Why Holistic and Why the Martial Arts?
Each student follows his or her own interests and the curriculum serves only as a guide for the Instructor and student to monitor progress.
Tai Chi covers a wide range of ideas, different schools train different things and in different ways. The Shi Zen Do concept offers both holistic and Martial. My train of thought is if you can understand and perform the martial then the holistic looks after itself, you as the student decide what you want.
To understand the martial arts side you have to be able to utilize the principles and concepts of Tai Chi and be able to grasp its function. To begin with developing the postures with the correct weight distribution and the body angles is all you need. This will build strength and softness within the body and have the desired calmness and flow of movement that you look for; with the added use of breathing you are already doing moving mediation. This is the holistic side of the art, learning how to develop the body through the concept of Tai Chi. Tai Chi Chuan is the Martial art side, chuan translates as fist or function. The greater achievement of the art is its function born from the holistic derived form correct form.
Single Pushing hand drills are the concept of sensitivity and understanding the varying forces applied on you. Within this training, adhere, stick, connect and follow are developed, thus enabling you to monitor the subtle forces in your partner’s hand. The push is directed at your centre with a small amount of force; the receiver then redirects this force away from their centre to the corner then redirects the force back to their partner. Two students work together co-coordinating the force in a figure of eight pattern linking the arms to the waist. Both partners are receiving, negating and deflecting using a subtle force in a continuous cycle using the body, waist and legs to develop each other’s skill level. Once the basic pattern of movement has been learnt then the process of developing real skill begins. Through the pushing hands method you cultivate a deeper understanding of the inherent softness and sensitivity within this drill. Adhere, Stick, connect and follow are the principles skills under development within this partnered drill.
Double Push Hands
This is the process of two hands training, the double push hands is the concept of grasp the birds tail, section one of part one. The primary hands and the corner hands are utilised developed through partnered training. This is similar to the single push hands excepted here two circles are used.
Vertical Push Hands
Again the concept of sensitivity and attaching is trained. The vertical push hands training method develops the Kua (Hip crease) point. The Kua point is a very important point within the bodies moving ability connecting the upper and lower body through the use of centring.
Single Aun Double Aun Push
First trained as a single push i.e. one hand connection through the partners shoulder then as a two handed push. The monitoring hands spiral around the partners arms and
Dynamic Tui Shou
Two person partnered training developing strength and projection. Here the joints are developed, as is the idea of pushing through and beyond your partner. Grounding is also cultivated so as the force can freely flow through the structures of the body.
Seven Pearl Body Push
Developing sensitivity with demonstration of body structure and stability applied with softness. Tai Chi’s major folding points of the body are, two Shoulders, Chest folding back, Abdomen, Rotation of the two hips and the Shoulder folding diagonally forwards. These exercises teach flexibility, with the idea of the body being sensitive to forces applied against it. The student learns to adjust the body through the core rotational points of the body whilst keeping good alignment.
Projecting your partner to the matted wall, Aun, is used here to uproot your partner to push them away, this is performed softly.
Yin Yang Form
Clearly separates the substantial and unsubstantial, weighting and sifting from one posture to the next. The Yin Yang form is a useful way to develop the smooth flowing movements associated with Tai Chi Chuan.
Spiral form teaches how to feed your attack into the opponent or deflect the opponent’s attack aimed at you. The spiral form is also known as the opening and closing form, think of it rather like a cone of spiralling force driving inwards or outwards.
Joint manipulation, locks and immobilising techniques linked into unbroken flow with a partner. Chin Na teaches the student how to apply various holds on the wrist, elbow, and shoulder; these techniques are trained and developed on both sides of the body. Once Chi Na has been learnt and the skill level sufficient this is then added to the push hands training, whereas the student learns when to place the manipulation by blending and bending incoming force. Chin Na is a responsive defence from various attacks the aim being to neutralise your attackers attack.
Two-person form developing the four corner hands. Pull-down, Split, Elbow-stroke and shoulder stroke. How these are learning is crucial in understanding its function and usage. This form takes the student a little closer to Tai Chi Chuan self-defence.
Key to unlocking the Tai Chi Chuan form used for self- defence. Ideas relating to the form, utilising self-defence concepts with a partner. Linked into a continua’s flow, striking, kicking, grapping, pushing, locking and vital point attack all trained.
10 Principles of Tai Chi
1. Emptying the thoughts and raising the head as if the crown of the head is pressed up against the heaven.
2. Hollowing the chest to raise the back
3. Loosening up the waist
4. Distinguishing between substantial and insubstantial
5. Sinking the shoulders and weighting down the elbows
6. Using Yi intention and not physical strength
7. Co-ordination of both the upper and lower body
8. Internal and external togetherness
9. Continuity without breakage
10. Seeking stillness within movement
Look for the square within the circle
Position the feet for the waist to turn.