Friday, November 24, 2017 at 9:12PM Have you ever considered why the movements within a form are in a specific order? Sure, we begin and end with Wuji, but what about everything in between? At one level, I believe the movements progress naturally, at first building a foundation for the entire form, creating structure and openness which the rest of the form can build upon.
Sunday, July 24, 2016 at 2:34PM One of the supplemental practices we use is incorporating Zhan Zhuang within our form practice. Typically, you will begin a form and at various times during the form, you will hold a position. The purpose is to explore relaxation, alignment, awareness. A standing practice is one of the quickest ways to explore the truth of relaxation. When standing still, your body will quickly tell you where you are not relaxed. In a moving practice, you sometimes miss those moments of tension.
Sunday, July 24, 2016 at 1:45PM Master Jim introduced us to the Ten Essential Points by Yang Chen Fu. This is a series of articles exploring each one in detail. How do we explore this principle? What does it mean? First, there is the feeling of elevation of the Bai Hui point, what the Classics describe as the Golden Thread gently pulling you upward. The feeling of suspension is subtle, but I like to suggest the visualization of a marionette that is held from above with its feet just barely touching the earth.
Sunday, June 26, 2016 at 2:43PM Discover that the principles embedded in the practice of Taiji are universal and can be found everywhere if we just open ourselves to the lessens of life. So, what has this to do with Taiji? To me, everything. Note that the phrase is not "Choose differently" but "Choose again." Meaning, that we are free to make the same choice, it does not have to be a different choice, but it can be. Every day, we should consciously make choices, and not necessarily resort to habit.
Sunday, June 26, 2016 at 2:04PM This video was created in 2008 as a gift to Master Jim, soon to be Teacher Jude, and all instructors and students of the Nam Hoa tradition. My thanks to Barb Francisco for her friendship and talent, and acknowledgement to Joni Mitchell for the music which stirred my soul, together making this project a reality.
Tom Wolf
