Re: Tuishou practice in taijiquan
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:50 am
My teaching emphasizes interactive work, so I start new students with a version of PH (see below) and use class time emphasizing the principles using interactive exercises, paired forms and drills. There is plenty of solo form instruction available locally such that people who are looking for that can easily find it with other teachers.
I start classes with a three person push, rather than the typical one-on-one, for various reasons. One-on-one can get too confrontational and often leads to ego issues. Two against one reduces confrontation and ego and allows participants to not worry about losing. Two against one also trains participants to broaden their awareness since they need to respond to two independent inputs rather than just one opponent (e.g., they cannot effectively “brace” against one opponent because the other opponent will then often be successful, and they need a soft focus that encompasses more than focusing on one thing/person allows).
The three person free pushing starts gently with the two issuers trying to get the receiving middle person moving, but avoiding making them lose their balance (the issuers needing to sense that “tipping point” and backing off a little bit prior to exceeding that point) – therefore allowing the receiver to try to relax rather than resisting or avoiding (running away from) the incoming forces (and not having to worry about falling down). This initial version emphasizes the sensing stage (for all three participants) prior to trying to use what is sensed for off-balancing. Later versions try to use what is sensed to off-balance the middle person, and there are many increasingly difficult versions of this three person free pushing format that can be used.
Day one has them pay attention to the soles of their feet (rocking and rolling...) and the crown of their head (suspended...) during the sensing version of the three person push mentioned above. Later classes add awareness of other joints and body surfaces, as well as movement principles, etc. I try to get students to understand TJQ principles while under pressure rather than merely dealing with the constant and vertical force of gravity as experienced during solo form practice.
While it is often relatively easy to understand the principles using this class format, it is rather difficult to put them successfully into practice. At home the students can use solo forms to practice these principles without the added difficulty of interacting with other people – but at least they know what they are striving towards. In my experience it is much more difficult to even understand what the principles are without first experiencing them using interactive feedback (that is typically lacking in solo forms work).
I find those that only do solo forms generally lack the awareness of when their joints are properly aligned and stable. Most people need their postures to be challenged by forces other than gravity in order to learn this. It requires being pushed and pulled from various angles and with varying intensities to check one’s structure/alignment. Form alone does not seem to be enough for most practitioners. They may feel comfortable, but this may just be a feeling based on habit rather than being correct. They need objective feedback of some sort in order to check their complacency. I use interactive practices to provide feedback rather than just verbally trying to correct students’ solo postures and movements. Of course, the interactive work also needs to have a progression so that the exercises do not overwhelm the less skilled students. If overwhelmed, then they also will not be able to understand and will not progress.
Admittedly, I do not retain numerous students, and especially not those just looking for an easy or gentle health practice that they can feel good about doing. Oh well, I am not trying to make a living from this art.
I start classes with a three person push, rather than the typical one-on-one, for various reasons. One-on-one can get too confrontational and often leads to ego issues. Two against one reduces confrontation and ego and allows participants to not worry about losing. Two against one also trains participants to broaden their awareness since they need to respond to two independent inputs rather than just one opponent (e.g., they cannot effectively “brace” against one opponent because the other opponent will then often be successful, and they need a soft focus that encompasses more than focusing on one thing/person allows).
The three person free pushing starts gently with the two issuers trying to get the receiving middle person moving, but avoiding making them lose their balance (the issuers needing to sense that “tipping point” and backing off a little bit prior to exceeding that point) – therefore allowing the receiver to try to relax rather than resisting or avoiding (running away from) the incoming forces (and not having to worry about falling down). This initial version emphasizes the sensing stage (for all three participants) prior to trying to use what is sensed for off-balancing. Later versions try to use what is sensed to off-balance the middle person, and there are many increasingly difficult versions of this three person free pushing format that can be used.
Day one has them pay attention to the soles of their feet (rocking and rolling...) and the crown of their head (suspended...) during the sensing version of the three person push mentioned above. Later classes add awareness of other joints and body surfaces, as well as movement principles, etc. I try to get students to understand TJQ principles while under pressure rather than merely dealing with the constant and vertical force of gravity as experienced during solo form practice.
While it is often relatively easy to understand the principles using this class format, it is rather difficult to put them successfully into practice. At home the students can use solo forms to practice these principles without the added difficulty of interacting with other people – but at least they know what they are striving towards. In my experience it is much more difficult to even understand what the principles are without first experiencing them using interactive feedback (that is typically lacking in solo forms work).
I find those that only do solo forms generally lack the awareness of when their joints are properly aligned and stable. Most people need their postures to be challenged by forces other than gravity in order to learn this. It requires being pushed and pulled from various angles and with varying intensities to check one’s structure/alignment. Form alone does not seem to be enough for most practitioners. They may feel comfortable, but this may just be a feeling based on habit rather than being correct. They need objective feedback of some sort in order to check their complacency. I use interactive practices to provide feedback rather than just verbally trying to correct students’ solo postures and movements. Of course, the interactive work also needs to have a progression so that the exercises do not overwhelm the less skilled students. If overwhelmed, then they also will not be able to understand and will not progress.
Admittedly, I do not retain numerous students, and especially not those just looking for an easy or gentle health practice that they can feel good about doing. Oh well, I am not trying to make a living from this art.