|
|
||
| Form pattern: lines of force | ||
classes qigong tai chi kung fu about us reviews a-z
.JPG)
3rd
version
A beginner must pay strict attention to the
lessons taught in the body qigong exercises.
The alignment concerns should be directly employed
in the form.
When a student can perform the sequence accurately
(albeit robotically), they have the 'square' pattern. Next is the left hand
version. Now, they learn
version 3.
Version 3 - lines of force
Tai chi should be "Square on the inside and round on
the outside".
This means that the internal framework and
network of body parts must be aligned and moving in linear paths of force.
If you skip this stage of your training, your form will be devoid of
power. Lines of force are now very important.
Chinese coin
Students need to demonstrate very distinct
lines of force in all aspects of their training. Without these explicit
directions the tai chi will remain weak.
It might feel exaggerated but it will feel strong. The results will be obvious
and the student will have laid the foundation for significant improvement and
development.
3-D
Up
& down, using hand and back,
side-to-side, shifting the weight... Your form needs to show the 3-dimensions in
functional usage not just in theory. Explore how verticality can be used.
Determine the appropriate height for raising and lowering the limbs, and when to
incorporate the hip. When and if to bow the back. Examine how differences in
range can affect the attacker's balance.
Waist turn
Side-to-side
movement,
using the waist, hips and legs is
essential now. Look right, look left from 13 methods of movement require
distinct, easy adjustment without overt thinking.
If you read The Tai Chi Classics, the role of the
waist is re-emphasised throughout. Turning the waist initially involves rotating
the pelvis. Later, it really does mean 'turn the waist'.
Turning the pelvis affects the entire upper body and helps to step using the
body. Examine how differences in degree of turn can affect the attacker's
ability to locate your centre and utilise their own.
Larger frame
The form frame will become larger as a
consequence of seeking to be square on the inside. There is no way to avoid this
and no reason to try. A larger frame will stretch the tendons and ligaments.
It will become harder to tense your muscles and the limb muscles will be tied
more fully into the back of the body.
70%
Often a student finds that they are not really
using their limbs at 70% reach. Rather, a far closer range is being employed.
Lengthen appropriately - without affecting the shoulder joints.
Larger movements
Following the shape of the square throughout
your form will mean describing larger movements. This is what you need to be
doing now. Make no attempt to minimalise or cut the circle.
Sloppy habits
Students who fail to express clean lines of
force are never able to fully utilise the art. They aren't working with gravity
and their movements fail to ensure biomechanical advantage when partnered.
Qigong revision affects your form
New starters are given a qigong ticksheet
designed to assist learning.
Step 1 is to gain familiarity with the name and pattern of each
exercise.
Step 2 is to become aware of their body, the relationship of different body
parts and how it all fits together.
This degree of study takes place at the experienced-level.
Peng is the main emphasis.
Fingers into fists
Re-examine your form pattern. Explore how finger strikes into fists
allows you to make strikes out of movements that might currently break your
fingers if your tried to strike with them.
Balance point
Try holding your balance before stepping, after
stepping and whenever a kick has been delivered. This will improve your central
equilibrium.
Agility
Agility is the
outcome of heavy
practice and repetition.
Particularly with the standing post exercise.
Cat stepping
A good way to incorporate the standing post
skill into form is to look at the 'cat
stepping' exercises.
These are offered during the beginners syllabus.
Each step requires the student to balance completely without wobbling. The principle steps used in the Long Yang form are trained separately from the
form in order to improve balance.
Circular stepping
Having completed and
mirrored all 3 sections of the Long Yang form, the student must now
incorporate 'circular stepping'.
This important enhancement helps with shuai jiao applications and protects
the knee of the supporting leg when stepping through - whether
forwards or backwards - due to better pelvis
alignment.
The entire form needs to be subtly re-patterned to incorporate this
method. It looks similar to how a person skates when ice skating; and is
contingent upon finding the 'balance point' before
stepping.
Stepping arcs
It is important to examine
and experiment with stepping arcs. There are 2 potential arcs for every step and
degrees of arc. We want to come in and out, rather than just swing out.
A stepping arc also needs to avoid hyperbole/exaggeration.
Over-doing it will destabilise the overall
frame and adversely affect central equilibrium;
which is obviously not desirable.
The step needs to be produced by the rhythm of the movement, by the natural
turning of the body - rather than by the localised limb.
So, it's stage dependent... What you do this
week is right this week, next week, next year. People get too caught up on
ideals and fixate. It's a changing process, yeah? What is right tomorrow may
be wrong later.
(Sifu Adam Mizner)
Why not do circular stepping
when learning the square form pattern?
Physically, you couldn't have
handled it.
How good are you at standing post exercise? A less experienced student
may lose balance if their
posture is tested whilst circular stepping.
In tai chi, the body leads the legs, not the other way around. This
means that feet are drawn in & taken out by torso action. Pelvis, momentum,
turning… akin to 'pendulum stepping'?
An inexperienced student lacks the physical ability to step in this way without
resorting to a more hyperbolic approach.
Place the foot
When learning the form initially, a student
practices placing the entire foot on the ground
prior to shifting the weight; just like with single whip. The key is
to time the movements appropriately in order to flow.
Rolling step
The
rolling step is aimed at people who can perform the bow stance
correctly. This stepping method is far more martial.
Stances
At this stage of practice it is necessary to gain a deeper sense of what
constitutes an effective stance. Without the appropriate foundation none of the
applications will work. This must be addressed.
Students need to discover the most stable, mobile and comfortable stance for
every single movement in the Long Yang form.
70/30 stance
Higher grade students need to start using a 70/30
stance. This will provide a more martial platform for
application. The 70/30 stance ensures a more powerful forward and backward commitment.
The student is required to make greater movement in order to generate power.
Substantial and insubstantial are more clearly differentiated. More overt transference of body
mass.
Weight shift
With a 70/30 stance, movement
between the feet allows you to deliver body mass at all times. By now,
the student should be adept at using weight shift in conjunction with their
waist turn and as a means of generating power.
Relax the knees
Make space behind the knee joint, as if the knee were moving forward.
Do not bend deeply, simply relax.
Done correctly, the legs will free-up considerably and the lower back will
feel looser.
This is not a squat.
You are simply relaxing the knees.
Lower back
Conversely, relaxing the lower back will be counterbalanced by the knees 'moving
forward and away' of their own accord. Don't seek to emulate or force this. It
should occur by itself. Tzu-jan.
Open the hips
By opening the hips you can increase the stability of your legs and gain a
better groundpath.
Relax the abdomen
Make sure that your abdomen remains relaxed at all times. This is essential when
seeking to employ force. Relax fully and completely. Let your legs sink into the
ground and draw power from the ground.
Central equilibrium
Central equilibrium feels as if somebody has their hands on your
pelvis as you
move, supporting the body.
You can begin to move from the centre in the knowledge that your body is
balanced.
The torso rotates around the vertical axis - like a tree trunk - as the body
connects from the crown down to the feet. Stepping serves not only to move the
body, but also to sustain central equilibrium.
Suspended from above
Your body will feel light and comfortable, agile
and mobile - as if 'suspended from above' - when
this connection is established.
When you are suspended from above, like a puppet, the torso, spine, joints and
legs are all free to move. You can spontaneously
move in any direction you choose. There is no holding
or fixity.
Page created
4 July 1995
Last updated
17 October 2023