Look for the Extraordinary in Your Ordinary Tai Chi Practice
I practice Tai Chi and Qi Gong every day (well almost everyday…) Anyway, when something becomes a habit, doing the laundry or exercising and I hate to say it, Tai Chi too, I have a tendency to just go through the motions, get done what needs to happen and move on… I don’t really pay as much attention as I should, it’s automatic.
Well, occasionally I have a breakthrough and see things that I did not previously observe…
I was watching a YouTube vid on Tai Chi Walking (link on a previous post) and what the guy was saying has really affected not only my Tai Chi, but the way I move in daily activity.
To put a foot forward (this is Qi Gong to be hard to explain, but what the heck…) To put your foot forward but keep you weight back until your front foot is fully planted, and then, and only then roll forward into the step, really keeps you grounded, more focused and balanced. Another thing, is when you roll forward, don’t extend beyond your knee. We studied this in Karate and Kung Fu, but not to this level of observable detail…
So he mentioned it, it watched this video for – well no more than 10 minutes and there you go. The extraordinary in the ordinary… I just need to pay attention – One moment at a time.
Easier said than done…
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Walking Through My Day – The Tai Chi Way
Moving in Tai Chi and moving as we go through our day, shouldn’t be different, however for me there is…
When I walk through my day, I am not MINDFUL of the movement! Not good?
Well, you might say – it’s instinct you idiot! Everybody (most everybody) knows how to walk… Well yes this is true, but in practice, to further the flow of Chi, Chi has to follow the mind, and if you’re not paying attention, who knows where it’s gonna go!
The center is below the navel – the dan tien and to move from there is different. To walk with your center in mind, you don’t over extend your movement. As in sparring; my weight is never beyond my circle, never extended past my knee when advancing; to do so would put me “off balance”. Internally Chi is “dispersing”, it’s not concentrated and focused.
So walk from the center, stay back and put your foot in front of you, not on top of it, don’t be in a hurry.
There’s a great YouTube video on this concept – seems like a together guy - Steven Hua
Until next time… Rick
The Black Belt Mill or My Belt is Bigger Than Your Belt…
Has there ever been a martial arts school that did not look at all other schools as some how inferior?
A buddy of mine, nice guy, I study Tai Chi with him twice a week, have been for the past couple of years starts to take Karate on the side. Somebody cut him a deal and so he has been working out at one of the most well known studios in town.
He’s excited and has been asking me questions and what do I think about this and that. I have just encouraged him to take it a day at a time, explore and see what he thinks.
Tonight after our workout he mentions a mutual aquaintance, an accomplished black belt, one that I have studied with over the years – we will call him “Bob” … Well Bob, proceeds to tell my Tai Chi friend that the Karate school that he is going to is a “black belt mill”…
Ironically the school where Bob and I studied together for three years is no more, it folded. At the same time, the “black belt mill” is still doing fine and has been for many years. The Sensei that runs that school is internationally recognized…
I think one of the positive things that MMA has done for the marital arts community as a whole, has been to blend different arts and styles and recognize that all martial arts have there place and application in the overall scheme of things.
Put another way, in the words of Bruce Lee…”do what works best for you”.
Your practice is 80% mind…. follow Mr. Lee’s advice and move on…
