal muscles: gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. These gluteals play a vital role in the health of our lumbar spine, sacrum, hip joints, and knees- when and if we use them properly. If we don't (which is quite often the case), the result is joint problems as well as overdeveloped and tight hamstrings.