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Class 1 - First Circle of Buddhas's stamp



Before you go on to the next class, please allow yourself for at least:
Suggested Hours: 5, Suggested days: 3.

Class Introduction

As the first movement of our Taichi Lessons, this move needs your slow involvement. So that all the basic principles can be correctly applied. Only when your moves satisfy the basic principles, Taichi can be beneficial. The complete video of Buddhas' stamp is in class 6. So, let's be patient to all the little details and enjoy.

Instruction Level: Static

The following notes correspond to the video clip showing is left foot forward. The circle should also be performed in right foot forward. Check points on this movement are: 1. facing straight ahead, head erect, hips squarely front, weight 80% on front foot. Both feet pointed front. Arms gently curved, elbows lower then the wrist and shoulders. Palms facing forward. 2. Turn facing right, head erect, hips squarely lined up to face right weight 80% on right foot. Right foot pointed right, left foot 45 degrees right. Right arm curved horizontally, palm facing outward. Left arm curved vertically, palm facing up. 3. Intermediate point, Shift weight back to 50% each foot. Still facing right, sink left elbow, both palms face right. 4. Shift weight 80% back to right leg. slightly rotate torso to the left side. Both palms facing front. 5. By Sitting weight back 80% into right leg, torso turn left to the front. Use this torso turn bring left arm to the horizontal position. Both Palms is facing front. Bend right leg preserve strength and ready to move forward. 6. Weight shift forward, palms with intension pushing forward. Back to the first position. Exhale and relax, pause a note.

Instruction Level: Static

Looking at this movement from the back we can observe the rotation of torso becomes more obvious from this view. Notice the rotation in relation to hips and legs' position.

Instruction Level: Static

Pay attention on how the front leg stop the body from keeping move forward. Keep left knee stop before over reaching. Also notice even in the final pushing forward, your torso is straight up. No leaning forward.

Instruction Level: Static

Yes, we have talked about pushing or dragging something heavy. Without four legs, we need more control to use our body weight and hip leg angle. That is fully prepare each leg, not only for balance but also for driving the torso back and forth.

Instruction Level: Static

There is one point we can view from this angle: 1/ When the Peng to the right side to the end, notice the position of right hip, knee and foot. It is positioned so that if some one pull you to the right side you should be able to balance yourself against it.

Instruction Level: Static

The arms is very relaxed, seems hanging from both shoulders. If you put your view point from the center of torso, you will find that the angle between upper arms and shoulders are almost constant. In this way you can form a good upper body frame to transfer the external pressure into your spine without breaking the rule of relaxation and integrity.

Instruction Level: Static

The same torso and leg movement that drive the whole body, whether it is with only one arm or both.

Instruction Level: Static

Think about if your are pulling a refrigerator with your right arm, will you prepare your stand and waist for that demand? This is the spirit of Taichi: be best prepared for what you intend to do, before you start doing it.

Instruction Level: Static

Observe how you turn your torso, or hip portion that your leg is right behind the direction you want to go. Then, straighten that leg, the reaction from ground up will push the whole body over.

Instruction Level: Dynamic

This movie showed an interesting point. Notice that before you start turning your torso to the right. You actually relax the right hip joint. By doing so, your body weight will go downward a little bit, just enough for you to initiate the mass momentum. This is the detail that Taichi is working with: working with instead of fighting against the gravity.

Instruction Level: Static

Feet stand at two diagonal angles of a square. The size of this imaginary (or you can draw a square on the floor.) square is about 2 times your shoulder width. Generally, when in movement, you pivot around you heels. The legs rotation principles are: 1/ Toe always pointing at the same direction as knee. 2/ Knees pointing to the direction of your nose. It is important to put the joints of the ankles, knees and hips direction correct. Only by do correctly your lower body structure can be integrated, solid and relaxed.

Choose Class Video for Different Views:
ViewPart:Whole, ViewAngle:Front
ViewPart:Whole, ViewAngle:Back
ViewPart:Whole, ViewAngle:Left
ViewPart:Whole, ViewAngle:Right
ViewPart:Upper, ViewAngle:Front
ViewPart:Upper, ViewAngle:Left
ViewPart:Upper, ViewAngle:Right
ViewPart:Lower, ViewAngle:Front
ViewPart:Lower, ViewAngle:Back
ViewPart:Lower, ViewAngle:Right
ViewPart:Lower, ViewAngle:Left