T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 107

Four gathered in HEC 110 for a 29 minute called set. Before the set, there were questions on Needle at Sea Bottom and one other which eludes at the moment. After the set, I reviewed Wave Hands Like Clouds as one of the students had his feet in a rather curious formation.

Shortly after the review of Wave Hands, we yielded to others who wished to use the studio.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 106

Six strolled in for a 24 minute called set this morning. After the set there were questions on Turn and Sweep Lotus (right foot placement at the end), Ward Off Right (elbow placement, angle, etc.), and Step Forward, Deflect Downward, Parry, and Punch as far as timing, etc.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 105

Seven swerved into practice this morning and even though we don't normally execute a called set on Thursdays, one of my students requested some help in that area, so we strode through a 37 minute called set. Several students kept wanting to speed up at various parts of the form, but by either not watching them or be focusing on my own breath, I was able to hold a relatively consistent pace. I often think I am too easily influenced by outside stimuli.

A couple students were surprised it was so long while one was surprised it wasn't a 40 minute set. There were no questions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 104

Five flowed into a 31 minute uncalled set this morning. I felt quite good after the set even though I'd had little sleep the night before.

After the set, there were several questions on Bend Bow, Shoot Tiger and after demonstrating and really examining the frame, the student was able to improve significantly in the execution.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 103

Three slipped in from the cold, wet, morning and after a nice warm-up, executed a 9 minute set this morning. There were no questions.

After the set, two stuck around for just over five minutes of standing meditation. The breathing in through the navel is still quite intense.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 102

Five came in for a 24 minute called set this morning. I again emphasized leading from the waist. - There were no questions after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 101

Four gathered for a 24 minute uncalled set. I felt so much better after the set. It never ceases to amaze me how good T'ai Chi makes me feel.

After the set, Charlie and I worked on Yang-Family push-hands for about 20 minutes and then followed it up with a couple of runs through the staff set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 100

Six gathered for a 29 minute called set this morning. After the set, there were questions on Roll-Back and Carry Tiger, Return to Mountain.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 99

Six for a 26 to 27 minute set. - I slept the sleep of forgetfulness and did not remember my alarms. - Charlie led the group.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 98

Five flew in across the freshly fallen snow for a 29 minute called set today. I called it because there was a student there who had only been exposed to part one.

There were no questions before or after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 97

Five found their way to practice this morning for a 15 minute uncalled set. After the set, there were questions on Turn and Sweep Lotus and Bend Bow Shoot Tiger. Following Q&A, four enjoyed about 6 minutes of standing meditation.

Although I have often heard the term "belly breathing" it wasn't until recently that I started exploring breathing more than just air into my belly. Either last week or the week before I started visualizing the "breath" entering the belly directly from outside the body. This has had a profound effect on my meditation and the energetics I'm experiencing during said meditation.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 96

Six gathered for a 28 minute called set today. There was one new attender from the University class who did fairly well for his first time through the whole of the form. I asked the people there to focus on leading with the waist again, but I found I had more difficulty feeling it while calling the set. A one track mind, or so it would seem.

After the set, there was a question on the direction of Carry Tiger, Return to Mountain.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 95

One popped in to HEC 110 for a pleasant warm up and a 4 minute and 30 second set. Oddly enough, I thought I could go faster. Oh well, as it is said, all things with time and practice.

After the set, I left.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 94

Three descended on HEC 110 to participate in a 31 minute uncalled set. There were no questions after the set, though one of the students and I worked on the staff set for a while.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 93

Six survived a 33 minute called set this morning. The pace seemed pretty good to me and no one else complained, anyway. ;-)  More focus on the waist is required.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 92

Two blew in for a 27 minute uncalled set today. Before the set, I worked with the other person there on Separate Feet, specifically the kicks there-in. It went well. During the set we worked more on "rooting".

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 91

Four fell in to execute a 30 minute uncalled set. I emphasized leading with the waist before we started and apparently I took my own advice as I started to feel connections with the waist today which before now were only cognitive beliefs as opposed to felt experiences. It was a stunningly marvelous set for me and the door to yet another layer, another depth of the form has been pushed-wide. This requires thought and digestion.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 90

Five gathered for an eight minute accelerated (but complete) set. After the set, we stood for 5 minutes of standing meditation. It was a very nice way to start the day.

It surprised me as the eight minutes this morning seemed much longer and slower than the seven minutes last week Tuesday. But it actually makes sense. At seven minutes (420 seconds), we are executing one position (approximately) every 3.26 seconds whereas at eight minutes (480 seconds), we are executing one position every 3.72 seconds. Now, that's only about a half a second (0.46 seconds) difference per position, but at the rate of position execution, it is about 1/6th longer for each position. At 27 minutes (1620 seconds), we are executing one position every (approximately) 12.56 seconds. If we add 1/6th of that time to each position (approximately 2.09 seconds), we are approaching a 31.5 minute set. Under normal circumstances, this should be quite noticeable.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 89

No data.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 88

Four gathered in HEC 110 for yet another 29 minute set. My focus strayed into nothingness causing me to pause briefly after Strike Tigers and wonder if we had missed them or not. Other than that, I stove to step as lightly and quietly as possible. There were four instances throughout the set of something audible from one of my steps, which isn't horrible at least when compared with others. Still, much room for improvement.

Before the set, there was a question on the drawing of the hand across the forearm in Fair Lady Works at Shuttles. After the set, Charlie and I went the staff set a couple times with good results.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 87

Six shuffled (in some cases) in for another 29 minute set. My balance was a tad strange on some of the pivots into Single Whip, but other than that, all seemed well.

After the set, there were several questions on Taekwondo sparring by one "cross-over" student. After the questions, that student and I went through the first two parts of the staff set several times such that I could teach him the end of part 2 and smooth out some other rough spots.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 86

Three showed and Charlie was kind enough to take them through a 29 minute set. I was recovering from a rather long drive.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 85

Four gathered for a 27 minute called set this morning. After the set (facing true south again today), there were questions on Ward Off Left and White Crane Spreads Wings.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 84

Four gathered for a 29 minute set this morning. For a change of pace, or in this case, face, we faced true south instead of toward the mirrors. It was really quite nice. I found that my Repulse Monkeys have gotten a bit better as far as the width of stance is concerned. Other positions still need work, of course.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 83

Six sashayed in for a seven minute set this morning, though only five finished. The timing of the set seemed more consistent today than is usual, especially for a "quick" set.  The set was followed by five minutes of standing meditation for the remaining four.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 82

Seven gathered back in the Allen Center today for a called 31 minute set. I asked people to really focus on leading with their waist today which prompted a question after the set regarding Brush Knee. The student in question was focusing so much on using the waist to open the foot between the various Brush Knee frames that they were opening it too far. This was likely due to their habit of opening the foot using the foot or the leg. This then (almost) doubled the effect. - I feel this was a good lesson today.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 81

Four gathered today in HEC 110 for a 20 minute uncalled set. It was much nicer today, quieter, calmer, and closer to my "normal" breathing.

After the set, there were questions on Single Whip. One student required an adaptive suggestion. Following Q&A, we worked on a bit of applied T'ai Chi, primarily pushing. After I demonstrated on the one door in HEC 110, and they also had chance to try it, their pushes were much better than when they started. We then moved on to Brush Knee including both the deflection and the single-hand push. I made sure to talk to them about using the edge of the palm as opposed to the flat and worked with them on the concept of "chaining" and rooting.

After the applied work, Charlie and I went through a couple iterations of the staff set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 80

Four gathered in HEC 110 for a very distracting 22 minute set. There were a large (probably around 2 dozen) people traipsing in and out of the room gathering equipment and taking it somewhere else in the building. They seemed to do this as slowly and loudly as possible throughout our warm-up and about 85% of the set. It was, alas, frustrating and distracting.

Of course, the real reason I was frustrated and somewhat displeased is because I had expectations. I had expectations of civility, courtesy, and politeness. Had I had no such expectations, then I would not have been so irked by their untimely actions. It really is true that emotions are up to the person experiencing them.

After the set, I answered a few questions about Golden Cock Stands on One Leg and Needle at Sea Bottom followed by some good conversation mostly about T'ai Chi.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 79

Only three gathered for a ~30 minute set. I couldn't make it again due to work constraints. Thanks to Charlie, though, it went well.