First of all, congrats to all who are taking up the 100 days of training idea!
I do this about 2X per year, and think it is a great way to grow my practice.
This session is directed towards working with animal essences, and by the end of the 100 days I hope to have a better grasp of the connection between animal qigongs and forms. I also want to have a deeper knowledge of the animal forms in our system, and hope to have several new neijia / Tai Chi forms by the time this study is complete. The Snake is here. I'm thinking about a Dragon form, and a Tiger.
Today is day 10/100 for me, and I think the Snake form is pretty well finalized. Instead of postures, it consists of 7 short sequences of movements, within which one or two postures can be identified. This is because, as a coiling continuum of movement, I really did not think a posture-by-posture breakdown was a productive way of approaching the form. I specifically with to thank:
1. Randall, who helped me understand the distinction between Snake and Dragon energy, and who gave me a parallel reference with his "Five Ancients" system.
2. Jan, who identified breakages in the energy and areas where it had to be smoothed out.
3. Jill Tomassson who provided a significant imaginative breakthrough for me, by speaking of the need within the form for an energetic "narrative".
4. Bob and Peter R. for their encouragement.
Several creative issues I identified were:
1. The desireability of rooting the form in the qigong system,
2. the need to focus simply on movement of energy, rather than application or technique, and
3. the need to avoid throwing in everything but the kitchen sink! ;-)
I suspect that the second of these points will pose a particular challenge when I get around to addressing the Tiger!
Looking forward to the snake form debut. Love the picture!
ReplyDeleteYesterday was day 13/100. WE had, probably due to holiday shopping and planning, only a small group at The Cedars. I got there early to work on Snake, and suggested that we try the Snake qigong.
ReplyDeleteMy project has now shifted to refining the qigong. I have always felt that the set I inherited from Dr. Shen had a slightly "mashed together" feeling - almost as though it were 2 different forms rather uneasily combined. Bearing in mind Jill Tomasson's wonderful observation that I need to keep in mind the forms "narrative", I'm working on modifying the qigong form so that it more closely follows the narrative of the Tai Chi form.
Anyhow, we went through one version of the Snake qigong, and then had 3 rather amazing reps, very slow, of the Yang 16. By the time we finished, we were cooking and agreed, after a single rep of Crane-stye Tai Chi, to call it a day. Only 1 1/2 hours, but it was definitely enough!
Sunday Dec. 23rd., and day 15/100.
ReplyDeleteBit of a breakthrough day for me, with regards to the qigong and its relation to the Tai Chi. Three terms of reference for the Qigong:
1. It really has to work as qigong; I have to get the feedback that indicates that the internals are responding.
2. It has to stand independent of other qigongs, joint-loosening etc. It should not require additional imports as prep.
3. It has to relate directly to the Tai Chi form.
Based on this, I'm definitely on-track. At the moment I have a sequence of 15 movements / exercises, 2 of which are repeated. All are from the Tai Chi form. I'm already at the stage of refining transitions between sides, etc. The fundamental components are all in place.
Had a good session at Calvin today, and tested the material on Beth Weisberg, Peter Reist and his lady, Megan. As Sam Masich once said to me, "At a particular point, one really needs students to experiment on!" Yeah!
Today is Christmas Day, and 17/100 in this examination of animals energy! The shift in emphasis has now moved to the qigong, which is essentially the Tai Chi form, but done in multiple reps.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, in that this necessitates transitions which are not in the form, but which must still embody Tai Chi principles. An example is the small Draw-bow movement prior to White Snake / Cross Hands, which involves a really pleasant moment where the qi-ball is briefly held at the Middle Dan Tien. There's no reason for this in the logic of the form, but qigong logic is slightly different!
I've been researching pythons, and what I've learned has illuminated several moves. Snake creeps, for example, now in treetops, middle branches and down on the ground. The middle branches movement means that the hand glides down the top of the thigh, activating the Yang vessel. This is evocative of the python's ability to glide lengthwise down a branch, due to the fact that it has prehensile scales....
Boxing Day 2012, and day 18/100 on animals.
ReplyDeleteCreative conundrums abound as I approach the Dragon! Randall's "Five Ancients" study is a big source of inspiration!
I can really see the energy-distinction between the azure and golden dragons. In my notes on the qigong I have written:
"The Cold Mountain Internal Arts concept of Dragon energy blends two different conceptions.
The Azure Dragon, sometimes referred to as Blue or Green, is the Lord of the sea or of the East, and is the embodiment of the Yang principle. In ancient Chinese poetry he is the sky-lord who is wed to the Shamanka Queen, the Metal Mother (see Tiger) who dwells in the west. The primary associations of the Azure dragon are water and wood.
The Golden Dragon is associated with the energies of fire and earth, and of the earthquake. It is the Lord of the Centre, and of transmutation from which other energies arise.
The Azure Dragon has a quality of wood, water, storm and lightning. It coils and then shoots out, but the Golden Dragon has more of an earthquake quality: a sense of epicenter, with power going out from this centre."
Creatively, I'd like to combine both of these in the Tai Chi form. I've generated a list of moves peculiar to each Dragon. But there is so much! How to produce something concise and transferrable, without putting too much in?
My exercise today has consisted of putting together an initial sequence rooted in the "Swimming Dragon" idea, and two other sequences. The longer of these two latter sequences is definitely Azure Dragon and uses the Old Yang circle walk into the 1st Bagwa palm change and Sweep Lotus. The third and final sequence is more Golden Dragon and ends with King Kong Mailed Fist.
I think this gives me the outline of a form. Does it have an internal narrative of energy?
Dec. 27th., and day #19/100.
ReplyDeleteThe Dragon is much more complex than the Snake, but not necessarily much longer. I make it out to be around 20 moves, which is roughly equivalent. Interestingly, the Snake incorporates Old Yang, Chen Xinjia (Yi-lu), and a tiny bit of traditional Yang; the Dragon has no traditional Yang, but otherwise has the foregoing as well as some Chen Cannon Fist (Laojia), both near beginning and at the end.
The Lotus Kick came in early, and I was wondering what to end with, since that kind of high energy usually is saved to the end of a form. However, I'm using King Kong Mailed Fist near the end, and that seems to balance it out nicely.
I think these two forms are certainly enough to keep me busy until CNY in February! I'll look at Tiger only nearer the end of the process. I have a feeling that what the Snake and Dragon are doing to me internally will have an effect on Tiger, hopefully to add some creative and artistic asymetrivality.
Dec. 29th., and my 21st day of the 100. Some great input from Randall has caused me to return to scratch with the Dragon. I have to meditate on the issue of how a form is dynamically articulated....
ReplyDeleteThe Snake qigong and Tai Chi forms are now complete and ready for our New Year event in February. The Tai Chi form consists of 7 compound movements; the qigong of around 20, which gives a pretty reasonale idea of the actual number of individual movements in thr Tai Chi. So, continuing my project, I am now deeply engaged in developing a Dragon form.
ReplyDeleteInitially, it was intended to be brief as well; however I realized that this stage of the project affords me the opportunity to explore the development of a longer form with the technical problems of energetic development which that involves. Randall Templeton has given me some great input about this, and while his concepts differ somewhat from my own his insights have been very valuable.
One issue is that there are various kinds of Chinese Dragon. While the blue-green Dragon has in common with the Snake a watery coiling aspect, it also shoots forth like lightning or lightning, or like a river bursting its banks. The golden Dragon has a different character, representing the centre, the concept of hierarchy and order, and also a balanced powerful shaking kind of movement reminiscent of the waves of power emanating out from an earthquake.
To this point I have the first 10 movements of the dragon Tai Chi form. They are drawn from the old Yang family middle-frame, and from the Chen family new and old frame, particularly the old-frame "Cannon Fist".
The Snake qigong and Tai Chi forms are now complete and ready for our New Year event in February. The Tai Chi form consists of 7 compound movements; the qigong of around 20, which gives a pretty reasonale idea of the actual number of individual movements in thr Tai Chi. So, continuing my project, I am now deeply engaged in developing a Dragon form.
ReplyDeleteInitially, it was intended to be brief as well; however I realized that this stage of the project affords me the opportunity to explore the development of a longer form with the technical problems of energetic development which that involves. Randall Templeton has given me some great input about this, and while his concepts differ somewhat from my own his insights have been very valuable.
One issue is that there are various kinds of Chinese Dragon. While the blue-green Dragon has in common with the Snake a watery coiling aspect, it also shoots forth like lightning or lightning, or like a river bursting its banks. The golden Dragon has a different character, representing the centre, the concept of hierarchy and order, and also a balanced powerful shaking kind of movement reminiscent of the waves of power emanating out from an earthquake.
To this point I have the first 10 movements of the dragon Tai Chi form. They are drawn from the old Yang family middle-frame, and from the Chen family new and old frame, particularly the old-frame "Cannon Fist".
Today is 27/100. We had a workout on Tai Chi improv. this afternoon, accompanied by pianist Jason White, focusing on Tiger, Cockerel and Bear. Cockerel, with all the leaping, is particularly demanding. Then I taught the extended version of the Dragon Qigong, and also worked alone on the Snake and Dragon forms. About 3 hours on animals altogether! What a buzz!
ReplyDeleteHad 2 days off, so this is 35/100. We have a deal with the Delta Hotel health club for the use of a space. It's only a 10 minute walk for me, so I'm taking advantage of it!
ReplyDeleteThe Snake Tai Chi and Qigong are finalized! Here's the Tai Chi sequence:
1. Snake Moves its Body, Hibernates: Start with feet together (bingbu) and Python Moves its Body; then circle down and back up, thenstep out L foot into wujibu with middle fingers pressed into navel and palms cupped, Snake Hibernates (meditate on heat).
2. Snake Wakes and Hunts: Turn from side to side 3 times, on 4th. L Lohan block as you turn to the R and then pivot on ball R foot to throw L. Steps out with L. foot and lock arm.
3. Snake Sticks out Tongue: step up with R. foot and then out with L into White Snake Sticks-out Tongue (Brush Knee), then repeat to R. with Carry Tiger to Mountain.
4. Snake Hunts the Monkey: Shift R and follow step L into Cross Hands to Penetrate (fingertip strike w. R. hand), circle arms and shift R foot parallel to L in Fist Under Elbow (in wujibu). Then shift weight to R and execute back-weighted Cross Hands to penetrate and entry into Repulse Monkey; second Repulse Monkey morphs into Old Yang Single Whip.
5. Up the Tree and Down (Heaven and Earth & Snake Creeps Down): Yin-Yang Palms as transition, the Snake Creeps Down 3X both sides, slow and lower each time.
6. Waiting Snake, R Lotus Kick: Twist step L with R. forearm block and up into L empty stance with R palm out and L palm down under R elbow. Sweep Lotus.
7. Conclusion: Step back R to wujibu with turn of torso and accumulating circles, then Snake Hibernates with diminishing circles. Then dispersing circles and water path conclusion with sinking the qi.
The Qigong follows the same sequence, but I have not written it out yet. There's been opportunity to test-drive it in small groups, and it seems to 'cook'. Two club members who, due to health Hx have depleted qi and are usually cold, found that it heated them right up. The back weighted "White Snake" / "Cross Hands" really works the kidneys and, I suspect, has an effect on the immunes.
Key to the Tai Chi is extreme softness and doing it slowly.
The Dragon is coming as well. The Dragon Qigong from Dr. Shen requires no modification. The new Tai Chi form is probably going to fall in three sections, of which the first is tentatively complete, focusing on the earth dragon. The next section will be centred on wood and water.
I shall leave Tiger alone until the Dragon is complete.