Yang Family Tai Chi Discussion Board

Hi Audi, Sorry for the long delay in responding—life happens. Anyway, I did a lot of thinking about things you mentioned. This is sort of a general posting in response to your message. I don’t doubt that you already understand most, if not all, of what I’m writing about, but the act of writing it he...

Hi Audi, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you—I’ve been thinking a lot about your post. Thanks very much for your detailed explanation of how you see push hands. I responded to some things but not to others—the parts of your post that I left out made sense to me. A: <<Let me give my general vi...

I have a friend in Denver, CO who's interested in studying tai chi. He is a beginner. Any recommendations on which school he should attend? I'm far away and don't know what's there. I'm doing Yang style, so it would be nice if there were a good Yang style teacher there so we could compare notes, but...

Hi Brit, Thanks for the leaping cat description--it really looks like cats do exactly that when they leap! Moreover, it will be fun to use this idea in forms practice: visualizing the movement as done already, and trying to let my body flow there as though the outcome were preordained (I was trying ...

Oh, I also appreciate what you said about the mind being "double intentioned." I see what you mean and why it doesn't work...and even though I mustn't think about it during push hands http://www.yangfamilytaichi.com/ubb/smile.gif , your description of feeling the opponent's energy as bound...

Thanks for your advice, Wushuer, You're right, I'm thinking about it entirely too much! I've had a few experiences where I've been able to let my body just do what it wants, with excellent results...I guess I just need more practice letting go of my ego. I can remember that those few times where I'v...

Hi Wushuer, What about asking your instructor what the energy ought to be and then focus on changing your mind intention? After all, you know well how the chi, and thus the body, follow intent--so in your case, it might be more efficient to start with intent. My feeling of the opening is a rising en...

Hi Audi, Thanks for your response. Do you know how to start a thread on “seeking the straight in the curved?” Here is my long overdue response—sorry for the delay. You said: <<If you want to attack, I think you alter the combined energy in such a way (“Hua Jin”) that you think the opponent will be l...

Audi, You're absolutely right about the kayak figure eight pattern being just the curve the kayak needs to go straight. I've tried paddling in straight lines--I think most people do before they find out what works, but I think the correction process is so natural that most people don't even notice t...

Hi Wushuer, Thanks very much for your detailed description of your stair-walking technique. I’m going to have to print out your description and try it. It’s funny how tai chi moves that can be copied relatively easily if you have someone to show you take so long to describe…. I went back and looked ...

Hi Wushuer, It does look like we're in very different places right now, but I'm finding enough overlap that I'm happily learning things as a result of our correspondence. W: I have never considered my dantien to be a pool toy before... K: Well, no, neither had I, but the strangest things do occur to...

Hi Psalchemist, You asked: Would all of these root structures still stem from the bubbling root? K: Basically yes. This will be the strongest root, but I think it's possible to root from other places too (though not necessarily useful--it depends on what part of you is in contact with the ground). F...

Wushuer, I’ve been thinking about something you said on one of the other topics—it was in the section about other members of the Yang family (Misc.) and you were wondering about opening the qua and how the front leg is supposed to push against the back leg. I really liked Jerry’s (I think it was Jer...

Psalchemist, You wrote: <<I am deeply pondering your concepts of "martial virtue" and "manipulation".>> I’ve been thinking about it some more myself. It’s been on my mind for much of the week. I’m coming to this conclusion: if you are operating from a place of stillness, if you a...

W: <<If anyone has any suggestions for texts that cover this subject, or any others related to TCC or Chi Kung, feel free to let me know what they are.>> Maybe this needs to be its own topic. Forgive me for throwing it up here, but this is where the conversation is... The more I practice tai chi, th...