"Tai Chi for Health" by Edward Maisel
- Relax. Avoid any nervous or muscular tension. Relax facial muscles as well. The result will be a look of serenity.
- Empty your mind of thought and allow it to become wholly concerned with and aware of each movement of the body.
- Perform the actions as slowly as possible.
- Keep the same tempo throughout. Some actions lend themselves to a faster tempo, but avoid any such temptation to hurry.
- Breath easily and naturally through the nose.
- Every action should be comfortable. If it is not comfortable, it is not correct.
- Never push any action to the utmost. Never stop as far as possible. Always reserve the end of the action to become the beginning of the next one.
- Every action should be performed with careful deliberateness. Nothing is unimportant. Perform each action as though for the first time.
- No conscious strength or force should ever be exerted.
- Action is continuous from the beginning of Tai Chi to the end of Tai Chi. Never stop an action. Never be completely still.
6 comments:
I believe these are similar to Yang Cheng Fu's 10 principles, however I am curious as to how they relate to chen style in regards to tempo changes?
I have not got chance to learn Chen Style. I would like to learn it. I will ask my friend who is learning Chen Style right now. - Cindy
Here are some comments from my friend who has studied Tai Chi extensively:
"I have checked 9 books discussing Chen style and Yang style Taiji. Most of these books are considered as very important Taiji documents.
Based on these books and what I have learned from practicing Taiji, here are my two cents.
The Ten basic Rules of Practicing Taiji can be found in Yang Cheng-Fu's book: Illustration of Taiji Chuan Application. I have checked some Chen-Style Books, including Chen Xing's, Ma Hong's and others. None of them list these ten basic rules. However, from the
pages of discussion of Taiji important rules, I concluded all the ten basic rules apply on Chen style as well.
Tempo change in Chen style is very noticeable. However, lots of people practice Yang style also take the similar approach, known as "quick frame". The ten basic rules apply on quick frame.
Hi Cindy.
I agree, the 10 principles seem to come down via the yang line. I have seen both small/fast frames of yang style, most notable the dong family fast set.
I ask this question b/c currently I practice both yang and chen, but I think I need to make a decision on a style and use it to dig deeper into the principles.
Chen Xiao Wang also discusses how all taiji is based on the 3 principles of dantien rotation. I outlined a bit of it on my own blog: What to Focus On?
Your blog postings are very interesting especially the posting "What To Focus On?"
Thanks, Cindy. Like you, I am a taiji practitioner searching for the way ;) Stop by anytime.
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