Название: Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments: Hidden Strength, Natural Movement, and Timing
Автор: Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D.
Издательство: YMAA Publication Center
Год: 2021
Страниц: 240
Язык: английский
Формат: epub
Размер: 13.6 MB

The Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments book clarifies and makes accessible critical aspects of the art that are currently understood and manifested by only a small number of high-level practitioners.

Numerous step-by-step experiments are provided for readers to experience and perfect these critical Tai Chi aspects.

Over the half-century that I have studied Taiji, I have found that explanations of certain essential elements of the art are either insufficiently clear or absent. Two such elements are (1) the cultivation of expansive strength, which does not originate from nerve impulses producing contraction of muscle fibers but from a different action, and (2) the optimal timing of movement from the legs, to the hips, and out to the arms. I am concerned that these two essential elements will be forever lost to the majority of Taiji practitioners, especially those of the Yang style.

The writings of the highest-level masters over centuries are contained in the Taiji Classics. These writings emphasize the importance of releasing ordinary strength until it is at a minimum but also emphasize cultivating a kind of strength described as “iron wrapped in cotton.” On the one hand, the body must be so free of tension that the slightest touch will set the body into motion. On the other hand, the whole body must be able to manifest substantial strength in all directions—even while doing the Taiji form.

Contents include:
- The meaning and importance of releasing tension in movement for stability, health, and spirituality.
- The differences between contractive and expansive strength including a promising mechanism for the nature of expansive strength.
- Numerous experiments for readers to recognize and experience expansive strength and to confirm that they have achieved it.
- Elucidation of famous master's sayings on mind, strength, and chi.
- Health and martial advantages of expansion over contraction in tai chi.
- Protocols using expansion including those for helping an excess curvature of the upper and lower spine and for relieving plantar fasciitis.
- Quotes from the classics and how they confirm the interpretations of the principles of tai chi.
- How to achieve optimal balance through an understanding of physical, anatomical, physiological, and mental factors.
- A detailed analysis of "rooting and redirecting" including physical and internal aspects.
- Understanding natural movement from physical, philosophical, health, and martial points of view.

This interdisciplinary book utilizes, elementary physics, physiology, anatomy, psychology, and spirituality. It contains detailed analyses and explanations for achieving internal, expansive strength, known as nei jin, and for attaining optimal timing and natural movement.