Newbie Questions

[atkinson40]

I hope this will help someone else. Over the last couple of months I've started practicing the Chang Style 37 form Tai Chi.
I initially downloaded the color and sepia videos and used my kindle to play them on the 52 inch flat screen as I followed along. I edited the video to slow it down and added the form subtitles as the movie played.

This still was a bit confusing for my feeble brain so I used virtualdub to "flip horizontally" the movie now all I have to do is move the same side as Chang does and I'll be correct, because he's flipped. This way a newbie like me can get through the whole set. Not pretty, but I'll improve. With time I'm hoping to know the forms by memory and will do them around the pool.

I've been meditating following in the steps of Catholic Mystics for many years. I'm aware of the Chi tingling controversy but I've never been able to feel it during meditation before. I didn't know what it was at first so I'm hoping it's not my imagination. If I pay attention anytime, anywhere, now, I can feel it. Sometimes spontaneously it will creep up the sides of my head to the crown chakra or third eye.

Last night and this morning as I was in Yoga class doing the "Tee" pose, I felt a vibration or pulsing on the ball of my left foot as I used it as the base for the "T". I didn't feel it on the right foot when I used it as the base. Does anybody know what this could be. It was repeatable and only in that pose. Thanks Kevin

[Bob Ashmore]

Atkinson40,
I cannot speak to the "tingling" aspect of your query. Perhaps someone with a better grasp of that kind of thing will be able to post on it soon.
What I can speak to is your "flip horizontally" method for the video.
Si Kung Eddie Wu used a "mirror effect" to film his Wu Style 108 Posture Hand Form video a LONG time ago, for just that exact reason.
To this day it is the easiest to follow video I have ever used to facilitate my training.
It was easy to "follow along with Sifu" (at that time he was Sifu) as it was just as if I was looking in a mirror rather than watching a video.
I have often wished more instructors would use this method, at least during the "follow along" portion of their training videos.

Welcome to the Forum.

Cheers,
Bob

[atkinson40]

Thanks Bob, I will look for this video. Is it available publicly? I initially tried learning one form per week and just doing up through that form, but didn't seem to progress very well. After I flipped the video, I can get through the whole 37 form set(not pretty) , but at least complete. Thanks kevin

[Bob Ashmore]

Atkinson40,
Unfortunately I cannot find the video currently being offered anywhere.
I have it on VHS tape, that's how long ago this was made, but it used to be available at wustyle.com as a DVD.
Alas, not anymore. It seems Si Kung has made a newer version. I've never seen it but now I know what I want for Xmas.
I am also unable to locate it as an aftermarket sale item anywhere that I can think of to look.
When I get home tonight I will get the actual title of the tape off of it, then I can make a more specific search online to see if it is available anywhere. Right now I can't think of the actual name of the video, in my head I just think of it as "Eddie's form tape".
I still keep my VHS player hooked up to a television in my home studio (sound impressive? it's just my basement but it works for me) because I'm so old most of my instructional videos are still on VHS.
I'm going to be screwed if that thing ever stops working!

Bob