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Dear all,
Hello, and I apologise for the very lateness of this latest
issue of the Taichido Newsletter. Myself and Gary have been
hard at work producing a completely new text instruction
for the new Long Yang Form DVD. This is the latest format
of the Taichido interactive learning media folio - a DVD
that can be played on a television system instead of the
existing CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs that can only be played form
a computer. Gary has been completely snowed under with the
re-authoring of this text, which will be in the form of
a booklet inside the triple-DVD case; that he has not had
time to write a newsletter this month. We both aplogise
for this, and rest assured that things will be back to normal
for the next issue! In the meantime, A discussion I had
recently has triggered me to provide instead an article
from the website that I found particularly fascinating -
an exploration of the Fist Under Elbow move from the Yang
fom.
I have also been busy putting in anti-spam measures to
our Guestbook, which has now become indundated with the
scourge of the internet, rendering it almost pointless.
Those of you who now decide to leave a message will find
that there may be a delay before your message goes live.
Did you know that 82 percent of the world's email is spam?
In the University where I lay my career hat, only one in
every six emails coming from the outside world (approximately
300,000 a day) are actually real emails. Oh, and our scanners
stop 6,000 viruses a day. What a mess. In the early days
of Taichido it was all about freedom of speech and a bright
new global future, now you have to think twice before you
even login. I can't help thinking that the internet is reaching
critical mass, and that soon...
You can peruse back issues of the newsletter on the taichido
website.
Best regards, Mark
webmaster taichido.com, taichidoshop.com, editor Taichido
Newsletter
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FIST UNDER ELBOW
Fist under Elbow is the first 'new' posture that we encounter
in Part Two of the Long Form.
Part Two begins (apart from some variation in directions)
more or less as Part One does.
Fist Under Elbow (when viewed from this incorrect subjective/objective
- beginning/end - start/finish standpoint!) is in fact the
first of several other similarly 'new' postures encountered
in Part Two that are not included in Part One. Literal descriptions
of the sequence or order of postures from here on in become
(as above) complicated and - to a degree - pointless. Tai
Chi is after all better 'done' rather than talked about.
If a Budoka (practitioner) has maintained sufficient patience
to bring them thus far into their study of the Form they
are rewarded about now with a new challenge that will require
dedication and diligence to conquer. We all have our own
ways of remembering things. Some of these things may require
a list to jog the memory. Despite being 'long' the Yang
Long Form is not one of those things. It should be committed
to memory or (to use a pertinent if old-fashioned phrase)
learnt by heart.
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Phase one of the Posture Fist under Elbow
As it is certain and so that the form ought not be conceived
of as separate bits put together, so it is also certainly
so that each posture ought not be separated into parts.
That certainly should be the practice. Forgive for what
follows - the theory.
Both hands are positioned above the right shoulder with
a kind of dynamic tension approximating that of either catching
or throwing a ball. It depends, depends upon you and your
body - even you and your mood.
When performing it I personally used to think that I struck
a pretty pose as an Art Deco Lamp-stand, and between my
hands was a Tiffany glass Shade. More lately I picture a
Goldfish Bowl complete with Water and Goldfish held level
between my supporting palms, and then me - the whole of
me - is also in a bowl … (being held…).
In theory, this is the first stage of "storing"
or "accumulating" energy or Chi. Storing it for
later? Storing for use soon! It is an uncomfortable fact
that ultimately (wherever that is!) a strike in Tai Chi
ought to be at least thorough and conclusive. At best this
'strike' might be relatively painless, however, ultimately
the imperative of a conclusion to conflict should be swiftly
sought.
Fist under Elbow is the first posture in the form the inclines
us to explore the coiling nature of the form. We must also
establish deep roots to Earth and a puppet string to Heaven
from the top of our Heads. Remember now, a real benefit
derived from the practice of Tai Chi is robust and resilient
health and well being. The gentle massage and rearrangement
of the Internal Organs enable all this. Coiling and turning
motions naturally administer this most efficiently and when
co-ordinated with the breath that is 'sunk' those Internal
Organs are given all the space that they need.
Chi, like water, cannot be pushed
Even Winnie the Pooh can not push water uphill!
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Phase Two of Fist under Elbow
In a symmetry quite rare within the form, both hands take
parallel routes from above the right (Tiger) shoulder across
and down to below the left hip. The left foot that was empty
in phase one (cat stance left) is sent forward, coiling
outward. The hips and shoulders coil to your left (Dragon)
side. The hands still contain a sphere of some sort. For
me this is a ball of light, concentrated now due to the
body coiling - as if the current is literally 'wound up'.
In theory, evasive action has been taken by this step with
the left. The energy of this coil is stored. Chi cannot
be pushed - but like water it may be led - and with a method
or storage it may be led downwards or upward.
The arms, like two pendulums together begin to swing by
the shortest route to the other ® side of the hips.
In the form this is performed at the usual Tai Chi pace
so that meticulous attention can be paid to detail. In application
the right leg steps into the opponent's zone and the accumulated
energy is ready for effective use. The actual 'strike' now
depends upon the opponents movements though at the least
your own right leg might simply be brought down onto said
opponent's left foot. If this is the quickest way to the
imperative conclusion, so be it
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Phase Three of Fist under Elbow
There are many applications of Fist under Elbow and few
are in fact as pretty as these pictures indicate. In theory
- at the accumulation of energy and correct positioning
the 'classic' application of the move is to raise up an
opponents striking arm (usually his/her right) beneath the
elbow and armpit. This not only exposes that armpit for
it also lifts and separates the ribcage - enabling far deeper
(internal) penetration. This action might also turn an opponent
side on. This 'play's into the hands' of the application
and should it be that the opponent turns his/her back to
you - so be it. The opponent will decide your next action.
If you then simply 'run for it' or push the opponent to
the ground you will achieve the imperative conclusion. If
this is not the case - there are many other targets and
options available. Having accumulated such energy you must
remain prepared to use it as conclusively as possible.
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Fist under elbow hexagram
hexagram 27: :
Corners of mouth - nourishment, craving (for an opening)
upper trigram: Ken, or hands or fingers
lower nuclear trigram:
K'un, or belly, body or hidden
upper nuclear trigram:
K'un or belly, body, or hidden
lower trigram: Chen, or feet, movement
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