On excessive movement in taijiquan practice
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:30 pm
It has come to my attention recently, within the scope of my own training, that we become easily accustomed to moving much more than its necessary.
I would venture to say that this movement is not only unnecessary. It is detrimental and counter to the principles of the art.
I have been working a lot on dang / kua roundness and mobility, and I find that with greater movement within the pelvis, external movements quickly began to feel exaggerated and clumsy.
For example, during turning / reeling movements (sparrow's tail, knee brush, many others), the front knee tends to move if the pelvis is immobile. Opening the pelvis allows the knee to be still, free of any forward / backward or inward / outward movements.
Also notable is the tendency toward shifting weight or moving laterally while performing movements such as single whip.
This results in 'traveling', which is inefficient and greatly increases the risk of moving the center and rotating at the same time (uprooted-ness). Rather than traveling, allow the feet to move automatically while keeping the pelvis open and heavy, minding the orientation of the knees. (This stretches the inner thighs considerably, and I've had to be careful not to gather tension in the lower back to compensate.)
I would venture to say that this movement is not only unnecessary. It is detrimental and counter to the principles of the art.
I have been working a lot on dang / kua roundness and mobility, and I find that with greater movement within the pelvis, external movements quickly began to feel exaggerated and clumsy.
For example, during turning / reeling movements (sparrow's tail, knee brush, many others), the front knee tends to move if the pelvis is immobile. Opening the pelvis allows the knee to be still, free of any forward / backward or inward / outward movements.
Also notable is the tendency toward shifting weight or moving laterally while performing movements such as single whip.
This results in 'traveling', which is inefficient and greatly increases the risk of moving the center and rotating at the same time (uprooted-ness). Rather than traveling, allow the feet to move automatically while keeping the pelvis open and heavy, minding the orientation of the knees. (This stretches the inner thighs considerably, and I've had to be careful not to gather tension in the lower back to compensate.)