wayne hansen wrote:You can song someone to death
Rear naked choke is one example but there are many more
If you can't see that you are still in the world of base mechanics
rojcewiczj wrote: My current understanding is that it has to do with having space within oneself, or to reside within ones own space. Meaning, that one has the space to change internally regardless of external restrictions.
It remains very mysterious to me.
If we say Song means to relax or release, How does relaxation effect application?
rojcewiczj wrote:It seems to me that all athletes, and really every human person, is generally relaxed when not under any pressure besides gravity. So why is Song such a high level ability? An ability which allows for a whole new range of martial methods to be expressed? Is it just a quality that one builds up gradually through practice, like strength and flexibility? If so, why is it spoken of as something that you can do intentionally? It seems to me that martial art is either an exercise or not. Meaning, when you do a movement over and over as an exercise, you become stronger and more flexible based on the exercise performed. This is not at all unique to Taiji. So what makes Song special?
oragami_itto wrote:Relaxed like a lady's long hair hanging down
Giles wrote:oragami_itto wrote:Relaxed like a lady's long hair hanging down
Aha, thanks for that!! Even before I saw your post, that was just what I wanted to ask about. I remember reading somewhere, long ago, that the Chinese character and/or original meaning was exactly this. And I wanted to ask the sinologically clued-up among the community if this is indeed true or not, or whether they can add anything else to this (the root meaning)?
If so, it would of course tie in with the idea of a minimally blocked heaven-earth alignment in the body, YCF's "suspended head-top", "hanging from the golden thread" etc. etc. Which helps to open joints, extend connective tissues etc. Which in turn can lead to "space within oneself".
I sometimes work/teach with the image of a long, heavy curtain, made of heavy velvet or suchlike, hanging down to the floor. It has weight and substance and a clear vertical alignment, but also a certain water-like quality. If you "attack" it, it will yield to some extent but quickly return of its own accord, through gravity, to a state of "zhong ding".
(Yes, it's only an analogy, far from being the whole story... )
rojcewiczj wrote:It seems to me that all athletes, and really every human person, is generally relaxed when not under any pressure besides gravity.
So why is Song such a high level ability? An ability which allows for a whole new range of martial methods to be expressed?
Is it just a quality that one builds up gradually through practice, like strength and flexibility?
If so, why is it spoken of as something that you can do intentionally?
It seems to me that martial art is either an exercise or not. Meaning, when you do a movement over and over as an exercise, you become stronger and more flexible based on the exercise performed. This is not at all unique to Taiji. So what makes Song special?
rojcewiczj wrote: Is it just a quality that one builds up gradually through practice, like strength and flexibility? If so, why is it spoken of as something that you can do intentionally? It seems to me that martial art is either an exercise or not. Meaning, when you do a movement over and over as an exercise, you become stronger and more flexible based on the exercise performed. This is not at all unique to Taiji. So what makes Song special?
Ron Panunto wrote:To experience song, extend the arms and hands to 100% of your ability, then relax 30% so that you are now extended or expanded 70%, then relax the muscles over that extended posture. That is song. It is not "wet noodle" relaxation. Works well in standing post exercise. Relaxation over expansion is peng, the basis of taiji.
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