Comments for Practical Method http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com Discussion on Hong Junsheng's Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method of as passed down by Chen Zhonghua Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:57:42 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Questions about Practical Method Book of Hong Junsheng by David Fadjar http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-116 David Fadjar Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:57:42 +0000 http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-116 Thank you very much for your insightful comment, Master Chen. After carefully reading the paragraph in the book and sink in your comment, I realized all my confusion is because I thought Pubu and Bow is the same (and hence put description about pubu into DanBian posture). I realized now that Single whip uses Bow stance, not Pubu (Pubu and Bow have similar leg position but different torso direction, and hence the reverse/PuBu stance). Another thing I gained from your comment is that because the toe of extended leg is allowed to swivel, during the change from lanzhayi to liufeng sibi, tension/pressure on the extended knee can be reduced greatly by swiveling it naturally. However as one have more flexibility in the kua, the swiveling movement can be reduced to none to resolve the awkward position. This is a great enlightment for me, and may be the cure to many knee problem experienced by taiji practitioner. As I tried to describe my questions into questions that can be understood, it dawned to me how difficult it is to describe movements of form into words. What to use as reference, which is front and back, what stays and what moves. So I understand how great effort Grand Master Hong must have put to write a book about movements that people can understand, and how great effort the translation must have been. So thank you very much for the great gift to taichi community (and the world) by translating this marvelous book. Thank you very much for your insightful comment, Master Chen. After carefully reading the paragraph in the book and sink in your comment, I realized all my confusion is because I thought Pubu and Bow is the same (and hence put description about pubu into DanBian posture). I realized now that Single whip uses Bow stance, not Pubu (Pubu and Bow have similar leg position but different torso direction, and hence the reverse/PuBu stance).

Another thing I gained from your comment is that because the toe of extended leg is allowed to swivel, during the change from lanzhayi to liufeng sibi, tension/pressure on the extended knee can be reduced greatly by swiveling it naturally. However as one have more flexibility in the kua, the swiveling movement can be reduced to none to resolve the awkward position.

This is a great enlightment for me, and may be the cure to many knee problem experienced by taiji practitioner. As I tried to describe my questions into questions that can be understood, it dawned to me how difficult it is to describe movements of form into words. What to use as reference, which is front and back, what stays and what moves. So I understand how great effort Grand Master Hong must have put to write a book about movements that people can understand, and how great effort the translation must have been. So thank you very much for the great gift to taichi community (and the world) by translating this marvelous book.

]]> Comment on Questions about Practical Method Book of Hong Junsheng by BlogEditor http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-115 BlogEditor Fri, 13 Jul 2007 03:43:30 +0000 http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-115 "I also do not understand the sentence “The knee must face the heel” Does that means the line of foot’s heel to toe must face same direction of line of hip to kneecap?" If you push vertically on a stick, it will be very firm to the push. This is because one end of the stick "faces" the other end of the stick. Try this with sticks of different quality: soft, bend, straight and hard. You will find that the principle mentioned above is very important. Chen Zhonghua “I also do not understand the sentence “The knee must face the heel” Does that means the line of foot’s heel to toe must face same direction of line of hip to kneecap?”
If you push vertically on a stick, it will be very firm to the push. This is because one end of the stick “faces” the other end of the stick. Try this with sticks of different quality: soft, bend, straight and hard. You will find that the principle mentioned above is very important.
Chen Zhonghua

]]> Comment on Questions about Practical Method Book of Hong Junsheng by BlogEditor http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-114 BlogEditor Fri, 13 Jul 2007 03:40:59 +0000 http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-114 "Another question is on page 9 it mentioned that foot must move in an inside or outside curve according to the size of the posture. Inside curve meaning heel seek heel first then separate? And then what does outside curve means? " When the rear foot comes up to the front foot, it travels in an inside curve, heel to heel first. After that, the heel that came up will continue to travel away from the front heel. This part is in an outside curve. Chen Zhonghua “Another question is on page 9 it mentioned that foot must move in an inside or outside curve according to the size of the posture. Inside curve meaning heel seek heel first then separate? And then what does outside curve means? ”
When the rear foot comes up to the front foot, it travels in an inside curve, heel to heel first. After that, the heel that came up will continue to travel away from the front heel. This part is in an outside curve.
Chen Zhonghua

]]> Comment on Questions about Practical Method Book of Hong Junsheng by BlogEditor http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-113 BlogEditor Fri, 13 Jul 2007 03:37:44 +0000 http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-113 "Could you please give some guidance with regard the toe position of the extended legs in Bow stance as well as the meaning of “knee opens slanted inward on the front/bent knee”" The normal rule is: the toes opens, the knee closes, the kua opens, and the hip closes. These must be remembered and attempted throughout your training. They are extremely difficult to accomplish. Chen Zhonghua “Could you please give some guidance with regard the toe position of the extended legs in Bow stance as well as the meaning of “knee opens slanted inward on the front/bent knee””
The normal rule is: the toes opens, the knee closes, the kua opens, and the hip closes. These must be remembered and attempted throughout your training. They are extremely difficult to accomplish.
Chen Zhonghua

]]> Comment on Questions about Practical Method Book of Hong Junsheng by BlogEditor http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-112 BlogEditor Fri, 13 Jul 2007 03:33:02 +0000 http://practicalmethod.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/121/#comment-112 "As it is also mentioned in the book, the toe is swinging to the right or left, then it would be better to let it fall comfortably as it swings (usually It swings inwards a little bit, sometimes my toes does not swing at all after the lanzayi move to liufeng sibi). I also find it easier to swing the heel instead of the toe, although I found it would mean less power." As a matter of fact, it is the heel that rotates on the ground that causes the toes to "swing". Make sure that you grind the heel like a screw, don't swing it. Chen Zhonghua “As it is also mentioned in the book, the toe is swinging to the right or left, then it would be better to let it fall comfortably as it swings (usually It swings inwards a little bit, sometimes my toes does not swing at all after the lanzayi move to liufeng sibi). I also find it easier to swing the heel instead of the toe, although I found it would mean less power.”
As a matter of fact, it is the heel that rotates on the ground that causes the toes to “swing”. Make sure that you grind the heel like a screw, don’t swing it.
Chen Zhonghua

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