Tai-Chi, Opposite Extremes Part 2

[Path to Mastery 2/11/10 – Wk22 D4 (Str 9.12.09)(Ph2 11.15.09)]

Sang’s World

Tai-Chi, Opposite Extremes Continued


Here is an example of an application of Tai-Chi.


Yin Yang symbol has a small yin and a yang.  For anything to succeed one need discipline.  Discipline is best achieved through a regular training.  For most people when they first start training, they often quite because it is hard for them to either remember to practice due to their old habits or because they find it hard to fit it into their new schedule.


Some people have a natural gift of planning and discipline or were fortunate enough to have had that skill instilled in them at some point in their life.  But for those of us that are not as fortunate, you can use the Tai-Chi concept to tip the balance.


You have seen the Ying-Yang symbol.  There is a little bit of Yin, in the Yang, and a little bit of Yang in the Yin.  Theses small Yin grow into the place of the Yang, and the small Yang grows into the place of the Yin.  Thus eternally they are switching places.


In the beginning make a plan to practice regularly.  However, if you forget to follow it, just do a few moves when you remember you forgot.  There is no point in getting frustrated over what’s been done.  Rather use this as an opportunity for practicing relaxation, breathing and calming the mind.  Unexpected events are like a fight.  In a fight, things rarely go as expected.  Breath, relax yourself and go with the flow and adapt.  The faster you adapt, the swifter you can defeat the opponent.  When you find yourself remembering that you forgot, you also find yourself remembering that you need to practice.  This is yin yang.  That is the time to get in even one move and you have started on forming a new habit.  This is like the little yin dot in the big Yang half of the Yin-Yang symbol.  The Yin is the insubstantial, the un-structured.  The Yang is the substantial, the structured.  Attack the current structure with the insubstantial and start expanding the insubstantial until it fills the rest of the Yang.  Then a new structure is formed.      

Continuing our Tai-Chi Journey:

8 Type Pushing Hands
1. Ting Tui-Shou (Covered on 2/2)
2. Da-Lu Tui-Shou (Covered on 2/3)
3. O-Nu Bu Tui-Shou (Covered on 2/4)
4. Chuan-Jang Tui-Shou (Grasp the Bird's Tail) (Covered on 2/5)
5. Pi-Shou Tui-Shou (Covered on 2/8)
6. Chin-Na Tui-Shou (Covered on 2/9)
7. Left side Tui-Shou (Covered on 2/10)

Currently we are covering the Pushing Hands in our system. All Pushing Hand exercises loop back in a continuous cycle . This allows people to most effectively hone their skills through constant repetition and it gives them direct feedback if their technique and the principles (BARS) of Tai-chi are correct. We have finished the 4 type pushing hands, and now we are on #7 of the 8 Type Pushing Hands.


Today’s Lesson:8.Linking Tui-Shou

Tui-Shou number 8, linking Tui-Shou is the last of the 8 types.


Linking Tui-Shou shows you that in Tai-Chi all techniques link to each other, that all techniques are one technique.


Tai-Chi used to be called Long Fist.  The reason it used to be called Long Fist is because when you do the 108, it continues like the river, never beginning and never ending, linking from one move to the next as if the whole thing is one technique.


Because Tai-Chi is not a collection of techniques but rather natural movements that come out in accordance to the laws of nature, all movements are born of the same principles.  Thus, all move naturally flow from one to the other.  This is why Tai-Chi moves like the flowing river, never stopping, but just flowing around any obstacle and penetrating every opening.


Linking Tui-Shou teaches you how to implement this principle in real life.