wayne hansen wrote:If they are not trying to win why is there so much use of awkward strength
A perception that stems from one's own inner lens...
Don't know what they were trying to do, only the way I viewed it...
What I see and look for may be different then what others see and look for...
awkward strength
donno, maybe something you might address to direct students or those who were there...
My bet would be there would be very few people who could ph with them as the other teachers
there at the time...having the same or near the same level...did...
In general the higher the level the less outer movement often confusing those who watch
expecting the same reactions as those not at the same level or close to it...
My point in posting the clip was in answer about whether masters competed or tested their skill sets..
Lots of anecdotal stories, very few clips of them in action...
After dinner Zheng Manqingdemonstrated his form and asked Zhang Qinlin to do likewise. Zheng watched and saw Zhang do the 81-Step and thought, "Nothing special." Zheng Manqing then asked Zhang Laoshi to
push hands with him.
Zhang Laoshi looked at Zhang Zhijiang and OId Man Pu" with a questioning expression. Zhang then said to Zheng Manqing, "Do you really want to push hands with me?" Zheng replied, "Yes." After making sure everyone agreed, Zhang Laoshi consented.
Zhang Laoshi was just deflecting right, deflecting left.
He then made a Ji, and Zheng Manqing flew - over the table and into the wall, which almost fell over." Pu bingru (who was laughing while telling the story) said that the impact left a hole in the wall, and Zheng Manqing, after crashing into the wall, slumped to the ground.
Everyone ran over, picked him up while asking if he was okay. Zheng stood up (a little shaken but not hurt - the outcome was not what he had anticipated) then went to his knees and said to Zhang Laoshi, You must take me as your student."
how or what happend often not questioned because it's not seen....
only in the minds eye according to ones own experience...