T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 78

Five found their way in for a 29 minute set this morning. I had significant issues holding the pace and others had significant issues remembering the form. Oh well. Just one of those days, I think. After the set, there were a few indeterminate questions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 77

Charlie led a called set for three folks taking an undetermined amount of time. :-) (Thank you, Charlie.) I was unable to make it due to various issues, so it's always nice to have a student or two who can step up to the task.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 76

Six gathered on this (approaching) pleasant morning for a 13 minute uncalled set. We had one new student join who also attends my UW class. He did quite well for his first time through the whole form, really picked up on the repetition in the form and even managed most of the foot work on the spots he didn't know.

After the set, five of us remained for about five minutes of standing meditation. It was, overall, a very pleasant start to the morning.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 75

Seven gathered for a called (with breathing called as well) this frigid March morning. I made a few minor errors while calling the set, but nothing serious. Although no questions were asked after the set, at least 2 people commented that they found it useful.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 74

Four again gathered (the same 4) in HEC 110 for a nice warm-up and a very nice 36 minute uncalled set. I think there was a little bit of a speed-up in the latter half of part 2 and again in the latter portion of part 3, but it was still a sufficiently lengthy set.

After the set, there were questions on Double-Wind to the Ears.

Post Q&A, Charlie and I went through the staff set a couple of times.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 73

Four congregated in HEC 110 for a very pleasant 27 minute uncalled set. After the set, we did about 5 minutes of standing meditation. As Charlie would say, the set was quite juicy as was the meditation.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 72

Four braved the return of arctic temperatures and executed a 22 minute set. The set was intentionally less slow today as one of the practitioners needed to leave early. After the set, there were questions on Crossed Hands and Ride Tiger.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 71

Four gathered for a 28 minute uncalled set. There were no questions before or after the set.

Although I only made one obvious mistake, my emotions and thoughts were scattered. The set was helpful, but I could not put myself into it as I usually do.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 70

RAMMING SPEED was required to get through the plowed snow and wind-driven drifts by most of the four who gathered this morning for a 25 minute uncalled set. - Although there were no questions, I did re-iterated the importance of turning the waist, especially in positions such as Brush Knee as at least one of the folks there wasn't quite doing that.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 69

Spring sprang (officially) late on the 20th, though this morning six practitioners were pelted with ice and snow on both the trip in and out of a 13 minute set. I sped up in part 3 but at the time, it just felt like the form smoothed out.

After the set, five stayed for about 6 minutes of standing meditation. There were no questions regarding the form.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 68

Four gathered for a 19 minute uncalled set this morning. - The briefer set was requested. - After the set, we did some push-hands for a while and then ran through the staff set a couple times.

There is no formal practice tomorrow or Monday.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 67

Seven marveled their way in from the dark, gray of the cold morning for a 26 minute called set. (Only six finished, one leaving around the time of Fair Lady Works at Shuttles). There were no relevant questions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 66

Eight breezed in for a 29 minute set. It seemed very smooth today except for two places in which my balance wobbled. They weren't normal places like the kicks, rather in transition between Transitional Single Whip and Fist Under Elbow and again between Ward Off Right and Punch Down. *shrug* At least no one was debilitated.

Before the set, there was a question on one of the warm-up exercises and after the set, there was a question on the Kick With Heel right after Double Wind to the Ears.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 65

Seven braved the warmer weather for participation in a 28 minute uncalled set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 64

Seven drove or walked in on significantly clearer streets today and although we started a shade late (my fault), we completed a nice warm up and an 8 minute "quick" set followed by comments on the set and about 5 minutes of standing meditation. Before practice, there were questions on breathing in actual combat and general execution of Double Wind to the Ears.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 63

Nine braved the almost balmy weather this morning to attend a 21 minute called set. The difference was quite striking between yesterday and today.

Afterwards, there were questions on Ward Off Right (right arm angle and where the arm-break happens) and the timing of Step Back (and) Ride Tiger. Quite a bit of discussion ensued regarding the former questions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 62

Six gathered in HEC 110 for a 40 minute uncalled set. I found this quite relaxing today as did a few others. I used as natural a breathing as possible.

After the set, there were questions on the transition between Brush Knees, Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (in general), and the timing of the step in Single Whip. Post Q&A, we worked a bit more on Whip Kick.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 61

Five slid in on the ice this morning to HEC 110 for a warm up and 29 minute uncalled set. After the set, I noted that one of the students was drawing his arms back too far when executing Single Whip. We then worked on "applied" T'ai Chi, specifically, the Whip Kick in Separate Feet.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 60

Eight gathered for a 29 minute called (with breathing) set this morning. There were several comments after the set that this was extremely helpful for timing, etc.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 59

Seven gathered for a 29 minute set this morning.

After the set, there were questions on timing and breathing.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 58

Four brushed away the new snow and sought opportunity to practice this morning. After the warm up, we tried a "fast" set, completing all three parts in almost 5 minutes. We then went back and reviewed part 2 as a called set and at a far more sedate pace.

After the set, there were questions on the changes to Grasp Bird's Tail and the transition out of Wave Hands Like Clouds.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 57

Five (not including me) gathered for a 10 minute set led by Charlie.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 56

Eight gathered from a dusting of light snow to execute a 25 (almost 26) minute called set this morning. The flow was nice, I thought. Although there were no questions after the set, I did reiterate the need to keep the back straight during positions like brush-left-knee. Some were leaning too far forward.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 55

Five gathered for a 23 minute uncalled set this morning. Before the set, there were a few questions on Snake Creeps Down. After the set, there was a question on the Single Whip after Wave Hands Like Clouds.

After the Q&A, we went through the staff set twice.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 54

Eight gathered in HEC 110 this morning for a 36 minute uncalled set. It actually felt a bit longer than that, but it was by no means forced for me. The clock in the room had stopped so I had no guide but my own breathing.

After the set we worked on push-hands and then a few minutes of staff.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 53

Not much beats freezing rain for "fun" travel. I layer of the stuff coated pretty much every surface making both driving and walking hazardous. It also provided an excellent opportunity to walk "correctly". :-p

Five skated in this morning for a 29 minute called set. It would have been much longer, but I caught sight of the clock late in part 2 and increased the tempo for part 3. I really don't like doing that, but it was that or end the session ten minutes late. It was still nice, but it left no time for questions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 52

Neither Charlie nor I could make this morning's practice. Fortunately, Dave led the group of 5 that did make it in a 20 minute uncalled set. :-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 51

Crisp, bright, and cold describe this morning's conditions quite well. It is actually quite pleasant to see the sun above the horizon before we start our set. Alas, upon the 13th of this month it will again be returned to an hour below the horizon.

Seven gathered this morning for a 24 minute set. One of the people there was commenting that he might prefer a less long set, so I attempted to oblige. After the set, there were questions on the various arm-breaks and related positions throughout the form. I also found this a rewarding series of questions as some of the positions are now making even more sense than they did before (and they made a lot of sense before).

I seem to be getting to the point where the prolonged practice is showing a notable benefit in understanding at any rate. Yesterday, a student in my UW class started asking questions about Fair Lady Works at Shuttles and I realized that A: No one had ever asked me these questions before, and B: with only a moments thought, I could answer them with at least viable if not necessarily strictly canon answer. I need to go back to Master Yang's DVD set and see if he has anything to say on the matters at hand.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 50

Bright sun behind a stark cloud-bank made for a startling sun-rise this morning. The various colors combined with the sharp contrast of the clouds was quite beautiful.

Eight arose and assembled for a seven minute set this morning. It was fast, it was aggressive, it was violent, it matched my mood perfectly. How obvious. The way a person does T'ai Chi reflects the person they truly are and today, I was at least aggressive. It felt good, though it feels good to be calm, too.

After the set, there were no questions, so we went into a five minute standing meditation. That was wonderfully calming.