Thanks Taijiquan people

[Buka]

My mind still thinks I’m 25.

My body thinks my mind is an idiot.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Most people when they get old, they get hunchback.

No, they don't.

 

[Xue Sheng]

No, they don't.

They do if they eat to much bacon

 

[Xue Sheng]

My mind still thinks I’m 25.

My body thinks my mind is an idiot.

My mind still thinks I'm 30.... my body wants to kick the living daylights out of my mind because of that....and it would...if it weren't so dang old

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

"I'm surprise that the "back bending" is not part of the Taiji for health" - Kung Fu Wang

When a proper barber cuts your hair, he will mark your hair in subtle ways so he knows if you have been to a different barber. Also, there are some marks which are made so that if you try to leave without paying other barbers will know you did not pay for your haircut. There are some other things they do, which are not commonly known. Such as marking your hair to know how many times you have been to them in a row, and so forth. All of these things are unknown even to many barbers, who are not interested in barbering but just turning a quick buck as a hairstylist. To those in the know, those people are regarded as "tourists" at bests and "grifters" at worst.

But there will always be a tradition of barbering, and if you are interested in it, you too can learn these wonderful things. But if you think you can just go to a hairstylist and learn to cut hair and then make up some stylish tricks or pick up a few old hands from a master barber, you may find that this does not work. Do not worry, there is a saying; the best time to learn traditional barbery is when you are young. But the next best time is today. You can do it, all you need is a dream

Not sure what you are trying to say here.

Does Taiji have "羅漢观天 (Luo Han Guan Tian) Lou Han looks at sky - back bending" training or not?

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

My writing sucks....maybe it was not very clear.

Your writing is fine. Sometimes, you are intentional not trying to say thing in a straight forward way.

Like Applydog's last post in this thread. He responds my "hunchback and back bending" with "barber cuts your hair".

As Dirtydog's post "No, they don't." That's straight forward way of saying.

There is nothing wrong about your online discussion style. Sometimes, I like to ask question and let people to draw their own conclusions. (such as if a MA system is good for health, should that MA system emphasize on "body backward bending"?)

 

[Same Trick]

Wha

I disagree. You seem to say that integration of arts would indicate a lack of development in one or the other. That may be the experience for you but I began my training in Tai Chi Chuan and gung fu at the same time with the same instructors. Our system represents an integration of both arts. They are trained separately as definitively different thought, intention, and use. The end goal is to be able to switch between the two arts at any time, or use Tai Chi legs with Southern gung fu arms. This takes a very long time to access but provides a very clear understanding of the differences between the two, and how to make the most of either or both in a given situation. I would agree that it is a difficult process, not for everyone. I disagree that one obviates the use or training of another, or somehow indicates a lack of depth in practice or applications. James Wing Woo added some things from western boxing to his system long ago. That indicates growth, not lack of depth or understanding.

what do you mean with Taiji “legs” ?

 

[Appledog]

Not sure what you are trying to say here.

I was talking to Xue Sheng, but what I said didn't have a big point.

Does Taiji have "羅漢观天 (Luo Han Guan Tian) Lou Han looks at sky - back bending" training or not?

Sure, you can practice this way if you like. In fact I can show you a move which is even more difficult than this (not the bridge). In general, most people do not practice this way in Taijiquan but it is incorrect to say it is not there. It's just not really considered ladylike, to coin a phrase.

People who do this usually do it as a jibengong or qigong kind of move and not in the form, but it is also in the form.

 

[Same Trick]

Most people when they get old, they get hunchback.

View attachment 32256

In order to prevent this problem, when you are young, you need to develop a back bending habit. I'm surprise that the "back bending" is not part of the Taiji for health training.

View attachment 32257

yes that’s a good exercise, it wouldn’t hurt to add it to one’s daily exercising .
However, point #1 of Yang Chengfu’s 10 essentials should let the Taiji practitioner maintain a good spinal posture ?

 

[Appledog]

yes that’s a good exercise, it wouldn’t hurt to add it to one’s daily exercising .
However, point #1 of Yang Chengfu’s 10 essentials should let the Taiji practitioner maintain a good spinal posture ?

Well, there are essential rules, and there are the training methods used to achieve them.

Yang Chengfu didn't make this rule, but he publicized it. Why didn't he teach people how to do it?

 

[Same Trick]

Well, there are essential rules, and there are the training methods used to achieve them.

Yang Chengfu didn't make this rule, but he publicized it. Why didn't he teach people how to do it?

I think the how to is in the rule, but I agree that there are other methods, as I got from my Yiquan teacher and I hinted about it in another thread, it is applicable in taiji. YCF reveal a basic way in public, but most certainly kept other for his disciples

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

They do if they eat to much bacon

There is no such thing as too much bacon.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Well, there are essential rules, and there are the training methods used to achieve them.

Yang Chengfu didn't make this rule, but he publicized it. Why didn't he teach people how to do it?

He was too fat and out of shape to teach back bending.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Wha

what do you mean with Taiji “legs” ?

Do you train gung fu and tai chi?

 

[windwalker099]

He was too fat and out of shape to teach back bending.

We all grow old....might be better to look at pictures of him
when he was younger. He did develop and train some noted students. .

Combat skills must be honed through real confrontations. Consequently, ancient Chinese martial arts developed a training method using people as targets, called "live stakes."


In "Taiji Anecdotes," it is mentioned that "Yang Chengfu's stake training was profound; he diligently practiced with live stakes." Yang Chengfu employed a strong man with a monthly salary of six silver dollars to act as a "stake," rigorously practicing real combat. This ancient concept of "live stakes" is similar to the modern role of "sparring partners" in competitive sports.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

We all grow old....might be better to look at pictures of him
when he was younger. He did develop and train some noted students. .

What he looked like in his youth is irrelevant. He died at 53. I am 53. He didn’t keep up his practice or stay in shape. I do, I am. That said, I don’t have any famous students. I am not famous for my teaching, nor my skills in martial arts. I am near certain he knew more than I ever will. McDonald’s is successfully world famous too, but their product is still caca. If you eat a steady diet of it, you are likely to be a fat dead guy at 53.

 

[Same Trick]

Do you train gung fu and tai chi?

I don’t understand your answer.
You mentioned “taiji legs”, and I asked what you mean by that.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I don’t understand your answer.
You mentioned “taiji legs”, and I asked what you mean by that.

I mean the difference between using Tai Chi principles vs Gung fu. I guess it might be meaningless to some people. It has to do with stepping and weight/root and movement based on posture. Using Soft and hard concepts at the same time with the different parts of the body. Being able to switch on the fly. In short, a coordination between concepts. Square in the circle and circle in the square. Iron wrapped in silk and silk wrapped in iron. Does that make sense to you? Like the diagram on my flyer.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

but I agree that there are other methods,

Other methods are:

- Swing both arms up and behind the ears.
- Swing both arms cross behind the head.
- Put both arms behind your back and cross.
- ...

People should add these into their daily warm up sequence.

The idea is to pull your shoulders back and be able to hold a pencil with your back muscle. This training is totally the opposite of the Taiji sink the chest and pluck the back - 含胸拔背.

This is why I believe Taiji has been modified to suit for old people. 含胸拔背 sink the chest and pluck the back is not OK for old people with hunchback. It's never OK for young people when their bodies are still growing.

Can you see the hunchback potential there?

This is the correct posture.

-

 

[Same Trick]

What he looked like in his youth is irrelevant. He died at 53. I am 53. He didn’t keep up his practice or stay in shape. I do, I am. That said, I don’t have any famous students. I am not famous for my teaching, nor my skills in martial arts. I am near certain he knew more than I ever will. McDonald’s is successfully world famous too, but their product is still caca. If you eat a steady diet of it, you are likely to be a fat dead guy at 53.

Eric Esch Is 58 and was great