ChiDragon

Well, I'm still struggling.... BTW The School of Nina is going to be closed down at the end of the year.

LOL Walker..... 门外汉 are always the majority......

" As far as ChiDragon's tenurial posture on this forum, I rather believe I'm on his "ignore" list— and I don't blame him one bit. heehee!!❤" deci belle.... I think you are fascinating. Whatever that means, I do appreciate that....

I think my translation in the Tao Te Ching section is philosophical. I don't think it may be very suitable for western taste....

I grant you that your only held back is on my short period of time with my Tai Ji teacher. However, my long period of time reading does not discredit my advanced comprehension with the updated continuous knowledge. Reading updated materials from knowledgeable people is most comprehensible than learning from a teacher with limited ancient mythologies and no modern science knowledge. What I meant to say is; if the basic fundamental were understood, then why not simplify it instead of complicating it to something that is beyond reasonable doubt.

There is no more to be said. I just want to emphasize that ZZ is only a simple method to strengthen the legs muscles. Thus there is really nothing else more than that. Lots of people said they do not have time to practice. The reason I agreed to do ZZ by standing in front of the TV is to take advantage of the time to do something meaningful. It is better than sitting down on a sofa and become a couch potato. I know people have learn a lot of methods and theories, but tried to apply them all in one was not the thing to do. Each method or theory is standing on its own. It is not necessary to combine them together to expect a better result than what the original method was intended. Some people are mixing Taoist thinking and Buddhist thinking and thought that was a good thing to do without having a thorough understanding of the philosophy behind each method. For example, some people might think that by applying the Buddhist Ch'an into ZZ was doing oneself a big favor. Anyway, if one really understand what ZZ and Ch'an was all about, then, one wouldn't have this kind of dubious thinking. Finally, I had read lots of posts here mixing the TCM terminologies in describing martial art by using Chi as a single unit as energy to treat it as a blanket cover for all areas.

Actually you are not going anywhere; you are still within heaven and earth. We will find you in this small universe..... PS... I might need to get out of here soon too.

Yeah, what have you learnt from you teacher...???

He had a good teacher. A good teacher will never tell him anything at the beginning. He must learn by intuition from his own practice.

Use common sense. The truth of a matter should be just one or two versions. If there are over 3 dozen versions to a truth, then this is an indication that there is no truth. "visualising the head inside of the body" is bunch of fiction thought by a crazy ancient Taoist or whoever. It is not something worth wasting your time to pursue for.

As a beginner, one would think about anything else but just go through the basic movements without following any rules. The object is to have all the movements done as smooth as possible in one continuous flow. When you move your arms, legs and hips, they should be simultaneously without hesitation. However, do not think about doing the movements correctly at the beginning because they will correct themselves in the later stage of the practice. Right now, you should just concentrate on getting the form of movements only. The key to Tai Ji is practice and practice to get it to be perfect but don't expect it to be perfect in a hurry. At the later stage in your practice, you should have your mind focus on each move. Your movements should be moved very slow; they should be moved 1/16 of an inch at a time but smoothly, so the speak. Have your mind focus at one point of your arms or legs or hips, then everything else move along with that point. You should know where your body is at all times and where and how you are going to move next. However, don't expect all this at the beginning. These features will be happening, in the future, after a long period practice. Now, the story about "open" your hips. What do you mean by "open"...??? Do you mean turning the hips....??? May I ask how is your body build physically...??? Do you think it has something to do with a physical problem in turning your hips....???

宁... Totally agree. It's better coming out from your mouth than mine.....

You welcome....

I am also learning it from the site below. Since you had learned the 24-step short form, maybe it is good reference for you. The good thing about it was that the video is showing the movements from the backside. [media] [/media] BTW I had it in mind to cite this for you before you went to China. Maybe it is not too late.

I had a good teacher, she taught a new set of movements each week. In class we learn and practice the set for two hours then go home to practice twice each day. Next week, we learn a new set again, In class again practice from the previous set of movements plus the new set. Practice again at home in the same manner. The third week, we learn the third set, then go home again and practice the three sets continuously twice a day until all the set of the 108 movement were learned. With this teaching and practicing method, The practitioners have no problem in remembering all the movements. BTW The 24-step short form was simplified by the Chinese government, in 1956, so it will be less complicated for all the common people to practice it. Since then, the westerner were interested in the Tai Ji Chuan and went to learn in China. The 24-step short form was taught to them. The westerners brought and taught in their own country. Thus the 24-step short form become an international standard, so, all can compete in Beijing.

Yes, there are lots of steps were repeated.

I had learned the 108 Yang style long time ago and practiced since then on my own. Tai Ji requires lots of patience at the beginning regardless of what style that was. I always like to practice it and talk about it with someone but no one seems to be interested. What part of Southern California do you live in...??? Maybe we can get together and have some fun in a discussion.

Yes, Yang style tai ji.

Check the Chinese Yellow Page. BTW I live in Southern California too. Do a google search: chen style tai chi los angeles

Yes, for a novice, there are pains on the knee caps due to the initial stress for the cold joints. After a long time practice, your knee caps will be able to withstand the stress and no more pain, even though you have the knee caps passed the toes. If you exert a little force in the legs or Fa Jin, you will feel that your muscles are hard as a rock and be careful who you kick....!!!

Ya Mu... I had read some of the reports from some researchers; but most of them are just superficial words and not conclusive. They still do not show any correlation between the two systems. That was why I made such a statement.

Moved from another thread....

The fatal environment is the opposite of lines 10 thru 14: 10.Walking on land will not meet a rhinoceros or a tiger. 11.Enlisted man will not be harmed by weapons. 12.Rhinoceros has no chance to thrust its horn. 13.Tiger has no chance to utilize its claws. 14.Weapon have no chance to cut with its sharpen edge. 16.以其無死地。 .以: because of 其: he; she; it 無: none; don't have 死地: death place; dead end; a dangerous place; fatal environment; a place will cause one's death. It can be translated as: He has no land of death which means he has not run into any dangerous place. PS.... The key character, here, is 無(wu). Most of the time, it was use as an adjective as none but over here it was used as a verb(don't have).

Aaron.... Good point...!!! I was going to start a thread similar to this one but you beat me to it. Nowadays, the native Chinese practitioners of TCM tend to claim that TCM is preventive rather than a cure to an aliments. The efficacy of TCM are by words of mouth. Mostly lightly each individual case are described differently from each practitioner. TCM are only concerned with the results rather than having any connection with the modern scientific explanations. Hence, there is always a big conflict between the two systems. Maybe, someday, someone who will step over the line to integrate the two systems with an explanation which will be acceptable for both sides.

Yes, at least, Taoists have enough patience for tolerance........