Open and close in the kua

One of the more remarkable things about studying taijiquan is how learning a new concept changes your whole approach to how one practices the form. 

Another such concept is “Open is not a position; it is a mobility,” Shifu said in a past class. This comment came as a result of my demonstrating opening the right kua on the inward part of the right positive circle. This movement results in a stretch through the right side of the groin, which is the position that I thought meant that the kua was “open”. This was not the case. Shifu demonstrated that the right kua can be open when it structurally does not have that “stretched open” appearance, such as taking the above posture and turning further right and sitting into a lower stance. Openness in the kua is the ability to move freely. It is not locked or solid. Conversely, closed is when there is “stiffness” or connectedness through that joint. Closed is when it is solid. 

But open and close mean nothing without each other. You cannot measure “open” without something being closed and vice versa. This is the case with the kua – one cannot be open without the other being closed. This rule not only applies to the kua but to all parts of the body as well. You need to establish a point that does not become involved in the situation. This point is the closed part or the “fixation point” as Shifu sometimes calls it. The parts that are involved in the situation can then move freely. But if we cannot establish this “independence” in the body, then we have no Taiji – no separation of yin and yang.

 Back to circles and the manifestation of open and close throughout the form…  Clint

Dots, not Surfaces

This is a photo slide show of master Chen in 2007 on Daqingshan. At the end of the show, master Chen shows the concept of “dots, not surface” with a video clip.

Circles with Rubber Cords

In this video, master Chen Zhonghua shows the positive circle and negative circle using a rubber cord. This exercise is very effective in getting the pulling energy and the pushing energy to move along the correct line.  

Questions about Practical Method Book of Hong Junsheng

Dear Master Chen
(please forward to master Chen)
My name is David Fadjar, and I appreciate very much your effort to translate GM Hong’s book. I have a question about Bow stance as described by GM Hong’s book (page 10)

It is said that “the front knee bend and lock, while the rear knee extends, relaxed and toes swing to left or right. Its rear knee bends down with toes turned “OUTWARD” 45 degree.

My understanding of outward is: for right leg, toes turn outward if while pivoting on heel, the big toes goes further to the right getting towards the little toe’s position.
I would like to make some descriptions about forward, left and right so as to make things clear on what my question is.
Assuming Taiji force confrontation is sideways, than the left side or right side will be the front side in the situation of confrontation. As I understand sideways stance is to prevent opening the deadly points in the middle of heart, throat and dang area. So to prevent this confusion I would like to define things in reference to the body.

Front: chest area, back is back area, left side is the side on left leg and right side is on the side of right leg.

Assuming pubu left, then left leg bend, right leg extend. Now following the “opening outward 45 degree” my understanding is in Dan Bian posture for example, the right leg is extended right and to further open outward the toe will result in having the toe as the most right ward body organ.

In contrast (because the people I learned Hong style also learned Yang style). they insist that the right toe should be pulled in 45%, which I found too exerting for my knee, especially during the change (ie after lanzhayi to liufeng sibi or from danbian to jingang daodui).

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.

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”

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? 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?

Thank you very much for your kind reply. I am looking forward to the day I can get the second and third book.

David Fadjar

Our Training in March 2007 -by David Dahms

…
As for training, we are doing the things you showed us and I feel as though we are starting to