"Oh hey, this stuff works!"

[origami_itto]

So I started teaching in the park, just fundamentals. No form work yet. I'm isolating arms and shoulders, spine and waist, and legs and hips in separate single drills based on select form movements.

Collectively, the movements comprise 7 different ways to use circles that specifically target the physical conditioning and coordination needed to tie them together in one unit. It's systematic so mastery of each circle helps achieve the next, and then the next level of the exercise.

The first circle is just Taiji beginning from your forms, aka the "up and down" qigong, raise the arms, lower the arms, repeat.

The second has the hands on opposite sides of an imaginary wheel on your centerline, palms facing away from the wheel, inner palm rising, outer palm falling. I originally learned the movement as "drilling" in baguazhang, but it is essentially a part of how I do "White Crane Spreads Wings", and in the next levels it becomes that but for here it's just that drilling. There's more to it but this is enough for the discussion.

The idea is that if you're surprised, your natural impulse is to flinch into that posture, which suggests the "Philly Shell" defense from western boxing.

So my student, who had been missing lately, shows up to class yesterday, so excited. She said she was out walking a bird flew right into her face, but she responded with the drilling movement and it just bounced right off her forearm. No harm done. I'd say she's in her 40's maybe early 50s, It's hard to tell.

And y'all, that's the moments that make it worth it for me. I could care less about people that want to go out of their way to put themselves in danger, whether that's in a sports fight or a homemade submersible, but helping just normal folks avoid ... uh... bird strikes??? and being able to play more with their kids and grandkids, maybe keep an overzealous dog or two from knocking them down when they visit, that's what it's all about for me.

[everything]

she's clearly a taiji master already, haha. well, only if the bird then couldn't take off from her palm afterwards, I suppose. but really, "taiji 101" is already "real" and "usable". I guess most MA are, though (also not talking about the going out of your way to be in danger ... hey if you want that, just come drive around my neighborhood of shit drivers)

[yeniseri]

I figured out a long time ago that 'basic relaxation" goes a long way, having no relationship to technique but together that do an excellent job
TRANSLATION: Relaxation with limited knowledge and understanding of "technoque" allows one to persevere along with one's current level of physical conditioning.

I look at the tenured masters of taijiquan with the best masters in the universe and they all fall to the untitled and simple one just enjoying his favourite pastime and learning skilll as best as s/he can, without adornment

[everything]

"relax" works in all sports as well (not talking about the taijiquan disney magic level)

[GrahamB]

Well done that your student defended herself against a flying bird, I guess?

btw, if you took up a combat sport in addition to your martial arts practice you would never need to be surprised that something actually works... It's worth thinking about.

[origami_itto]

But surprises are so fun!