the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

You might enjoy this, you might not, but I'm posting one video a week showing you how to do that secret Tai Chi stuff

https://taichinotebook.wordpress.com/20 ... -launched/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV3DaNZz3hI

Thanks for sharing. I liked it. Good quality on the video, nicely done.

Not a big fan of speaking about meridians together with Tai Chi form practice, but you show that if you look at Tai Chi from a Qigong POV, which of course is what most people do, you can use this theory to make a good point that makes sense in a more practical manner.
... and the woo woo-ers will love it..

Thanks Bao. My aim is to make these light on theory and big on practice. Inevitably week 1 has the most theory.

They are a lot of work but they are also fun to do and it forces me to clarify my thinking.

Have recorded 4 weeks worth so far!

Thanks for sharing your stuff Graham...

I'm just curious if you've ever heard of or use (in your teaching) the concept of pinky finger aligned with ulna bone and index finger to radius bone?

For ex. In your exercise...(you're turning clockwise) . for that Direction, i lead with the ulna bone. Yes at around 9 - 10 oclock.my hand must turn over from heaven palm to facing down (earth) in order to continue this focus....but thats how i feel the changes.

Of course. Counter clockwise...i lead with the radius. Just an outsider observation.

Look forward to your next vid

Thanks Subitai.

No, I've never heard of that. My concern in the video is to feel a connection from little finger to little toe on an outward push (open) and from big toe to thumb on an inward pull.(close)

What is your purpose in aligning with radius and ulnar?

Subitai wrote:I'm just curious if you've ever heard of or use (in your teaching) the concept of pinky finger aligned with ulna bone and index finger to radius bone?

That's interesting, I was taught in a similar, though not identical way. Instead of focusing on the forearm bones (sides?), I was taught to focus on the middle finger and the pinky. The middle finger leads ascending movements, while pinky leads all descending ones. All this allows to focus on stretching in all arm joints, including the smallest of the fingers.

That's what I get for posting past 1am! Nobody is right or wrong here...at least for me anyway. It's just that Graham felt like sharing so I said, "why the hell not???"

I focus on the pinky and index finger as well...sorry for the confusion. What I was getting at is, it's also that they are aligned with the bones. Then as a result, the connection is pure.

To think of the 2 forearm bones as entirely as one unified arm is good in it's own way. But you can also think of them as individuals or independent. Yang and yin ...or full and not full...whatever gets you there.

Think of 2 ropes laying side by side...even with some tension pulling them taught, they are still independent of eachother. Now twist the bones(ala aligned with and using the pinky or index fingers) and affect the change you desire in a posture, an application or even in qi gong. The bones twist and connect. It's like open and close...with the forearm bones (with peng/expand and relax)

Even the "tigers Mouth" has open and close in my form. For us in Sun style, you'll see the "tigers mouth" is a bit more closed in Bagua...with the center of the palm being more hollow and deep. In Xing Yi, it's far more open and flat. In Taiji it's kinda middle between those 2 more relaxed. Much more for me personally, since I concentrate moreso on my Taiji...but my Tigers mouth definitely opens and closes throughout the form.

For us when the connection is pure, (or potent, or alive...) all the way to the finger tips...then it will be also correct down to the feet = upon testing.

Btw if anybody is feeling brave and wants to post their attempts at an arm circle on this thread I can provide some feedback.

Looking Forward for the next Video =)
Short, crisp.. nice to watch!

Great!

Thanks! - will post the next one on Monday, then every Monday going forward.

My concern in the video is to feel a connection from little finger to little toe on an outward push (open) and from big toe to thumb on an inward pull.(close)

This is the same idea for me too linking thumb via qihai and and little finger via mingmen, with the additional focus of the middle finger, which provides an 'axis' marker for the arm, useful in drilling, winding etc.

But I have met people with some of the other alignment concepts on the thread. Notably aligning the little finger and thumb to the ulna and radius when creating the 'piercing palms'.

Thanks for sharing your perspective Graham.

Little finger aligned with the ulna is what Jack Dempsey called the “power line”.

Here's week 2 - looking at where you power the movements from in the body.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uvwNUT ... e=youtu.be



Don't be shy to post your attempts guys!

Short, sharp, nice and clear, plain language, starting with a good connection exercise that engages the whole body, I like it.