The Song of Ward Off

“How can we explain the energy of Ward-Off?

It is like water which supports a moving boat.

First make the ch’i in the tain-t’ien substantial, then hold the head as if suspended from above.

The whole body has the power of a spring.

Opening and closeing should beclearly defined.

Even if the opponent uses a thousand pounds of force, We will float lightly and without difficulty.”

Yang Family Secret Transmissions

compiled and translated by Douglas Wile

wave hands like clouds

like a smooth wave that ebbs and flows back and forth, in and out, up and down

~ on and on ~

dried wild flower sword

There are lots of these dried wild flowers at the beach where I practice sometimes …. so I picked one near the bottom of it’s stem where it meets the earth and danced the tai chi yang 54 sword form with it. It was sturdier than the fragile grass blade I had held as saber just last week but it had the same effect of demanding I engage all my force into a sensitive intensity. It feels like this is a good training for studying the form with my ‘real’ sword. When it began to get to dark with that better-get-home-soon cold blue colour on the snow, I placed it here as a salute to a good practice.

After the snow had melted and the wind had blown wildly enough to cancel all the ferry traffic

it was still there

~ bending in the wind like a blade of grass ~

“A large tree may seem stronger than a small blade of grass, but in a hurricane, the tree is uprooted while the blade of grass flexes with the wind. So strength may also be found in apparent weakness”

a little sketch

I will be drawing more. It’s time to include another medium, I heard it calling today.

~ we’ll see where it takes me ~

saber play

look closely, This is what I picked up down at the beach to practice saber with. This long blade of dried grass was so light and fragile that I thought I would for sure bend it as I moved through the form. But as I aim to hold my metal saber I let it guide me. I held this stalk of grass the same way. It demanded a different kind of attention than what I was use to, a firm but ever so light hold. I couldn’t just whip it through the air, I had to guide it, float it, support it, follow it. I didn’t want it to buckle and bend in my hand but I wanted to move with a centered strength. All the force had to be inside me. That is hard to feel when I am yielding a heavy metal saber that demands attention, but this delicate blade of grass wasn’t going to balance me ….

I was on my own

I usually pick up a good sized stick when I practice sword or saber when I am away from my back yard, the kind a dog would pick up and proudly carry around, also, I pick up one that crosses my path, I don’t go hunting. There were no sticks in my path on this day, but there was this dried grass stalk at my feet. Are you kidding?! It had crossed my path so I picked it up wondering how the dickens I would find the ‘saber’ in this feather light elegant blade of grass.

~ what a huge lesson it taught me ~

Bringing it all home

and then there is the task and study of incorporating tai chi into one’s life, work, play ….. qigong in every moment I can remember (re-member) to do so. If I can feel chi in my attempt in making an image, then maybe there is the possibility of that chi emanating out into the world…

~ maybe ~

beginnings

There is always something valuable to find in going back and visiting the beginnings of an idea. There are so many avenues of exploration and places to travel to and  from that seed of the idea. Now roots have grown and skills have developed but it can stagnate and become habitual if they are not re generated.

time to re-seed

108 play

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feeling chi

Sam was demonstrating what it feels like to move with chi at one of his workshops. This is what I saw.

more 360

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push hands play

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postcard from Home

Push Hands Play

Peng Peng Peng

Wave Hands like Clouds ~ Carry the Ball ~ Ward Off

Wave Hands Like Clouds ~ Diagonal Flying ~ Lateral Ward Off ~

~ the slightest change in structure changes the whole game ~

~ One Feel ~

Nooks n’ Crannies

In a Sam Masich workshop one day he began to talk about nooks and crannies and then we proceeded to find our own nooks and crannies in our own arms. Places to rest comfortably into. They are there, these little places to park. This can be handy in push hands. As you find places on your partner to rest and relax into and follow the path …… they may tense up, then you can work with that …. like catching a fish, reel it in. Or they may support your resting in, maybe rest in to that nook deeper … play around …

 

 maybe there is a nook over here

 

~ Rest n’ Nest ~

 

Yin Yang

~ ever moving ever changing ~

blending

Beginning with all the inTention in the world

~then letting all that go ~

Reflections

 

~ where is real ~

 

 

 

Playing on the Edge

~ parallel universe ~

Serious Noodling

 

~ still playing ~

Peng

Peng ~ Wave Hands Like Clouds ~ this can go anywhere

~ I am here ~

 

blending ideas

  

  

 

 

 

noodling around

~ Sometimes it’s lovely to just enjoy the contact and silent conversation ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1Drill

In drill #1 of the 8 preparatory Push Hands drills of Yang style Taijiguan there is a universe to explore and learn. It is deceptively simple. Often when first approached it is seen as an excellent place to catch up on the daily gossip with one’s partner. “Did ya see that movie last night!?” A few layers in this drill becomes intriguing and compelling as one studies sensing hands, sensing body, sticking, connection, rooting, alignment, resting and supporting, blending, hip track, all the tai chi principals, focus, intention, allowing, allowing to allow, dynamic relaxing and everything in between. It’s a simple looking drill but the more it’s done, the more there is to understand and master. As my teachers like to say, “It’s simple but not easy”

 how, in fact, is my body moving in response to my partner?

 Yin ~ Yang

Zhou ~ Ow!

An elbow strike to the ribs can be neutralized by relaxing, sinking the out stretched ‘captured’ elbow, changing the weight from the back foot to the front then turning to face the opponent. Stop flailing about!

Reclaim your Centre

good knee action here … uprooting the lap sitter…. but one good-sized Na to that knee would take care of that!

~ Reframe the situation ~

 

Swimming Dragons

Swimming Dragon is one of my favourite Qi Gongs. The deep sway down and then up as I image slowly wagging a huge dragon’s tail back and forth makes my back happy. It’s a medicinal Qi Gong good for everything I am told. I am always surprised how this slow practice gets my heart rate up right away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Players

 

Snake Creeps Down

 

 

as each moment changes, each figure appears different. If life is like animation, these figurines are freeze-frames of an on going thread of movement …..

~ Stills ~

The Challenge

We all have seen these and a lot of us may even have this collection. I have 2 from this group, the Snake Creeps Down and White Bird Spreads it’s Wings. I study them to see what is working in that particular position and what does not. I can see discrepancies in each of these figures. My figures have discrepancies too. I can only create from what I know, I am limited by that. I create my figurines from what a position feels like from the inside, I use my inside-self as a model so to speak. I see it as work in progress, just like my Tai Chi Practice is work in progress. Sometimes I am lucky enough to see what I am missing or how I can improve through the figures I make. They will never be perfect but that isn’t interesting to me, I am interested in the refining of my focus and skills … the constant learning. The figurines that I make teach me. The challenge I struggle with is this question; how can I express the invisible in the 3 dimensional? It’s an interesting journey.

~ one of many versions ~

Hua Tuo

I have been told that this likely is a depiction of Hua Tuo, the famous physician of the Han Dynasty. Someone said that the ring around his 2 fingers might be energy and that the bag he carries is a medicine bag.

I found him in a thrift shop and admired the image and its highly detailed workmanship but it was too expensive in my thrift shop mind set (and I said that on purpose) $20.00, so I passed it by.  Two full days went by and I could not get this finely crafted, sculpture out of my mind, it had caught me. I went back absolutely knowing that it would not be there, it’s a very popular shop. I was amazed to see that it was there and in the same place on the front counter as if no one else had even picked it up to hold him in their hands. It was such a relief to carry him home with me. I admire this beautiful work of art and I wonder about its provenience. How did this exquisite sculpture come to be in a thrift shop? who just gave him away to the wind? who has lived with this, where has he traveled over the year and who sculpted this fine work of art?

There is so much kind open expression in his face which changes each time I look at him. It’s quite astonishing!

~ I wonder where his next home will be ~

blending

~ same same ~

 

 

One Move ~ 3 ways

We all learn a little differently, we all have different bodies, we all have different lives so we all play our tai chi differently. As I make each tai chi player, each one comes out differently. My understanding is always in flux, but then again, so is each movement. There are names for each position, like Brush Knee, but there is no ONE position. It’s Fluid. These 3 figures may be expressing Brush Knee, or is that middle one expressing Repulse Monkey? There is cross over, subtle differences between the positions. Since most positions  take place in front of centre, there has to be intersection and blurr in between the positions. You just need to know and understand where you are in each move. There is a pinnacle to each position, a coming into it and the receding from it but the pinnacle is just as fluid as the approach and recede. I am trying to fix the essence of a position in a figure in porcelain clay. It seems contradictory to the fluid essence of Tai Chi. A figure may feel correct when the clay is still wet but then as it dries, it moves, it settles or maybe I am just seeing it differently at another moment …. Then I fire it in the kiln and maybe they move again. I have to remember that I am not making these to finalize anything, I make them purely to explore the energies. One day I wouldn’t mind being able to clearly and easily and beautifully express an energy though. One day …..

         

~ lessons to learn from each one ~

 

 

just because

~ tai chi play ~

Moving your Feet

Sometimes, a lot of time, you have to move your feet. This seems like it’s a no brainer but remarkably, we (I include myself here) tai chi players tend to like standing still as if moving our feet were the furthest thing from our Minds. There’s the first clue …. we are not in our feet because we are IN our MINDS, way upstairs in our heads trying to figure out the play. But just feeling our feet can plunk us right smack dab into the present, and that is the best place to be in Push Hands.

For Example ~ In push hands, if your centre has been caught and you can’t receive or relax your way out of it while standing still, then your feet need to get moving. These 2 players have switched sides and changed the dynamic by the second image. (of course, these are just 2 stills from a moving set of many images :-) ….In the top image Leftie is attempting to take R’s centre. But look, in the bottom image, L seems to be leaning into a clear centre push by R. Time to move your feet again L!

~ When you need to move, Move ~

Press

A strong Press on Rightie’s shoulder is followed by Leftie’s entire body moving forward and in from the feet upward

Rightie is Hooking!

holding on for dear life.

Does Rightie not know that if R. moves both feet while blending with and receiving the shoulder push, Rightie could lock Leftie’s arm into a wicked chi Na?

~ A Balance of Acceptance & Presence ~

One Figure ~ 5 Energies

Sticking Energy ~ who are you?

Listening Energy ~ what is your intention?

Comprehending Energy ~ you are friendly

Receiving Energy ~ I’ll take what you give me

Neutralizing ~ and here’s a treat for you

Moon Light Practice

A Push from below the back foot up through to the sitting wrist

waist turn

I can feel the flowers behind me

no part unimportant

nothing more, nothing less

~ Balancing in the dark ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing Misplaced

~ perfection in chaos ~

Guardian of Conditions

                                                  

Tai Chi seeping into every moment …

a nice cuppa after a walk around the city, no reason to fill the space with chatter – words a drift, cool clear water eyes – masks removed, so easily aware you can listen to the song of a mosquito ~

Guardian of Equilibrium

Carry the Ball, Circle around, Spiral in every direction, Feel the Earth, round, the giver of what you need

~ Carry your Ball ~

A Scenic View?

“Oh my dear, what a lovely view … and is that a Peliated Woodpecker flying over head?”

Well … this is not quite the quiet moment that it appears to be from the back….

Back to Push Hands (cuz it looks like someone is going over board!)

But Look … See how relaxed they are? That’s what push hands should look like and that’s what it should feel like. Relaxed. Cotton around a steel needle. A supple yet strong core, correct and fluid alignment that can support any position. The one in front has connected to the other and now is just settling down, down, down into the soles of their feet and beyond, relaxing, expanding, relaxing, expanding … breathing … into the open spaces that just happen to belong to someone else ….

~ Relax and the journey can begin ~

In my Space ~ In your Space

This is a tricky thing… Space ~ Where is my space? where does it begin where does it end? It is fluid, expandable, and space can shrink. It’s one of our super powers. It’s a worthy skill to be able to be in your own space while in your opponents space all the while making them feel they are comfortable and safe and in control…. while you actually are …. like I said, it’s one of our super powers.

But clearly here someone is feeling crowded, and has Given Up their space, their relaxation and their root (hence the work Given Up)

What can be done? well, since they are already uprooted, Be There, Be Up Rooted and Move your feet. Enliven your left arm, follow it, Root, move your feet again if you have to. Expand into their empty space, Relax and take your own space back.

                                Space ~ –noun   1. the unlimited or incalculably great three dimensional realm

                                                 or expanse in which all material objects are located and all events occur .

                                                                        ~ Super Power ~

Happy Tai Chi Day!!!!

How can one learn and experience grace, care, acceptance, action, open heartedness, joy, wonder, connection, one’s essence, presence?

One way might be …    ~ Tai Chi Play ~

Moment of Change

            

A certain Pull-Down or a Snake Creeps Down then spiraling up to change the situation?

                                                          ~ to be continued ~

A Gathering

How wonderful is it to touch in with so many good people …. Playing, Learning, trying again, re-learning, rough housing, discussing concepts, exploring structure analyzing a move , asking questions, Sensing, Listening, trading ideas and musings…

~ endless fun ~

Wave Hands Like Clouds

“Guardian of Rhapsody”

I began painting a series called “Guardians” a few years into learning Tai Chi. I was trying to understand how the 108 form worked, what it felt like, what it was all about. Drawing and painting the positions helped bring Tai Chi closer to me. I was also working on a pottery series made up of 4 revolving figures called Elegant Turns. Tai Chi was finding it’s way in………

~ be  Tai Chi ~

A Gaggle of Players?

or what does one call a group of more than 3 and less than 10 Tai Chi Players?

There is a Pod of Whales, an Army of Caterpillars,  a Troop of Baboons, a Bed of Clams, a Gang of Elks, a Murder of Crows, a Smack of Jellyfish……. how about ~

~ a Bliss of Tai Chi Players ~

Tai Chi Tango

Looks like the Tango…. chi chi chi

Resistance

If  this shoulder push by Leftie (I’m struggling to come up with names here) is resisted by Rightie then that very resistance will force Rightie to spin into the empty space behind that is just ready and waiting to receive the fall. Leftie has Rightie’s centre and is coming in strong and square completely taking over the space. It’s looks pretty bad and it’s for sure a done deal if Rightie reacts and starts pushing into Leftie a la survival mode! (note: this is not a la mode).

If you look at the top image can you barely see Rightie’s fingers on Leftie’s back? This is good. It is also good that Rightie has a spare left arm to play with, Leftie better watch out for that! I’m guessing that if Leftie goes with the grain of this uncomfortable push, receives it, steps back to regain centre, and as the turn naturally happens as Rightie steps back ,then the right arm will enclose Leftie’s back thus propelling Leftie forward into a newly created empty space.

now you have it ~ now you don’t

Carry the Ball

Carry the Ball seems to be everywhere in the 108 Yang style Tai Chi Chuan..There are the obvious places like right after commencing and before all the Grasp Sparrow’s Tails but I find it in other, less obvious places too. It’s a transition place in Wave  Hands like Clouds, it appears just before Fair Maiden Weaves at Shuttles like a little reminder note. Part the Wild Horses Mane…. Stork Spreads it’s Wings…. What is it saying? I see it again while building Single Whip, a little hint of it. It’s like a potter forming great sculptures in the air.

What are you trying to tell me?

nothing ~ everything