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Untrained
When you learn the Long Yang form for the first time, the stance is high, the
movements are crude and the waist turns are not emphasised.
Students are encouraged to work within their comfort zone.
You will not be asked to sink deep into the
knees or employ the hips.
Easy beginning
A more economical
movement/body use reduces
fatigue.
It lessens the possibility of over-commitment and redundant movement.
An easier frame makes the tai chi more accessible to beginners of all ages and
fitness levels.
Introductory
The lower grade only
learns the first two minutes of the Long Yang form;
section 1.
This limitation allows you to spend time exploring the sequence and
incorporating
corrections. Were you to continue learning movements until you completed section 3 of the
form, the quality would be poor.
This is why you are encouraged to take as long as you need to gain
familiarity with the
start of the form.
3 stages
As the syllabus progresses, the form will evolve from 'untrained' to medium frame and ultimately small then high frame. This corresponds with the stages employed when learning qigong:
Peng
Jing
Medium frame encourages peng.
To cultivate jing, the
student must move from medium to small and high frame.
Lengthen &
open
More experienced students are taught the 'medium frame' version of the form.
The movements are quite big and open, and the form moves at a fairly regular
pace.
This opening of the frame improves
wardoff and
groundpath.
The length and width of the stance are determined by the propagation of the
ground. What is the optimal shape for each movement?
70%
Students extend their arms to 70% of their reach (at
all times) until advised otherwise.
The purpose of having a medium frame is to build groundpath.
You cannot omit this part of your tai chi development - it builds the
foundation for everything that will follow.
Form pattern (version 3) - lines of force
Your body needs to feel like a tree;
rooted firmly in the
ground.
Yet the body is also
soft and
pliable like water. It may sound like a contradiction but it is not.
The relationships
between hands, feet, shoulders, hips, spine, coccyx and eyes must all become
habitual before the frame
gets smaller.
Do not be tempted to
over-commit your feet; the length and width of your stance is determined by
your natural range. Stepping too far makes you
vulnerable and off-balance.
Martial
The form
was designed to create
alignment and
generate energy through whole-body movement.
The medium frame may not feel unduly martial because it has potential
holes in the
defences.
To patch the holes, you must learn to rotate your waist.
This increases the power of the movement and
exercises the body at a
deeper level.
Bow tension
Having a medium frame will help you to develop 'bow tension'.
Picture yourself pulling a bow; the string is drawn back and the bow is
stretched - filling with stored
energy.
This stored energy is internal tension and can only be released by letting-go of
the string.
Dynamic tension
Neigong is a
fine-tuning of your tai chi and will assist with bow tension.
Your body must cultivate a degree of 'dynamic tension' akin to the bow being
drawn - the arms, legs
and spine are sometimes called 'the 5 bows'.
Demanding
Gaining bow tension is physically demanding and will tax the student
considerably.
There is an increased emphasis upon the legs
and the hip kwa.
Students are taught a series of very thorough leg stretches in addition to more
challenging qigong exercises.
The training is done carefully, gently - in a controlled
manner - without exertion or
strain.
Eventually, the hips will open and the
stances will improve.
Smaller frame
Advanced exponents start to use small frame once they are
familiar with 'folding'.
The smaller frame offers close-range delivery.
Elbows, knees, chin na and jing become increasingly relevant when small frame is
employed.
The small frame is necessary for close quarters combat.
Sustained power
Students can only use small frame when they can sustain groundpath at all times,
regardless of frame size.
Using the body internally means that the external actions can be
diminished
without an associated loss of power.
Over time, the practitioner moves from medium to high frame.
Small circle power
Small frame necessitates
small circle
movement.
Combat
When fighting, the aim
is to use high frame.
Yang-style tai chi employs small frame at a higher
level of practice.
It is essential to optimise the use of peng but facilitate jing as well.
As you progress, the body does less and the mind (intent) does more.
Changing your frame
It is important not to have misconceptions about the nature of 'frame'.
Beginners typically simplify everything and
misunderstand.
There is more to frame than how far out your limbs
reach or how large
the movements look.
Your instructor will furnish you with the necessary guidance and training
methods.
This will enable you to move smoothly through the different frame sizes as your
grasp of the training evolves.
Strength is in the appropriate position and is
responsive,
acting in harmony with the time.
(I Ching)
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
5
September 1998
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