Michael Babin wrote:Interesting discussion my videos generated so far [well, mostly interesting]. No one addressed the fact that I was getting old and have infirmities that affect my previous abilities. Is it because I forgot that taiji is supposed to make supermen out of us at some point in our careers? I had students and Chinese taiji colleagues express surprise years ago when I told them I needed a hip replacement. "You shouldn't need that as you do Yang style." It's hard to argue with stupid when you want to be polite... and I usually do want to be polite. Sometimes that's tough in discussion forums.
Origami.ito: I'd take your posts more seriously if you used your own name [apologies if you are Japanese?] and posted any clips showing your own abilities in Da Streetz or even doing a bit of solo form. There are good reasons not to post one's work as several of the long-term members have done; but when you criticize someone else in fact or by implication; it's polite to return tit for tat.
I definitely recommend against taking anything I say seriously. I am no authority, merely an eager student with time to kill.
Seek the truth in your practice, but maybe play around with some of my ideas and see how they fit what you're trying to do.
I was curious about the heavy step. It's something I'm paying a lot of attention to in online videos at the moment.
You said it's due to your age and some injury and that's fine. I'm really not trying to disrespect you or your teaching. You've been putting in the work far longer than I and have plenty to show for it.
Getting into the technical discussion of that particular aspect of practice is just a sort of natural progression of the conversation in the forum. I implore you to not take it personally.
I do agree that perhaps it's time I try a video. I just find the practice to be a distraction. I film myself to reveal flaws not try to prove anything to anyone.
And, I mean, when I have been in situations that required I use the self defense skills cultivated through Taijiquan I haven't really had time to set up a tripod.
Where are you based? Would you be interested in meeting up?