Go "off-kilter" to not fall

Go "off-kilter" to not fall 

"𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤 in Tai Chi 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 "𝐨𝐟𝐟-𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧."

Dr. Elizabeth Eckstrom, Geriatrician, Oregon Health & Science University.

Go "off-kilter" to not fall (video of Seniors practicing falling for safety)
I consider the following to be why we have a Tai Chi group. I want everyone to try my following suggestions here; it could save some broken bones. When I did freestyle push hands at Wu's, there were couches and chairs in case one was pushed hard and lost balance. I think I heard someone say Grandmaster Young had the same setup. The problem is, what does one do with the feet when they are falling? Well, the logic is there for a solution. If one can be trained well to "break fall" safely correctly in Tai Chi, Judo, and Aikido when thrown, one can train not to fall when losing their footing. Master Stephen Hwa is touching a post as he "sits back". For the following instruction, I recommend you "sit back" a foot in front of a couch. That way, if you fall, you end up sitting on the couch. Anyone can train their body well to fall a certain way in Judo or, in this case, take a supporting step to prevent falling. You'll need enough space in front of the couch to step backward, and the sofa does not interfere with the action. Just sit back until you reach a point of no return, and you have to step back. Sit back till you deliberately lose balance.  He is not doing this exercise and keeping his footing but do it as you see Master Hwa doing it in the N, S, E, W picture.  You can also tilt forward in the forward position till you have to step forward. Do it as you see Master Hwa tipping forward in push hands with me. Do it over and over and over; it's good training for CTC as well. As you see from the video link, a senior citizen learned how to keep from falling in just a couple of tries. None of us probably has a treadmill and harness, but we do have our Classical Tai Chi to train this. You can do the "sit back" each day with your training and do it numerous times so your "muscle memory" works with the subconscious; when you stumble, you take a saving step in the right direction.

"Tiaji is not the form"

 Someone wrote "Tiaji is not the form" to the Blog, and I'm not sure why they were, but I include all ellipsis that was submitted:

“ᴛɪᴀᴊɪ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍ...ɪꜰ ᴏɴᴇ ᴄʜᴏᴏꜱᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛʟʏ... ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴘʜʏꜱɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ʙʏ-ᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴛꜱ... ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ ɪꜱꜱᴜᴇꜱ ɪꜱ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀꜱᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ... ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪꜱ... ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴀꜱ ɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴀᴅᴊᴜꜱᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ᴀ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ꜱᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇʀ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴏᴜᴛ... ᴇᴠᴇɴ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀꜱ ꜱɪᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴀꜱ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴏᴜᴛ... ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ."

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 ❞𝐓𝐢𝐚𝐣𝐢 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦...❞

Now, 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞'𝐬 "𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬" 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧 can garner by-products of 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 and health and be a pretty good workout: 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬," 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 touch on. I'm only taking an educated guess, but I have to think 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 of necessity, under "workout" 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 other 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: For instance, I have heard many practitioners include 𝐙𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐙𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐠 ("standing practice"), 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 "𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀" ("𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻"?), 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 that it is not the Form? 𝗦𝗼, 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 "𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻," 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝘆 "𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀"

Unless there is some caveat or prior statement that mandates Tai Chi is only "internal" in the mental realm, e.g., "He does his Tai Chi with an inward-looking demeanor," then "internal" means the "physical" internal discipline.

It is impossible to do an internal and external movement simultaneously; an external can precede or follow an internal movement, but they cannot coexist in the same space and time. Also, when one's internal discipline permeates the body, it becomes impossible to even raise one's arm to scratch an itch without engaging the musculature of the core. What does one do with "arm strength"? Can arm strength be used in the same space and time as "internal"? For example, if I push against a wall using my arms, I will push myself away, Newton's 3rd law. However, (internally) using the core to engage the abdomen and back muscles as I push and relax the arms, I feel a tremendous surge going into the wall. Newton cannot be wrong; there is a reaction force but no effect from the reaction force because ARMS ARE RELAXED. 

There is nothing that super arm strength can add to the internal aspect; in fact, it works against it if I strain the arms.

Of course, if one does not subscribe to an internal physical discipline, then the point is moot. 

People saying "its not the form" applies ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴠᴀꜱᴛ ɴᴜᴍʙᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛꜱ ɪɴ ᴛᴀɪᴊɪ. ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴡᴀʙᴜ, a ᴅɪꜱᴄɪᴘʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴜ ᴄʜɪᴇɴ ᴄʜᴜᴀɴ, ᴡᴀꜱ ᴜɴʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴇᴄᴋʟᴇꜱꜱɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴏ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴛᴀɪᴊɪ ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛꜱ.

Oʀ, ᴡʜʏ ꜱᴏɴɪᴀ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ (ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴡᴀʙɪᴜ'ꜱ ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ) ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀꜱᴋᴇᴅ ᴇᴅᴅɪᴇ ᴡᴜ (ɢᴀᴛᴇᴋᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴜ ᴊɪᴀɴQᴜᴀɴ ꜱᴛʏʟᴇ) ᴡʜʏ ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴀɪᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏɴɢ ᴋᴏɴɢ ᴡᴜ ꜱᴛʏʟᴇ ꜱᴛᴜᴅɪᴏ. ʜᴇ ᴀɢʀᴇᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ.

Oɴᴇ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴀʟꜱᴏ "ɴᴏᴛ ᴅɪꜱᴀɢʀᴇᴇ" ʙʏ ꜱᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴏʀ, ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴡᴀʙᴜ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍʏ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇʀ ʜᴜᴀ ᴊɪᴘɪɴɢ (ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴛᴇᴘʜᴇɴ ʜᴡᴀ), ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴜ ᴄʜɪᴇɴ ᴄʜᴜᴀɴ ɪɴꜱɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ꜱqᴜᴀʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ. ᴏʀ ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ɪɴꜱɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴡᴀ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ꜱqᴜᴀʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ.

Oʀ, ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴡᴀʙᴜ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡᴜ ᴄʜɪᴇɴ ᴄʜᴜᴀɴ ʜᴀᴅ ʜɪᴍ ʀᴇᴘᴇᴀᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ ʜᴜɴᴅʀᴇᴅꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛɪᴍᴇꜱ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʜɪᴍ ɴᴇᴡ ᴏɴᴇꜱ.

Oʀ ᴡʜʏ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴡᴀ ᴡʀᴏᴛᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ : "Sɪɴᴄᴇ ᴍᴏꜱᴛ ᴛᴀɪ ᴄʜɪ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ʟᴀᴄᴋꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴅɪꜱᴄɪᴘʟɪɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏᴘᴇʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ ꜱᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ, ɪᴛ ʜᴀꜱ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ɪᴛꜱ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴀᴅᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴇ-ᴇᴍᴘʜᴀꜱɪᴢᴇᴅ. ᴏɴ ᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴍᴘʜᴀꜱɪᴢᴇ ꜱᴘᴀʀʀɪɴɢ, ᴘᴜꜱʜ ʜᴀɴᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴꜱ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇ, ɴᴇɢʟᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍ, ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ʙᴜɪʟᴅꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴀʀᴛɪᴀʟ ᴀʀᴛꜱ ᴀᴘᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ᴀʀᴇ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴀʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍꜱ ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ᴀʟᴏɴɢꜱɪᴅᴇ, ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇ Qɪ ɢᴏɴɢ ᴇxᴇʀᴄɪꜱᴇꜱ.

Tʜᴇ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴛᴀɪ ᴄʜɪ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ᴇꜱꜱᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟʟʏ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀ ᴊɪɴ ɪɴ ᴀ ꜱʟᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴇᴛʜᴏᴅɪᴄᴀʟ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɪꜱꜱᴜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ. ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ɪɴꜱᴛɪɴᴄᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴅᴏ ꜰᴀ ᴊɪɴ ɪɴꜱᴛɪɴᴄᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ꜰᴀ ᴊɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ᴏꜰ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴅɪꜱᴄɪᴘʟɪɴᴇ (ɴᴇɪɢᴏɴɢ), ᴛʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴘᴜꜱʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʀᴍ ꜱᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴄqᴜɪʀᴇ nothing but ʙᴀᴅ ʜᴀʙɪᴛs" Master Stephen Hwa

Balance and caligraphy

 “̴𝐀̴𝐠̴𝐢̴𝐧̴𝐠̴ ̴𝐬̴𝐞̴𝐞̴𝐦̴𝐬̴ ̴𝐭̴𝐨̴ ̴𝐛̴𝐞̴ ̴𝐭̴𝐡̴𝐞̴ ̴𝐨̴𝐧̴𝐥̴𝐲̴ ̴𝐚̴𝐯̴𝐚̴𝐢̴𝐥̴𝐚̴𝐛̴𝐥̴𝐞̴ ̴𝐰̴𝐚̴𝐲̴ ̴𝐭̴𝐨̴ ̴𝐥̴𝐢̴𝐯̴𝐞̴ ̴𝐚̴ ̴𝐥̴𝐨̴𝐧̴𝐠̴ ̴𝐥̴𝐢̴𝐟̴𝐞̴.̴”̴ ̴𝐊̴𝐢̴𝐭̴𝐬̴𝐭̴𝐲̴ ̴𝐎̴’̴𝐍̴𝐞̴𝐢̴𝐥̴𝐥̴ ̴𝐂̴𝐨̴𝐥̴𝐥̴𝐢̴𝐧̴ (っ◔◡◔)っ "𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥" 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 "𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄" 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭. 𝟕 - 𝟐 = 𝟓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝟐 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝟓 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝. And, to those "medicos" and researchers, In addition for some ineffective Tai Ji Quan "interventions", participants may not have obtained a sufficient “dose”. Participants may have attended classes infrequently or the program may not have continued long enough to demonstrate its effectiveness.

(っ◔◡◔)っ Thank you, Bob Wilder, for the great Graphics work in "Balance,"

One of the few articles I have come across that does the subject justice, thank you. In the numerous styles there is really only one that has a “round” form and a “square” (fang) form. The Wu Style with all its own derivatives often surprises people at the directly opposite requirement between Square and Round. This is not unique however:

Just think how one learns the art of calligraphy. My own teacher echoes this in the video link. My own experience had me learning how to write in print form (brush and ink of course). Then one learns the cursive form. The differences between these two writing forms are very much analogous to the differences between those two Tai Chi Forms.

Square Form is analogous to the block printing of (pinyin) Kai Style or what is called “Kai Shu”. The round form analogous to Tsao Style or “Tsao Shu/Cao Shu” or the cursive script.

In Square form, as in calligraphy, movements take place in relatively straight lines, between points (start and end points of inflection). The Round form with its curves has the curves going through those points…the square is like a template for the round.

Like the Calculus of mathematics however, I would like to point out that the round form is like the calculus which integrates a tiny segment of a curved motion as a straight line to form the curved motion. Square form is like taking one of the important tiny straight lines expanding it into a straight movement. I guess the way of the universe is based on similar principles for everything which appears to be unrelated.

I think it is in Jou’s Tsung Hwa’s book: Tao of Tai Chi where he makes a statement about movement being like individual frames in a movie film. Taken separately or even 2 or 3, it makes no sense and one sees no motion. Only when one puts all the frames together do we have the illusion of motion.

In regard to square form and perhaps to the critics: Although the major purpose is to teach students to delineate yin and yang, there are many, many individual “points”, “stops”, “pauses”, etc. As it was said, “changes of direction occur at those points”. It would seem then that much like the individual frames in a film being many but producing a fine product that gives us the illusion of motion. That, the more “points” are present in something such as square form, the more capacity there is for those points to join and produce a round form.

If I only have 2 or 3 points, it would be hard to see the round if I join them with straight lines. If I put 10 points in that same situation and join them, one begins to see the round very clearly. Much as in the 8 straight lines joining and changing direction in the I Ching diagram and one can draw the circle around those 8 points. it would seem as well that lines joining thusly form angles at the joints. Ideally, one would think a good place to mount an attack would be at an angle or “tangent” as well.

The points where one changes direction are referred to as “Dingdian” or fixed points actually inflection points. Those starting and ending points provide definition to the curved movement in the round form. Of course nothing ever starts or ends in Tai Chi, like ocean waves, breathing, each has its own peak and trough…sine waves come to mind. This takes the concept of “reversal” into consideration which is a mainstay in the I Ching.

When I was learning calligraphy, I appreciated the stop and go of the strokes in Kai Shu. It gave me opportunity to reflect on the stroke I just did and to prepare the next movement. The square form of Tai Chi allows us to gather energy, align the joints, gather strength at the “points”. I can prepare the next move by gathering energy for the coming move. This is why the moves in the Square are resolute and appear abrupt.

Based on this, I would say that Tai Chi is not only very analogus to calligraphy, but also very scientific…in light of the Calculus one can appreciate the mathematics as well.

Thanks

James Roach

p.s. Read the biograpy of the Chows at this link. They were both outstanding artists, calligraphers and Tai Chi teachers. They both learned from Wabu Young who was my own teacher’s teacher.

http://www.enlighteners.com/history.html#transcript

More Yi, less Me

 

Here is an outline of THE big problem in Tai Chi. But in the photo, kudos to Master Stephen Hwa and my student Sifu Tom Kostusiak. I have fond memories of waiting for my turn in 2007. Now to the "ethereal": Over those years and further back, I have met so many "wishful thinkers" telling me what Tai Chi is. One would think we were teaching Grimms Fairy Tales with no exaggeration. If it is not someone with aspirations to be the next Bruce Lee, it flips completely to someone asking "...does Tai Chi allow one to fly the Astral Plane....? Then when a teacher corrects the student's Form and postures, one hears "…this is not what I expected…." Master Stephen Hwa addressed this by saying, "After all, a bad posture will stop internal energy generation and qi flow. No mental state or wishful thinking can overcome that."

I have taught M.D.'s and College Professors, and wishful thinking has no end, even in the stratosphere of advanced College degrees. Even in the Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi, the author states that there is sometimes a need to "...dispense with the scientific framework of Tai Chi...". There is also a statement that "... rational thinking needs to be turned off and rely on intuition and imagination..." On Page 7, it also says, "...Tai Chi classics say, belief or mind moves internal energy (Qi) and Qi moves the body."

Let's clarify this down to the nitty-gritty. In the photo, there is Yin and Yang to show movement. There is a blurred image of Tom falling with a blurred teacher's leg. The picture shows the teacher's 1/2 body is not moving as well. As I said, Yin is not moving, and Yang is moving. It is also not Master Hwa's belief that he is sweeping Tom's leg; it is his "Yi" or intent on the edge of his right leg to sweep Tom Kostusiak.

Cannot be said too much so to say again; the correct use is that Yi or intent of mind moves the Qi for it is undoubtedly not belief, intuition, or imagination that can get the job done. Master Stephen Hwa addressed this in detail over the years. It boils down to the language, namely the ethereal language, to describe Tai Chi. It boils down to an author saying, "... Part of Tai Chi and other meditative art practice requires turning off rational thinking and tapping into other, less understood processes, like intuition and imagination.."

One cannot say my "belief" or even my "belief" in my palm allowed me to strike the opponent. However, suppose I say my intent to strike with the edge of my hand allowed me to hit the opponent. In that case, there is undoubtedly a better outcome, both literally and figuratively, in the offing.

Significant problems occur and reoccur with this type of thinking and subsequent language, unfortunately permeating modern-day Tai Chi. Stephen Hwa Ph.D. addresses these problems in his book Uncovering the Treasure: Classical Tai Chi's Path to Internal Energy & Health and at Classical-Tai-Chi-Teachable.com

Wayne, Peter M.; Fuerst, Mark L.. The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi: 12 Weeks to a Healthy Body, Strong Heart, and Sharp Mind (Harvard Health Publications) (p. 7). Shambhala Publications. Kindle Edition.

Liked on YouTube: #moments with Dr Stephen Hwa PHD | Classical Tai Chi | Moment 1

#moments with Dr Stephen Hwa PHD | Classical Tai Chi | Moment 1

via YouTube  Moments Interview

 We can all pretty much make large circular movements using arms and legs. Classical Tai Chi is a small frame/small circle; the mechanics of a slight circular movement shows one can reach every angle and reach it faster. It reminds me of putting a Porsche engine in a BMW. It is because of those smaller circles of internal moves and the establishment of neural/energy pathways. The question is: "Qi? What Qi?" If one has no energy/neural pathway established by physical internal discipline, there is no Qi. As his senior student of 20 years, I know from Tuishou with him that he can move in 3 dimensions, reaching all angles. Smaller circles mean being able to push along the x, y, and z-axis. I never got that in 20 years previous Tai Chi. I can assure any martial artist that working with his Neigong lessons ensures you get Neijin. "internal work/discipline = Internal energy ." A bonus is that your internal physical movements get smaller, "tighter," and smaller circles can cover all angles, which is not available with the large movement of external training.

Intricate "Pull, pluck, yank, jerk, etc."

 Intricacies of "pull, pluck, yank, jerk, etc.

Remember on this what Master Hwa showed/spoke on using fajin from the core (internal strength) with no effect from reaction force. Then his arm (external strength)comes into play and there is a reaction force that pulls him forward. How you apply this application depends on your proficiency in movement using internal then external, external then internal when you do the Form and you don't have to apply. "Pull down," yank, pluck, pick, and jerk is 采 (cǎi) (tsigh). How you pronounce it is like this: "The student would "SIGH" when the teacher said, "...learn the correct way to do all Movements, not just 采 (cǎi) (tsigh)". I think most define Cai as jerking or a jerk like jerking a pear from a tree. But did you know that first angling the pear away from the branch facilitates the pluck or pick? Also, if all we do is a jerk or yank something with no finesse, why would cǎi be called a Fajin or even a Jin? Pears get lifted away from the branch, deflected away, and then picked. We are talking about the similarity between a deflection of an arm and a (cǎi). We don't have to want or need the opponent to feel the movement, but Sun Tzu would be pleased with a strategy to lead the arm away and then make opponents feel like they just dropped into an abyss.