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Why does your Tai Chi practice seem lifeless, why does so much of what
you see that is called Tai Chi seem to be lacking something essential? The concept and practice of the core element of classical
Tai Chi, Internal Discipline, will give you the key to practicing good Tai Chi. There are many ways that people practice Tai Chi but only Internal
Discipline enables you to initiate movements from the internal core of the body- the abdomen and back—rather than from
the external parts of the body—the limbs. You can see and practice some demonstrations of Internal Discipline
please click here: http://www.classicaltaichi.com/internal-discipline.html Example: If you push the right hand forward
with the arm and shoulder it is an external movement. Internal movement uses the abdomen and the back moving the entire
upper-quarter of the body, including the arm and hand, forward. NOTE: Pass cursor over images on this page http://www.classicaltaichi.com/internal-discipline.html to see movements. Your arm and shoulder are relaxed with no movement relative to each
other. The motion is entirely driven internally. In addition, other parts of your body are essentially not moving serving
as the supporting structure for this movement. Another example of this upper-quarter body movement is the blocking motion
of your arm using internal discipline. Example: Turning of your upper body with
the feet stationary is usually carried out by crossing the legs. This is a weak external move with little power, balance and
stability. An internal move centers on the waist using the power of the abdomen and back while the pelvis and the legs essentially
are not moving. Example: For lower body movement, the power from your
abdomen and back is transmitted through the pelvis to the legs. Visualize that your pelvis is an extension of the leg. To
take a step, use the abdomen and back to lift the pelvis, which in turn lifts the leg. Move the foot forward and stretch your
pelvis downward until the foot is fully planted. All of these movements are internally driven with the upper body remaining
still. Then, the foot will pull the body forward to complete the step. Classical Tai Chi, or Tai Ji utilizes the philosophy of yin and yang
in every aspect of its practice. This philosophy asserts that every entity needs to coexist and interact with a counterpart
of opposite nature in order to achieve balance and vitality. For every internal movement, a moving part of the body (yang)
works against stationary part (yin) that provides support and power for the move. The junction between yin and yang is always
located in the torso. For the arm push forward movement described above, the junction is around the upper- quarter body area.
In the case of the turning movement, the junction is in the waist region. For the step forward movement, the junction is at
the lower-quarter body region above the pelvis. If you push the hand forward with the arm, then the junction is at the
shoulder. If the turning movement is accomplished by crossing the legs, then the junction is at the legs. If the step forward
move is done with the leg, then the junction is at the hip. These later cases are not internal movement. When you perform an internal movement correctly, you will feel the sensations
of stretching and intense energy flowing across the junction in an otherwise relaxed body. Classical Tai Chi, or Tai Ji form
teaches students how to use Internal Discipline in every move so internal energy circulates continuously throughout the body
during form playing, tuning and cultivating internal energy in the body. From the martial art point of view, the playing of
the classical Tai Chi form is, among other things, practicing the mobilization and delivery of the internal power until it
becomes instinctive, spontaneous, and instantaneous. The appearance of internal movement is very deceptive. Most uninitiated
observers will think it is a small, unremarkable, and simple movement and may opt for a more showy style. In fact, internal
movement is demanding to learn, both mentally and physically. But, the results of the effort will be unparalleled in improving
your health and well-being and in your martial art application. ONLINE VIDEO You have the opportunity here to see more discussion
on the health benefits, click here |
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