Taiji Notes

February 12, 2010

Toni DeMoulin:

Finish one movement before beginning another movement.

A movement is finished when the breath finishes exhaling. The next movement begins with the beginning of the breath's inhale. If you allow yourself to finish exhaling, the movement will automatically begin as you inhale. Any questions?

Silke Trester:

Can you possibly only inhale/exhale once during a move?

Toni DeMoulin:

There can be one or there can be many breaths between the beginning of the movement and the end of the movement, depending on how slowly you wish to move. The completion of SINKING is the end of the exhale. The beginning of the new move begins with the beginning of the inhale while simultaneously pushing backward into the ground with the back foot when in the back position and with the front foot pushing forward into the ground in the forward position. The inhaling lifts the sinking energy just enough to be able to move, the pushing with the foot makes the movement move.

December 5, 2009

Push Hands: Match the strength (pressure) of the weaker (strength-wise) player.

She (he) cannot match yours. If you are not the strongest (all women) player and your partner is too heavy & strong (not matching your strength) do not try to be stronger. This would give him too much energy to defeat. Become softer, lighter the more your partner becomes strong/heavy. Sometimes it is not about winning but about surviving

November 25, 2009

Don't Cross Center

If your opponent crosses his arm toward center, push him. If you are caught crossing your arm toward center, open the shoulder outward from the inside to uncross. It works almost every time when you are the pusher. The best way to get out of it is not to get into it (crossing the chest) to begin with. It is best to study and practice how to "open from the inside" to begin with then it is easier to use "opening from the inside" to get out of a mistake that you made, that is, not having the shoulder joint open. Even if you can't relax the chest and move the shoulder joint sideways, away from the body, at the very least, don't allow your arm to be less than perpendicular, 90 degrees, to your chest. In that way, you will never have your arm trapped across your center...ahh very bad. Of course you can still be pushed all over the place because of other mistakes you may be making. But don't cross the chest. You are just making every thing too easy for your partner

November 14, 2009

Push Hands- a few axioms

Go the direction of force and turn it in a circle. Circles can be ½ inch small or they can be as large as the length of your arm.

You can also go the direction of force, and using a very small circle, you can “U-turn” the energy, causing your opponent’s energy to appear to “bounce” off you. You can do this with your hands or any other part of the body.

Push with your legs, not the muscles of your arms. A woman’s thigh muscle is bigger than a man’s arm muscles, no matter how much he works out.

When under attack, move to the center (middle), Do not stay in the back position. Do not continue to move backwards. Save the backdoor for emergencies.

If your opponent is in the backward position, push him.

If your opponent crosses his arm toward center, push him. (see November 25, 2009 entry)

Arms are never, ever, to cross the chest. The angle between the upper arm (Humorous) and the chest should never be less than 90 degrees,

If you are caught crossing your arm toward center, open the shoulder outward from the inside to uncross. Do not use the muscles of your hand and arm to try to uncross, that will just make it worse.

Defend, Attack… Defend, Attack… Defend, Attack.

Mix it up. Don’t be boring. Do not keep the action always at waist height (like everyone does… boring).

Find the applications of your taiji forms in your push hands.

Use the “distraction” technique. Lure your opponent’s attention one way and attack the opposite.

Don’t do the same five moves over and over. Mix it up. Don’t be predictable.

The first push can be used to disturb your opponent’s energy or to set up the attack. The second push (on the out of balance opponent) is the real push. Be kind.

For a sure win with an opponent that is not very experienced: Cross Push- pull or push your opponent across his front leg. Push from shoulder through center to the other shoulder. Cross push or pull at a 90 degree angle from the direction of the front foot.

Keep your head up. The first time you accidentally bonk heads with your opponent you will learn this. Bonking heads is the painful way to learn this.

Don’t react, respond. Relax. Stop the panic of being under attack.

If you are pushed, and it is too late to defend, stay attached to your opponent. Your opponent cannot push you further than his hands when you are stuck to him. Maintain your structure.

Fundamentals- Key Word List March 9, 2009. A short, key word kind of list to remind you (and me) that each and every one our taiji movements contain these fundamentals.

         Lift the Crown.
         Forward: Mind/Spirit/Intent, eyes, hands, elbows, body
        Backward: Mind/Spirit/intent, eyes, body, elbows, hands
         Open from the inside. Soften the chest.... read complete Key Word List

Master Jasmine Tung Chan died on March 6, 2009 at 5:30 AM.

Master Alex Dong: I am so sorry for the loss of your great aunt.

Master Jasmine Tung was and continues to be my personal Taiji Hero.

Master Jasmine was the youngest child of founder Grandmaster Tung Ying Jie (Tung Ying Kit) … read more

Taiji Smile February 19, 2009- I once heard Master Alex Dong say that he learns from everyone. That there is something you can learn from each person. Well, about four months ago, I was watching my six month old granddaughter quietly, intently playing with a small toy. I was watching, not interacting with her. While watching, I noticed a feeling of utter relaxation melt down my face. As the relaxation rolled down, I noticed the slightest, the lightest, little smile develop across my mouth. I noticed that this slight, light, little smile involved no tightening of the face and mouth muscles. I noticed that my spirit was soft, peaceful and open.

From my granddaughter Devon, I have discovered the Taiji Smile that all of us have heard about and tried but have never really become comfortable or successful. A Taiji Smile is what happens to your mouth and face and spirit when you look at a very young child. The Taiji Smile is Pure Unconditional Love.

This leads me to believe that there is probably not a Taiji Smile in the very intense and strong Hao style. Anyway, try it with the Yang style.

Taiji Fundamentals By Toni DeMoulin September 29, 2007 revision

The following study of Taiji Fundamentals is based on personal experience and dedicated study with Master Alex Dong and Master Tung Kai Ying. This paper is an in depth study of the fundamentals of taijiquan.

I encourage the serious student to make a list of what you think is true 100% of the time in every move. Write your list before you read my notes or anybody else's notes. Make this list based on your personal experience and observations, not what you have been told or something you have read. Take your time. The process of doing this is invaluable when studying Taiji. I have done this many times during the past 35 years. After you have made your own list, go ahead and read this paper or others you find on the internet. Try physically doing what is suggested on someone else’s paper and see if it feels good, is it comfortable, is it the natural way the body moves and sinks?

The following principles are true at all times..............read complete article:(An in depth study of the fundamentals of taijquan.)

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Santa Barbara Tai Chi

Finish one movement before beginning another movement.

A movement is finished when the breath finishes exhaling. The next movement begins with the beginning of the breath's inhale. If you allow yourself to finish exhaling, the movement will automatically begin as you inhale. Any questions?