Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Get a kick out of Tai Chi walk


 I will paraphrase Master Hwa from his book "Uncovering the Treasure" p. 110. "Many of the movements in the Form are designed this way. In other words, one limb practices a move for one purpose,  while the others practice for some other purposes." He uses the example, "The hand movements  in the pictures practice the Cai (Tsai sometimes spelled, pull, yank, etc.) move while the foot  movements practice the kicking routine



Here's what I'm after and from the book. Hwa talks about "purposes," so in the case of the "walk" shown here, I'll take a little poetic and martial art license and delve into multipurpose. The "walk" is a Kick in disguise. "The forward foot with its heel firmly planted on the ground serves many purposes. It is useful for the balance and stability of the body. It is ready to kick the opponent, pull the body forward, or take a step back."


Now, besides the potential for "sweeps," the heel can stomp the opponent's foot, the toe can kick straight ahead to the shin, the heel can step back and stamp, and the foot can turn and kick with the edge of the foot or heel. I can take any kick I learned in 4 years Tae Kwon Do except the "skyscraper high ."My point is moving the foot not only with "walk" intent, but thinking Martial Intent when you practice walking or even in Form. Imagine an opponent in front, back, side, and angle and this step as your "kicking" all-purpose and foot itself as a "swiss army knife" capability tool.

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