Here are some great thoughts from healer/taiji practitioner Philomena Papirnik (who is every bit as musical and magical as the name suggests). What is the use of resistance? How do we use it in taiji? Where is the strength in being resistant? Or is that not possible. Is resistance the I-It equivalent of the I-You of ‘meeting’, (in so far that it’s fragmentary perhaps?) and that it objectifies? I’ve been thinking I’ve been meeting but yet again, I haven’t. I’ve been resisting some of the time. Meeting’s not just a feeling, is it? It’s everything rolled up into one moment… Read More
The Paradox of Wardoff
Through experience of the touch one can gradually comprehend and understand jin. Through understanding jin one can reach divine-like clarity. Wang Zongyue, Taijiquan Lun The “Wardoff” posture in taijiquan is an expression of peng jin, an expanding (yang) “up and out” type of internal power. Like all jins, peng is dependent on a whole-body energetic connection. Energetic coherence. Without that, your Wardoff will suck. In Wardoff With Left Arm, the substantial arm (left) is curved in front of the chest to create space. This is a really weak muscular connection. Try it. Have someone push on your forearm, starting slow… Read More
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