Just great!! I'm wondering whether these principles also work when I perform quick strikes, for example, as in karate? In addition to Qigong and Taiji, I also train Goju Ryu Karate. I always try to bring the perception of energy into karate, but as soon as I perform fast techniques or have to exert myself, I lose contact with this perception of energy. Do you have any tips?
Thank you! Think of the energy as an expanded balloon. And when you do a quick strike, you are quickly expelling air out of a small hole in the balloon. Then you are still connecting to your energy but instead of losing it, you are accelerating it. And it is possible that you are not actually losing contact with your perception of the energy, you just need to define it differently so you can recognize it...it is still there. I think the idea of the quick expulsion of air from the balloon will help you. Or you can use your own imagery.....fire from a dragon's mouth, water coming out of a fire hose, a whip with power at the tip of the whip. Lots of imagery ideas to keep you in touch with the energy you have and can use. I hope this helps!
that was excellent and very interesting. Do you hips move side to side or are they moving in a curve that follows the curve of the arms? (or something in-between that links the feet which are parallel and the arms that are curved? Or something else?). I tried different variations- and found it interesting to compare them.
Thank you, Andrew. The hips are rotating a bit as well. There is very little side to side. Just incidental weight shift due to the rotation. Chasing Dragon's is actually a very complex movement. It is subtle. Keep experimenting as you did. Listen to your body and it will help direct you. This movement is sort of like wringing a washcloth from foot to hand on a diagonal. Gently though! :-)
@@InternalTaiChi thanke for the reply. It's a very interesting set of physical, intent and awareness movements. I'd been reaching one hand, fingers extended, by releasing from the other foot and letting that go up through my body (across my back) to my finger tips. Moving with emphasis of awareness on the opposite fingers was a fascinating difference (and also experimenting with rotating my palms so that one faced down the other up, rotating as I moved to the other side.
@@AndrewUKLondon Yes, it sounds like you are feeling alot of it already! Excellent. It is a lovely movement full of spirals. Too many people put their awareness on the obvious hand/foot and then feel too heavy on the weight bearing side. Keep up the good work! Thanks for sharing.
Fabulous. You are such a great teacher
Thank you so much! 😊
Just great!!
I'm wondering whether these principles also work when I perform quick strikes, for example, as in karate? In addition to Qigong and Taiji, I also train Goju Ryu Karate. I always try to bring the perception of energy into karate, but as soon as I perform fast techniques or have to exert myself, I lose contact with this perception of energy. Do you have any tips?
Thank you!
Think of the energy as an expanded balloon. And when you do a quick strike, you are quickly expelling air out of a small hole in the balloon. Then you are still connecting to your energy but instead of losing it, you are accelerating it. And it is possible that you are not actually losing contact with your perception of the energy, you just need to define it differently so you can recognize it...it is still there. I think the idea of the quick expulsion of air from the balloon will help you. Or you can use your own imagery.....fire from a dragon's mouth, water coming out of a fire hose, a whip with power at the tip of the whip. Lots of imagery ideas to keep you in touch with the energy you have and can use. I hope this helps!
@@InternalTaiChi That's brilliant and a huge help! Thank you very much!
You are very welcome!
that was excellent and very interesting. Do you hips move side to side or are they moving in a curve that follows the curve of the arms? (or something in-between that links the feet which are parallel and the arms that are curved? Or something else?). I tried different variations- and found it interesting to compare them.
Thank you, Andrew. The hips are rotating a bit as well. There is very little side to side. Just incidental weight shift due to the rotation. Chasing Dragon's is actually a very complex movement. It is subtle. Keep experimenting as you did. Listen to your body and it will help direct you. This movement is sort of like wringing a washcloth from foot to hand on a diagonal. Gently though! :-)
@@InternalTaiChi thanke for the reply.
It's a very interesting set of physical, intent and awareness movements.
I'd been reaching one hand, fingers extended, by releasing from the other foot and letting that go up through my body (across my back) to my finger tips.
Moving with emphasis of awareness on the opposite fingers was a fascinating difference (and also experimenting with rotating my palms so that one faced down the other up, rotating as I moved to the other side.
@@AndrewUKLondon Yes, it sounds like you are feeling alot of it already! Excellent. It is a lovely movement full of spirals. Too many people put their awareness on the obvious hand/foot and then feel too heavy on the weight bearing side. Keep up the good work! Thanks for sharing.