Meditation and taijiquan

[Bao]

adult humans are amazing at over-complicating every possible thing, especially things they don't actually understand.

Who overcomplicate things and who doesn't understand what?

on the flip side, in a very "binary" digital world, having an ancient philosophy that says everything comes from a "1" or "0" is interesting.

That comes from the Yijing.

Tai Chi is the name Yin Yang symbol, so many people mistake "Tai Chi" meaning yin yang. So most people interpret Tai Chi as "balancing opposites". However, the original Tai Chi concept as invented by Zhou Yi is not just "Yin and yang". It is the very principle of change. Tai Chi means that if something reaches its limit, it will turn into its opposite.

Now, intellectually understanding things is actually very easy. Now we are talking about a martial art. In Tai Chi understanding comes from doing. So the question is: How do you do this theory practically? How do you adapt the philosophy into practical practice?

If you truly understand this very simple thing, you should be able to explain it in simple terms.

[Steve James]

Tai Chi is the name Yin Yang symbol, so many people mistake "Tai Chi" meaning yin yang. So most people interpret Tai Chi as "balancing opposites"

The sign is just a representation of the tai chi concept using yin yang symbolism. "Tai chi" isn't two things; it's one thing from which all changes and permutations necessarily follow. This is as apparent in real life (nature) as day turns to night. Imo, the concept wasn't invented; it was observed and translated into a philosophical principle.

Anyway, afa the physics (nature of the universe) the most basic atom is hydrogen, which has one electron and one proton. Every other atom in the universe is some combination of electrons and protons.

[Bao]

Imo, the concept wasn't invented; it was observed and translated into a philosophical principle.

The theory and explanation was invented. Of course it was based on observations of nature. The ideas were obviously present already in the Yijing. Zhou Yi explained the mechanisms behind the changes and gave it a name.

Theory is fine, how you translate it into practical practice is the interesting thing.

[robert]

The term taiji (太極) is found in the Yijing, in the Xici.

是故，易有太極，是生兩儀，兩儀生四象，四象生八卦，八卦定吉凶，吉凶生大業

Therefore in (the system of) the Yi there is the Grand Terminus [taiji], which produced the two elementary Forms. Those two Forms produced the Four emblematic Symbols, which again produced the eight Trigrams. The eight trigrams served to determine the good and evil (issues of events), and from this determination was produced the (successful prosecution of the) great business (of life).

English translation: James Legge

Adler's translation -
[5] For this reason in change there is Supreme Polarity (taiji), which generates the Two Modes. The Two Modes generate the Four Images, and the Four Images generate the Eight Trigrams.

[everything]

if you are seated and not moving, presumably you can mostly take "li" out of the equation. so if you work more on yi->qi, it seems more beneficial.

[windwalker]

The term taiji (太極) is found in the Yijing, in the Xici.

是故，易有太極，是生兩儀，兩儀生四象，四象生八卦，八卦定吉凶，吉凶生大業

Therefore in (the system of) the Yi there is the Grand Terminus [taiji], which produced the two elementary Forms. Those two Forms produced the Four emblematic Symbols, which again produced the eight Trigrams. The eight trigrams served to determine the good and evil (issues of events), and from this determination was produced the (successful prosecution of the) great business (of life).

English translation: James Legge

Adler's translation -
[5] For this reason in change there is Supreme Polarity (taiji), which generates the Two Modes. The Two Modes generate the Four Images, and the Four Images generate the Eight Trigrams.

Lets see how the same things "translated " mentioned in a demonstration play out.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7T7jTPK9Wg

[GrahamB]

How on earth do you find these wacky no-touch videos? And why troll the forum with them?

[windwalker]

How on earth do you find these wacky no-touch videos? And why troll the forum with them?

Do you understand what he's saying or what you'er looking at ?

Therefore in (the system of) the Yi there is the Grand Terminus [taiji], which produced the two elementary Forms. Those two Forms produced the Four emblematic Symbols, which again produced the eight Trigrams.

His explanation was on how taiji is quite Scientific in its approach
and has it's own theory...some of which was posted...

The clip shows a physical manifestation of taiji as it relates to the theory...

odd how no one questions a theory, until the physical aspects are shown....

The teacher BTW is quite noted for his level of skill....

[GrahamB]

No, I don't understand what he's saying - he's talking in Chinese. And I don't understand what he's showing as he appears to be using a kind of invisible energy to make a guy jump backwards. I'm pretty certain there is no invisible energy that can do this, but each to their own.

[marvin8]

The clip shows a physical manifestation of taiji as it relates to the theory...

odd how no one questions a theory, until the physical aspects are shown....

This clip shows the pull/push concept without touch in a fight, not demo. Which is better control opponent before contact or after?

Edit: Rose half steps with the lead leg and feints a jab, then pulls the lead leg back. This causes Weili to take a small step forward and rotate forward with her rear hand parry. As Weili steps forward, Rose simultaneously half steps forward, pendulum steps chambering her Taekwondo kick. (Rose's push/pull/push half step causes Weili to half step forward, weight the front foot, think about the jab and then the low leg kick and reverse her direction from the front foot to retreating on the back foot to avoid the fake low kick.) Rose fakes the low leg kick by constantly looking down, then finishes her Taekwondo kick to Weili's head knocking her down:

[Taste of Death]

Pickett half steps with the lead leg and feints a slide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bb0n4pNwBw

Commentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkS1Qftv4EM

[everything]

oof. some good ankle flexibility. looks like it could hurt!

[dragonprawn]

My Sifu's book is very useful. It is clear on the points of premeditation stretching, hand positions, mental steps and post-meditation massages. It gets right to the point like a workbook or manual and it is also nicely illustrated.

[cloudz]

In terms of position, recent years i favour lying down, corpse I suppose in yoga.

I guess you are focusing on internal aspects more and that can vary from 'shen' practices or energetic and so on. then it can depend how that translates to your taijiquan. it can only widen your circle of knowledge and experience imo.

[wiesiek]

interesting thread, thank you guys

TJ , YIN/YANG, symbolic representation - TJ is the line dividing the circle ,
this is my understanding for today.