2good2b4gotten wrote:Silk reeling (纏絲, chánsī) is specific feature of Taijiquan (especially Chen style).
In the following video there is explanation of the term by Master Chen Zhonghua.
What do you think about this explanation?
I am not a Chen practitioner, but it seems to lack an important dimension other Chen stylists speak about.
Why a silk thread? Because it's very, very delicate and requires a very precise, delicate movement.
oragami_itto wrote:To be more precise, in my Yang tradition we move the body as if telling silk from a cocoon meaning steady force and pressure, no gaps or breaks or jerks in power that would snap the tiny silk thread.
What he's talking about I would classify as part threading the Qi through the nine bends Pearl
Chen and Yang use different expressions and use different characters. Chen use "reeling" or "twisting reeling".
Yang use "pulling", and yes, pulling silk is like pulling silk out from a cocoon. You must use perfectly even, smooth movements. When you move slow, you should be aware of the movement and pace for every mm, or every little part something, like an arm, moves through space. Perfect awareness.
It's similar to when you practice Chinese calligraphy which is the most sensitive calligraphy there is. Straight movements are perfectly straight and when the brush moves, there is a precision that must be must precise like operating with a scalpel. If not, any jerk, any difference in height, any slight slowing down, will be visible. You can find many different analogies, like the precision when you play pool games etc. There is a precision as using only the exact muscles needed for a certain movement. It develops awareness, precision and smoothness of movements. It can also help the practitioner to develop a deeper level of relaxation as you can use it to learn to only use exactly what muscles is needed for a certain movement.