T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 217

Five gathered for a 25 minute called set. I was 5 minutes late and almost didn't go at all. I'm glad I did, though. It was a good set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 216

Four gathered this morning for a 28 minute set. The changes are getting easier to remember and incorporate (for the most part) so it seems I'm able to slow down the form. (That seems strange to say since in every other endeavor, one usually slows it down to learn the changes and then speeds it up. *huh* ) - After the set, there was one question on the changes in timing to Single Whip.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 215

Four gathered this morning for a 26 minute set. I talked a bit about some of the corrections with the 4th. After the set, we talked about more of the changes. I think they're becoming easier to remember now.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 214

Three gathered for a 25 minute set along with some corrections, some practice at "Pushing the Door" (waist focus) and then some staff training. We didn't leave the room until 9:45 at the earliest.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 213

No data.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 212

No data.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 211

No data.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 210

Five gathered for a 27 minute called set. The changes I'm incorporating into the form are flowing better today. Everything felt better today as far as smoothness in concerned. I'm still working on "rooting" correctly in certain positions, but that will come, I think. Growth is good.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 209

Five gathered for a somewhat accelerated 22 minute set. I have the distinct impression that until I am able to internalize all the changes, the form is going to be a little less slow than what I'd like.

Before the set, I talked about the transition from brush knee to brush knee again, posture, i.e. almost sitting on a chair or stool (or milk-can) and after the set I talked about a rounded crotch and the necessary weight distribution (more weight in the balls of the feet as opposed to the heels, keep the weight centered (side to side) on the feet) to acquire that rounded crotch feeling. Charlie is already declaiming the better feel to it and I honestly have to agree. More soon.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 208

Two gathered this morning for a quick 11 minute set. The rest of the time was spent introducing concepts to Charlie imparted at the conference. Much of what I brought back seems very applicable. Both of us will be working on the changes for some time to come.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 207

Three gathered in the HEC for a little more chatting about the changes and a pleasant 22 minute set. After, Charlie and I worked on a couple staff sets. There were numerous questions related to the changes.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 206

Four gathered for a 24 minute called set. - I started talking a little about the changes and briefly introduced the transition from Brush Knee to Brush Knee and the width of stance. More will be introduced as time permits.

It's good to be back even if my form did feel a bit choppy today.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 205

No data.

The conference is done. Headed home soon.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 204

No data for the group though I think it was small today.

Push-hands was very interesting. I learned some new exercises to help teach the concepts of movement in this expression of the art-form. I also learned more solidly the movements expected in Yang-style. The concepts behind the movement aren't any different than what I've been studying for the past 14 or so years, only the way you get there, and of course a constant need for improvement.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 203

No data for the group.

More sword today. A lot of good stuff which I may decipher at some point.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 202

No data for the group.

Sword today. Whew! That was rougher than I expected.

I also went over to Vicki's place and she took video of me while I executed the form. Two tapes and she wouldn't let me pay for any of it. She must have the teaching bug like I do. I'm grateful for her time and effort. I need to correlate what she is teaching with what Master Yang Jun is teaching. I have his DVD but no time to look at while I'm here, I think.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 201.5

No group practice today since the doors would be difficult to open without an appropriate key.

The continued bare-hands form refinement wet well today. There were many repeated positions so we were actually able to complete the form. I even received a certificate indicating completion of the course. I just hope I can digest all my notes and incorporate all the changes into my own practice. I guess we'll see.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 201

No data for the regular practice group. No group practice tomorrow.

The day spent on bare-hand form (103) today was very enlightening and the banquet dinner this evening was interesting, to say the least. I met and chatted at length with a woman named Vicki. Very enlightening about many things. She has offered to video tape me and offer suggestions for the corrections of my various frames.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 200

No Data for the main group.

My initial practice sessions with Master Yang Jun this evening were already worth the time to come here and the money spent. I have oodles of notes which I will have to type up at some point, hopefully soon before I forget what I was scribbling about. One big notation is that the width of bow stance is now measured as shoulder width between the lead ball of the foot and the rear heel of the foot, from the reference direction. That should prove interesting, especially for people with larger feet.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 199

Five arrived for a very nice 33 minute set. This is the last day I'll be at practice for a while.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 198

Three showed up for a quick and very nicely flowing seven minute set. It felt really good this morning, powerful yet calming. Charlie commented how nice it would be to acquire the same level of flow during a 25 to 30 minute set. Eventually, I think.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 197

Six gathered for a 29 minute called set this morning. After the set, we went through Fair Lady Works at Shuttles at the request of one of the students. Overall, it was an enjoyable set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 196

Five gathered for a seemingly much easier 30 minute set. In comparison to yesterday, it felt like we were going fast, but it turned out better. There were no questions after today's set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 195

Five started and four finished a pleasant but somewhat warm 28 minute set in the HEC. The very limited amount of air-handling available in room 110 seemed to have been turned off today, probably a problem related to the apparent power-outage last evening. After the bare-hand set, Charlie and I went through the staff a couple times and then worked on Yang-style push-hands.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 194

Four gathered at the HEC for a 20 minute set this morning. There was a bit of social pleasantness before the set and staff and push-hands after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 193

Five gathered for a 25 minute set. I just wish I could have been there. :-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 192

Six gathered for a 33 minute uncalled set today. After the set, there were questions on width of stance, height of dan tien, and coordination of body movement.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 191

Nancy rejoined us today to make it five for a 13 minute uncalled but complete set. The set today flowed well in my opinion. There are still a few spots where some folk have a lot of trouble remaining at a consistent pace. (Yes, that goes for me, too.)

After the set, there was a question about the transition from Fair Lady Works at Shuttles to Ward Off Left and a general question about Chakras.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 190

Five gathered for a 29 minute called set. Charlie was back, which was very nice. Now if I can just get everyone (including myself) to slow down a bit, it'll be even better. :-)

After the set, there was one question on the hand positions of Roll Back.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2010 Day 189

Yesterday should have been 189, but it was called on account of sleep.

Today, four gathered back at the Allen Center for a 31 minute called set. It felt like a couple of the students were impatient and fast and I wondered because the pace felt good to me. I thought I was going overly slowly.

After the set, there were questions on knee extension in bow stance, the transition between Lift Hands Step Forward and White Crane Spreads Wings (with attention to hand placement), and a question on Separate Feet as far as the hands.