Chris Chi

Tai Chi for health & wellbeing

 

 

String it Up

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Here is a good technique to help you maintain a correct posture and it may even help you to ease back pain.

  1. Stand in an upright posture
  2. Imagine there is a string attached to top of your head gently lifting you vertically
  3. Shoulders are relaxed
  4. From your tan tien (just below your belly button), feel yourself sink into the ground but maintain an upright posture

I’ve found this a great technique  as it can be practiced anywhere.

I’ve even practiced this standing in a supermarket waiting in line to be served (get plenty of practice if I’m standing in the fast service line!)

It certainly helps my posture as I sometimes tend to be lazy and slouch forward and just thinking about this technique automatically corrects my posture.

It’s virtually a two way stretch –  top half of your body goes up and the bottom half goes down, at the same time.

So the next time you are standing around make sure you ‘string it up.’

Footnote: Expanded from Tai Chi Tip #11

If Only …..

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Put these two words ‘if only’ together and you have an instant recipe for regret and negativity.

Here’s my ‘If only …. list.

If only my knees were in good shape …

If only I was learning from a Wu Style Tai Chi grand master …

If only I had more time …

If only I was younger …

If only I had a regular training partner …

If only I had talent …

If only I had more hair …

If only …. ad nauseam (pass the smelling salts)

It’s easy to fall in the ‘if only’ trap and it is something that should be avoided if you are to stay positive and get the most from your Tai Chi training.

‘If only’ can demotivate you and lock you into the past and keep you there.

So the next time you catch yourself saying ‘if only’, challenge yourself and focus on where you are and what you can and are willing to do.

That way, you will get the most out of your training. And your life.

Hmm, now if only I can stop saying if only ……….

Hey, Mr. Tan Tien Man

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A few years ago I was training with our instructor and a small group of students in a garage.

We were practising some techniques and my training partner mentioned an idea that I found unusual.

I didn’t give  it too much thought at the time but later on I started to use it in my training and found it to be very beneficial.

Although it may sound a bit weird, here is the technique.

1. Imagine there is a little man inside your tan tien.

2. Each time you practice a technique, imagine the little man doing exactly the same thing at the same time as you are, perfectly.

It’s a  simple concept and here are the reasons why it works for me.

1. It keeps my focus in the tan tien area – stops my mind from wandering.

2. My movements are more precise.

3. Improves my speed when practising a technique.

When I have reflected on this technique I’ve wondered if points 2 & 3 were part of my imagination or just a placebo effect. But it doesn’t really matter. If the only benefit I get from this concept is that it keeps me focused on my tan tien then it is worthwhile.

Before trying this technique make sure you have mastered the skill you are practising. If you don’t you could be fine tuning a bad habit.

If you decide to have a go, let me know if it works for you or not.

Footnote: re title – no, I was not influenced by Bob Dylan or The Byrds singing ‘Hey Mr Tambourine Man … Oh, hang on, maybe I was?

Women’s Self Defence – Tai Chi Way

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A few years ago I ran short courses in self defence for women.

The courses were 6-8 weeks in duration, one hour per week.

When I sat down and created these courses I looked at my Tai Chi background to develop simple and practical techniques.

One technique I taught was  from the Tai Chi essentials (body alignment).

That technique was ‘chin’ alignment.87468794

You simply tuck your chin slightly in.

How can that be used as a self defence technique?

Well, it’s a preventative self defence technique that anybody can do.

Here’s my rationale.

Sticking your chin out can be interpreted as a sign of arrogance or you are looking for trouble (it tends to be a guy thing). You are actually inviting a reaction, particularly from an attacker.

Now, if your chin is tucked in too tightly, it will force your head downards into a submissive pose. Something that attackers tend to look for.

The Tai Chi chin alignment is not only correct body posture but it also gives out an assertive look that may cause an attacker to have second thoughts.

Inwardly you may feel nervous or fearful but when you adopt the correct body posture it can help deter attackers.

I made sure the course was fun by using the following exercise to practice the ‘chin’ technique.

I had women work in pairs. They walked past each other three times.  Each time they would either  adopt an aggressive, passive or assertive chin pose.

I got them to exaggerate the aggressive and passive chin poses to tap into the feel of the correct chin technique. And it also helped them to loosen up and have fun learning.

Oh, I did teach basic strikes, kicks, strategies with specific Tai Chi themes in these short courses but the emphasis was always on prevention.

And prevention to me is the ideal form of self defence.

In case you don’t know, Tai Chi is a self defence art and here’s a demonstration byGrand Master Cheng Tin – Hung.

It takes talent, dedication and several years practice to be able to use Tai Chi as a form of self defence.

However, from my experience most women neither have the time nor interest to learn self defence to that extent.

That’s why short self defence courses are ideal for many women.

It provides them with basic skills, strategies and confidence they may otherwise never have.

Tai Chi Vs Water Buffalo

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IMG_2053Don’t be fooled by this fellow.

In the photo he was on his best behaviour.

I was in Nepal recently for the World Appreciative Inquiry conference where Sue and I delivered our ‘Power of AQ/KQ workshop.

After the conference, a group of us travelled to the Chitwan provence, which was a 5 hour drive from Kathmandu.

I saw this calm looking buffalo at one of the villages we visited and took his photo.

On the way back I was about to cross a narrow footbridge when I stopped to take another photograph of the water buffalo who was by now in the creek.

As I raised my camera he started to splash about and came charging towards me.

I did what any Tai Chi person would do.

I used one of the 8 powers.

I retreated. And fast.

To add insult to injury I ended up drenched by the spraying water and no photo.

The classics say ‘4 ounces leads a 1000 pounds.’

No it doesn’t.

When 1000 lbs comes charging at you, forget 4 ounces.

And forget about brush knee twist step.

Just run.

In the opposite direction!