Forms – Page 7

Powerful Connections

I’ve just come back from my garden after practicing the Tai Chi form.

And I’m writing this post now before I forget the discovery I’ve made.

But before I discuss this discovery’I’ll explain my approach to practicing my Tai Chi form.

Sometimes I work on a specific theme and concentrate on that throughout the form. For example it may be on breathing, Yin Yang, weighting, knee alignment, tan tien, etc. Other days I’ll just do the form without focusing on anything particular.

Today I focused on the theme of ‘powerful connections’ which occurred to me as I commenced my first movement .

I focused on my body being totally connected in every movement and moving powerfully but in a relaxed way.

After the form I felt more invigorated than usual so it’s a theme I’ll play around with for a while to see what else I can discover.

And that’s the beauty and challenge of Tai Chi. No matter how long you have been practicing there is always something to discover and/or re-discover.

When that happens, like today, it makes all worthwhile.

Wrong Journey – Right Destination

By Chris 2 Comments

Performing the Tai Chi form is like going on a journey without travelling too far to reach a destination.

Well, the other day I took the wrong journey and still ended up at the right destination.

I was performing my Tai Chi form at the The Convent in Abbotsford, during a break at the Australian Appreciative Inquiry Forum day.

It was a beautiful sunny day and the grassed courtyard was the perfect environment to practice my Tai Chi form. I was focused and relaxed and commenced my journey with the opening posture and ventured onwards as I had done thousands of times before.

Then it happened.

I lost my way.

During the journey I ended up facing the wrong way in ‘Wave Hands Like Clouds’, missed the path to ‘Parting The Wild Horse’s Mane’ .

When I had realised what I had done I created a couple of new paths to include the missing postures and continued on until I had reached the end of the journey at ‘Completion’ of the form.

You see, I had travelled part of a wrong journey but still reached the right destination as the chi had flowed. Just like it had many times when I had travelled the right journey.

Many years ago I would have been very annoyed with myself for losing my way in the form. But now it doesn’t matter.

If I occasionally go on the wrong journey, it’s okay, as long as I reach the right destination.

Square Tai Chi Vs Round Tai Chi

By Chris 4 Comments

When you begin to learn Tai Chi you are normally taught square Tai Chi.

Square Tai Chi is a stop start method where you learn the points of reference of a particular movement.

For example lets look at the square method teaching of the opening posture.

raise your arms up and away from your body
stop
sink your elbows
stop
lower your arms to the sides of your body
stop

Each stop is your point of reference. Stopping also allows you to check your posture.

Square Tai Chi is an easier method for beginners to learn Tai Chi. And it’s usually taught throughout the form.

Once a beginner has mastered square Tai Chi the next step is to learn round Tai Chi.

And here’s how round Tai Chi works.

Instead of starting and stopping you round the form out. It now becomes one continous rounded form.

It is a mistake to jump straight into round Tai Chi before you learn square Tai Chi because it’s difficult and errors usually occur which will take more time to correct.

So when learning Tai Chi be a square. If you are you will become more rounded.

Bear Staff Form

By Chris Leave a Comment

Check out this bear performing a staff form.

I like his wrist flexibility and posture.

Not sure what style it’s practising. Probably some ancient Bear Style form.

Hmm, I must go outside and practice my form – up to where he bites the staff.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBB0F7naojM&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]

Footnote: Discovered this clip on Al Simon’s ‘The Tai Chi and Qigong Blog’.

Tai Chi – Miracle Cure?

By Chris 5 Comments

Is Tai Chi a miracle cure for your problems?

Is it the best fighting art?

In two words, no and no.

It’s not Tai Chi that will provide you with a miracle cure.

The miracles you are looking for may occur if you do two things.

Keep an open mind
Practice

Very simple concepts that are difficult to do because it requires discipline.

So the next time you read about the miracle of Tai Chi, ground yourself in reality and focus on the above concepts.

If you do your Tai Chi, wellbeing, and self defence skills will improve gradually.

Footnote: There are no free yum cha’s in Tai Chi. Only practice.