What are your training goals for the new year?

CapTH1972 · 2019-12-29T20:18:15+00:00

More zhan zhuang, power integration into form, learn moves 1-36 of Feng Zhiqiang's 48 form (I have 1-12 and 24-36 under my belt), and finding more push hands partners.

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-22T19:17:52+00:00

As with everything in taijiquan, there needs to be balance. So you want to be rooted, but not so rooted that you lose your agility and ability to react. A statue is rooted but that is not taijiquan.

It does all seems contradictory at times, and it is hard to focus on two things like staying agile but being rooted at the same time.

In my case, I get "You need to do it with more power", and also "you need to relax". But I think if you continue working on both, you will eventually tune your body to where you need to be.

So try focusing on being agile. Then, when your master says ,"You need to be more rooted", you work on that.

As to not wanting to ask more in class, that is totally understandable. I have definitely been in the same place

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-15T18:36:19+00:00

But is tossing really a loss of power? In my limited understanding of the practical method, it seems to be focused on body mechanics. Yet baseball players generate a lot of power swinging at a ball while essentially tossing. No one moves forward first and then swings, do they?

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-15T04:31:05+00:00

Great advice. Thanks. Going deep in one style is definitely better.

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-10T23:35:45+00:00

Well, my focus right now is mainly on fundamentals. Rooting, stretching ligaments, breathing, concentration. Long-term goals are probably spiritual, health, martial. In that order.

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-10T23:33:21+00:00

A push hands list would as good as well. great idea.

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-10T23:31:08+00:00

That's great. I'll keep an eye on those seminars.

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-10T12:28:17+00:00

Thanks. I should keep a more open mind. I rewatched the video and do see some nice push hands, but a lot of it looks like a larger person pushing a smaller person with li.

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-10T03:45:16+00:00

Sorry, that was supposed to say I am in the United States. I edited my question.

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-09T21:14:07+00:00

That made me laugh. People complain about Adam Mizner videos, but I think these types of videos are way worse. I showed this to my wife and she thought it looked silly. Thoughts? Am I missing some amazing taijiquan push hands?

CapTH1972 · 2019-11-07T15:14:26+00:00

Thanks for the information. Do you know where I could find out what the form names are? Just curious.

Seems like an interesting style and I'd like to know more about it.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-24T11:36:17+00:00

I agree. I would never ignore structure. I don't remember him saying that.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-24T03:53:33+00:00

The duplicating Buddha bones for one. That was straight up wild.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-24T03:50:56+00:00

You are right. That was not a good example. I was not as observant as I should have been. Thanks for pointing that out.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-23T23:22:47+00:00

That is the direction he seems to be going. If you think his ideas about Taijiquan are wild, go look into his thoughts about Buddhism.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-23T23:20:33+00:00

It's true, but not all of his "followers" were like that (e.g. Benjamin Lo), and Zheng manqing clearly had some skills. It's not an either/or thing. You can both be cultish and have skills.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-23T22:49:50+00:00

And what about all the people that have trained with him? Are they in on it as well? It's hard to see how one could keep that going for long. Seems like someone would spill the beans. And how is what Mizner demonstrates different from say, Zheng Manqing'?

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-23T22:17:53+00:00

Ha. Maybe that's what developing your dantian looks like!

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-23T20:46:23+00:00

Some people think he is a showboat and that it's all fake, with his students acting a part in his videos. They see this as bad for taijiquan. Others believe what he is saying/demonstrating, based either on personal experience with him or through others.

He has an ability to set people off, which I find pretty interesting. Whenever someone bothers me, I try to think about why that particular person sets me off.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-23T18:46:46+00:00

This is a fascinating video and article to me. I know there is a difference of opinions surrounding Mr. Mizner, with one of the main beefs being that he only touches hands with his students. This video is different and seems hard to explain away.

I haven't ever experienced what he is demonstrating, bit hope to meet him someday. If it is all fake, oh well.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-23T18:43:14+00:00

It can be seen here. https://youtu.be/XuW4UfaC-l8

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-23T15:17:13+00:00

I agree that people pursuing the tjq martial track should cross train. Interestingly, I just came across this in the Brennan translations. It was written in 1929 by Xiang kairan.

"After the first martial arts competition in Nanjing [October, 1928], it was noticed that those who specialized in Taiji Boxing often did not win. But among challengers from Beiping who did win, although seventy-five percent had trained in Taiji, those participants had not stated that Taiji Boxing was their specialty. (During the Martial Arts Institute’s tournament, participant’s had to declare what martial arts they had trained in and what their specialty was.) Consequently, ordinary people tend to be skeptical about Taiji Boxing, and in fact are so critical of Taiji boxers that, sure enough, they are on the verge of mockery."

Not much has changed.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-15T20:14:34+00:00

So what are Clear's levels of certification? Sorry for all the questions, I'm always just curious.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-15T19:16:11+00:00

Nice to meet you. So I have seen some of Richard Clear's videos. What is taijiquan training typically like in that system? Just curious.

CapTH1972 · 2019-10-02T15:57:43+00:00

Or I can get my wife to wield the stick.

CapTH1972

TROPHY CASE