I'm a veteran of 22 years and your method instruction are outstanding! We used a by the numbers when marching (e.g. turning) and when performing squad tactical training. Thank You. Learned a lot, particular when keeping the back straight for balance which is a key when switching from right to left. Gracias Shi Fu
Hallo Andrew, your explaination and Demonstration of snake ... is the best I have ever seen, this is really comprehensible and easy to exercise. Thank you 👍
Excellent training video, superb demonstration and explanations. I think the super low version is something of a Wushu influence on some styles of Taiji, particularly the very popular and widely promoted Yang style 24 form. It's great that you show both ways of doing this and present it as a choice to the practitioner. Both versions were demonstrated with equal control of balance, shifting of weight, turning the waist and relaxed, upright posture. I'll be trying the gentle version as my flexibility is nowhere near your level. Each person needs to decide whether to try to achieve more flexibility or just work within their own limits. Of course, better flexibility is a good thing, but it's also quite easy to cause knee damage in these postures. It's great how you make people aware of those risks, what to watch out for and how to avoid it.
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the video. Thank you for taking the time to write this comment. It's always nice to hear when someone benefits from something I have posted. I wish you all the best in your training.
Thank you for the unhurried, step by step, explanation and demonstration from different angles. This is by far the best tutorial on the Snake Creeps Down, and Golden Rooster Stands On One Leg. I am trying to master this movement, and I find your video extremely helpful.
Ahhhh. Thank you so much! I was totally doing the bad back and I knew I was going wrong. But I wasn't sure how to adjust my stance and angle. This totally helps because you show the side view too. I don't have proper footwear at the moment when doing it at home, so I'm afraid my foot is gonna slide off if I go low and I'll injure myself needlessly. The easier method's stance, now I understand when you broke it up, goes into a horse stance before opening out, and that helps maintain the back position. Thank you so much for creating this clear instructional video and still keeping it up! It really helps us beginners!
Andrew, Awesome instructions & modifications for the most difficult form for those of us with bad knees & arthritis. Thanks you for taking your time explaining & demonstrating.
Andrew, that was great instruction. I am one of those in the second group (not so flexible), and you cleared up a lot of questions. Thanks for sharing.
I always fear joint and muscle injury while transferring weight from one leg to the other or rotating joints in extreme extension positions. thank you for your detailed instruction.
Tai Chi does have many healing qualities, but it's always a good idea to work closely with your health care team and to get their stamp of approval on any exercises you're planning to do during rehab. When it comes to your health, it's always best to play it safe. :)
The very low version is stylistic only. To move lower than the thigh being parallel to the floor is mechanically inefficient. Looks nice but not really all that practical. It's worth considering the purpose of this movement as a whole.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. That is a pretty common belief, but practicality entirely depends on training goals. If the only goal of training is to exactly mimic the way the movements are applied martially, then that perspective is correct. However, moving through dynamic, low stances is excellent training for leg strength and flexibility, provided it is done in a safe manner. A body that is stronger and more flexible is a body that is less likely to be injured, which is certainly practical whether the training goal is martial use or health promotion. It does look cool to do low stances, but that is a bonus, not the primary purpose of low stances in Taiji training. There are multiple applications contained in this movement, but none of them are diminished by having stronger more flexible legs. The masters I trained with in China had no difficulty with low stances due to the fact that their legs were flexible and strong through an impressive range of motion from having trained low stances for so many years, but their low stance training never hindered their ability to practically apply any movement. So, while I agree that a low stance is not the most practical way to apply this movement martially, they have a lot of benefit for the martially oriented Taiji practitioner and are an important part of Taiji training. I like to think of it this way, you will never be at a disadvantage for having increased your body's capabilities. Thank you again for the comment. I wish you all the best in your training.
@@AndrewPlitt I'm not disagreeing with you, but the use of these low stances in the forms imposes an unrealistic goal on many older participants who can often feel that their practice is unsatisfactory because they cannot achieve this depth of stance. When teaching it is good to consider the goals of your students and their limitations. Besides which simple deep squats will achieve the same results while being more stable generally, which is good for the older population.
@@davyj5216 That is a valid point and I completely agree. It is very important to understand each student's comfort level and physical abilities. That is why the second half of this video is dedicated to a high-stance version of this movement. Those instructions start at about 9:42 in this video. When I was teaching classes the majority of my students were older adults and we always made sure that the movements were modified in a way that was safe for each student and complimented their physical capabilities. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts and perspective.
I'm a veteran of 22 years and your method instruction are outstanding! We used a by the numbers when marching (e.g. turning) and when performing squad tactical training. Thank You. Learned a lot, particular when keeping the back straight for balance which is a key when switching from right to left. Gracias Shi Fu
Excellent view of wrist and hands. The whole illustration of forms engaging and apprehensible for a novice like me. Extremely enjoyable. Happy Easter.
Andrew, also, comment/caveat about losing center while gazing down very helpful.
Hallo Andrew, your explaination and Demonstration of snake ... is the best I have ever seen, this is really comprehensible and easy to exercise. Thank you 👍
Hi Gerog, I am glad to hear that you enjoyed this video so much. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
00:10:00 Modified form starts. Thanks for the important points - Go Slow. 2 - Count. Many thanks. This is excellent.
I'm glad to hear it was helpful for you. :)
Excellent training video, superb demonstration and explanations.
I think the super low version is something of a Wushu influence on some styles of Taiji, particularly the very popular and widely promoted Yang style 24 form. It's great that you show both ways of doing this and present it as a choice to the practitioner. Both versions were demonstrated with equal control of balance, shifting of weight, turning the waist and relaxed, upright posture. I'll be trying the gentle version as my flexibility is nowhere near your level.
Each person needs to decide whether to try to achieve more flexibility or just work within their own limits. Of course, better flexibility is a good thing, but it's also quite easy to cause knee damage in these postures. It's great how you make people aware of those risks, what to watch out for and how to avoid it.
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the video. Thank you for taking the time to write this comment. It's always nice to hear when someone benefits from something I have posted. I wish you all the best in your training.
Thank you for the unhurried, step by step, explanation and demonstration from different angles.
This is by far the best tutorial on the Snake Creeps Down, and Golden Rooster Stands On One Leg. I am trying to master this movement, and I find your video extremely helpful.
Siew-Seng Lee I'm glad to hear that you found it helpful. :)
Thank you for this excellent tutorial - just what I need to be able to keep myself safe and perform a modified form correctly
I am glad to hear that it was helpful for you!
Totally awesome! Clear, methodical, compassionate and helpful. Many Thanks, Bill
I'm glad to hear you liked so much. I wish you all the best in your training.
Ahhhh. Thank you so much! I was totally doing the bad back and I knew I was going wrong. But I wasn't sure how to adjust my stance and angle. This totally helps because you show the side view too. I don't have proper footwear at the moment when doing it at home, so I'm afraid my foot is gonna slide off if I go low and I'll injure myself needlessly. The easier method's stance, now I understand when you broke it up, goes into a horse stance before opening out, and that helps maintain the back position. Thank you so much for creating this clear instructional video and still keeping it up! It really helps us beginners!
You are very welcome! I am glad to hear that it was so helpful for you.
Andrew, Awesome instructions & modifications for the most difficult form for those of us with bad knees & arthritis. Thanks you for taking your time explaining & demonstrating.
You're more than welcome! I'm glad to hear that this video has been helpful for you. :)
So smooth! Very informative. I have been looking for ways to improve this stance, this definitely help! Thanks!
+see later I'm glad to hear it was helpful for you. :)
Andrew, that was great instruction. I am one of those in the second group (not so flexible), and you cleared up a lot of questions. Thanks for sharing.
I'm very glad to hear that it helped. :)
Beautiful.
Loved this one. Can't go very far down. Very interesting way to practice to get down there. Thanks
Glad to hear you liked it. :)
Nice instructions well demonstrated 😊👍🏾
Thank you. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. :)
Well done, a nice simple drill to help refine the "snake"
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed this video. :)
Found this just at the right moment, It’s the next sequence I needed to learn. Beautiful clear instructions so I’ve subscribed to your channel
I'm glad to hear it was helpful for you! Thank you for subscribing. :)
Great video Sifu. Very good detail.
I'm glad to hear you liked it. :)
I always fear joint and muscle injury while transferring weight from one leg to the other or rotating joints in extreme extension positions. thank you for your detailed instruction.
You're very welcome. I'm glad to hear that this video was helpful for you. :) I wish you all the best in your training!
This will help with my rehab after a bilateral knee replacement although my snake wont be creeping too far down now!
Tai Chi does have many healing qualities, but it's always a good idea to work closely with your health care team and to get their stamp of approval on any exercises you're planning to do during rehab. When it comes to your health, it's always best to play it safe. :)
Very informative, thank you for posting ite and congrats for your beautiful low stance!
You make it look so easy! Lol, but your tips are great and they help me a lot. Keep it up! Shi shi Sifu :)
Philo Sophia Thank you! I'm glad to hear the video is helping. :)
Very clear. Thanks!
my pleasure! I'm glad to hear you liked it. :)
Thank you!!!
My pleasure. :) I'm glad to hear you like it.
i find this very helpful & useful ....... :D
I'm glad to hear it! :) Thanks for taking the time to let me know. :)
I'm gonna try this. Snake creeps down is so hard for me because I am so stiff.
I hope it makes your training a little easier. :)
The very low version is stylistic only. To move lower than the thigh being parallel to the floor is mechanically inefficient. Looks nice but not really all that practical. It's worth considering the purpose of this movement as a whole.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. That is a pretty common belief, but practicality entirely depends on training goals. If the only goal of training is to exactly mimic the way the movements are applied martially, then that perspective is correct. However, moving through dynamic, low stances is excellent training for leg strength and flexibility, provided it is done in a safe manner. A body that is stronger and more flexible is a body that is less likely to be injured, which is certainly practical whether the training goal is martial use or health promotion. It does look cool to do low stances, but that is a bonus, not the primary purpose of low stances in Taiji training. There are multiple applications contained in this movement, but none of them are diminished by having stronger more flexible legs. The masters I trained with in China had no difficulty with low stances due to the fact that their legs were flexible and strong through an impressive range of motion from having trained low stances for so many years, but their low stance training never hindered their ability to practically apply any movement. So, while I agree that a low stance is not the most practical way to apply this movement martially, they have a lot of benefit for the martially oriented Taiji practitioner and are an important part of Taiji training. I like to think of it this way, you will never be at a disadvantage for having increased your body's capabilities. Thank you again for the comment. I wish you all the best in your training.
@@AndrewPlitt I'm not disagreeing with you, but the use of these low stances in the forms imposes an unrealistic goal on many older participants who can often feel that their practice is unsatisfactory because they cannot achieve this depth of stance. When teaching it is good to consider the goals of your students and their limitations. Besides which simple deep squats will achieve the same results while being more stable generally, which is good for the older population.
@@davyj5216 That is a valid point and I completely agree. It is very important to understand each student's comfort level and physical abilities. That is why the second half of this video is dedicated to a high-stance version of this movement. Those instructions start at about 9:42 in this video. When I was teaching classes the majority of my students were older adults and we always made sure that the movements were modified in a way that was safe for each student and complimented their physical capabilities. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts and perspective.