Yang Family Tai Chi Discussion Board

kai/he post

[This message has been edited by Gu Rou Chen (edited 08-03-2003).]

Louis, I think you are really making a contribution in observing the parallels between Taijiquan theory and ideas in the Sunzi. Taijiquan really is applied philosophy in the strictest sense. Here is another excerpt from Wang Yongquan that describes the primary function of kai1/he2 (closing and openi...

My impression is that the paired terms xu1/shi2 have more than one usage. The following loose translation may give insight into an aspect of at least one of these usages. The phrase, "Avoid the fullness, go to where it is empty; Use emptiness to move fullness" means that in pushing hands o...

Here is something from an earlier post I made that relates to this topic: "There are different ways of practicing with different results. Wang Yongquan writes about this specifically in his book as well. He distinguishes the ¡®for health¡¯ practice in which movements should be large, open, and ...

This discussion is getting interesting! As Louis notes, these are very core topics. From my practice/experience I cannot stress how -very- important the axle analogy is. In the Taiji Classics of Wu Yuxiang the ‘axle analogy’ is: Qi4 ru2 che1lun2, yao1 ru2 che1zhou2 Qi (is) like (a) vehicle wheel, wa...

I would recommend again, starting with what Gu Liuxin has offered as an introductory definition of ‘empty’ vs. ‘solid’ which in turn defines ‘double weighting’. To reiterate, he said that it is determined by the muscles in the back close to the spine alternately contracting and elongating. The bicyc...

With regards to stepping, the analogy that has helped me a lot is the one in the classics:

“Step as if approaching the edge of a cliff.”

My experience is that this causes you to naturally pull down inside and use those muscles that are needed for proper Taiji motion.

Jeff

Hi Louis, Re: your note to Wushuer, Note to Wushuer: I just have a general remark or question: is there such a concept as “single weighted” in taijiquan theory? I’ll have to confess that I don't think I’ve never encountered anything resembling “single weighted” in any taiji texts. While “double weig...

Greetings: In Beijing I know both very accomplished Yang and Wu style practitioners whose internal principles are exactly the same. The way they create and manifest Taiji changes in the body are identical. My experience is that the postures of the Wu practioners often externally convey more clearly ...

I can¡¯t access the geocities cite from China for some reason, so I can¡¯t comment on the English translation. Can someone send it to me? I assume that the follow-up after the 36 ¡®illnesses¡¯ was also translated. This is an interesting document, the end of which describes very succinctly ¨Cexactly-...

see below

[This message has been edited by Gu Rou Chen (edited 02-09-2003).]

Audi, My understanding is that moves are broken down into four stages and that any ¡®move¡¯ can be broken down an infinite number of times. When practicing push hands your partner can change any number of times in any direction. Think of someone pushing down with raw, brute muscle strength on your w...

Hi Louis, Excerpt from Wang Yongquan on DIAN3/POINTS ¡°. . . solid points (shi2dian3) are concentrated points at which the opponent can fully utilize his brute strength. One should not push back directly on this point with brute strength. One must find a way to connect with the area immediately arou...

Greetings Louis, Thanks for the response; great food for thought. Here are some ideas on the breakdown of movements. (I will post something on point vs. plane later.) A transition as you say can be a ¡°very small instant of time and space between the endpoint of one movement and the beginning point ...

Back to the start of this very interesting thread about the ¡®momentary pause between the completion of one posture and the beginning of the next.¡¯ Wang Yongquan¡¯s (studied with Yangs in Beijing from the age of seven up to his mid twenties) materials state that all ¡®moves¡¯ should clearly have fo...