The Mind in Tai Chi

[origami_itto]

An informal chat by Damo Mitchell on the nature and importance of the mind/body connection in Taijiquan as well as discussion of release, Song and Peng. Note that this is a chat around the subject rather than an instructional video.

[Appledog]

I'm utterly speechless.

[Bao]

An informal chat by Damo Mitchell on the nature and importance of the mind/body connection in Taijiquan as well as discussion of release, Song and Peng.

What did you make out of it? What points do you feel was valuable?

[origami_itto]

I'm working and listening to it in the background, so not really taking notes. Haven't heard anything I disagree with, Damo knows what he's talking about.

[Bao]

I'm working and listening to it in the background, so not really taking notes. Haven't heard anything I disagree with, Damo knows what he's talking about.

I am not asking you to take notes. If you think what he says is rewarding, I am surprised if you don't remember what you thought was rewarding. Do you only listen to it to have some background noise or do you actually try to learn something?

He has said some things I do agree with, and thought was spot on (and yeah, I remember exactly what and how he said it). However, sometimes I don't.

I believe that it's important to understand what is meant by "mind" in Chinese and in the the internal arts. Here he speaks mostly about "awareness". It's not the same thing.

[origami_itto]

Yeah lol it's a shame I really didn't retain much. Been a bit of a brain squeezer of a day.

I agree about saturating the body with awareness. I recognize the vocabulary he's using may not line with some ideas but the concepts are sound.

[everything]

LOL he’s very talkative.

I like most of his comments but also wasn’t paying too much attention (and it was a while ago)

[Formosa Neijia]

I'm utterly speechless.

That's a state that rarely afflicts Damo.

LOL I thought I was the only one that thought that. Damo is channeling his inner Kumar. Just needs a throne

[origami_itto]

LOL he’s very talkative.

I like most of his comments but also wasn’t paying too much attention (and it was a while ago)

Yeah like I didn't hear anything I disagreed with but afterwards I'm stuck not remembering anything of substance. I mean it's an informal chat so I don't expect it to be highly structured just strange

[Doc Stier]

First in the mind, and then in the body. If you can't mentally visualize correct core concepts, foundation principles and physical body methods, you won't be able to effectively manifest them in your movements or their applications.

[wayne hansen]

Yes and no
Some exercises I have been doing for over 40 years have just taken a path of their own
The way I see it is you try to replicate what your teacher has shown and over the years the forms teach you
If I was to show people what I consider most valuable most would say that is childish