T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 189

Three thwapped the new floor in HEC 110 and after a slightly delayed start, completed a warm-up and 28 minute uncalled set.

There were questions after the set regarding the changes since August 2010. I was only able to cover a few near the beginning of the form (in part 1) as there was lengthy dialog about various aspects of various positions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 188

Three regrouped in HEC 110 with a wonderfully redone floor. There was the faintest of chemical smells in the room when we first entered, but with the door open and the air-handling going much more forcefully than usual, the room became quite pleasant. We executed a 30 minute, uncalled set after-which there were no questions. Charlie and I stayed on a bit and ran through the staff set three times, each time knocking a bit more of the rust off the set.

There were no relevant questions though right about the time we hit Fair Ladies, I had the thought that I should comment on arm position in relation to the torso. It feels like I can make the statement that the shoulder should never be pulled back behind the "vertical" line of the torso. I think any time it appears that an arm or elbow is behind the vertical line of the torso, it is an illusion created by the turning of the waist.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 187

Charlie practiced a lone set for about 23 minutes. I wasn't able to make it.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 186

Two tromped in for a rousing 8 minute set followed immediately by 15+ minutes of push-hands. It was most amusing and very worth-while. If Charlie and I are the only two in future, we shall have to continue this game.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 185

Three slipped in from the moderate to heavy rain for a 27 minute uncalled set. We altered our normal facing of the mirrors (east) to the wall with the closet (north) such that the mirrors provided alternate data. I found it illuminating both from a personal perspective as well as from an instructor's perspective.

Although there were no questions after the set, I reiterated the transition between Bend Bow Shoot Tiger and Step Forward, Deflect Downward, etc. The primary issue I noted was an incorrect pointing of the right foot which translates to a non-turning of the waist for the transitional "arm"-break between the two aforementioned positions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 184

Only two tromped in this morning, but after a pleasant warm-up, Charlie and I rocketed through the entire set in 4.5 minutes. There were a few places (for myself) that felt a bit 'wild' or sloppy perhaps, but by and large, it went well. This is (to date) the fastest time I've done the set with someone else. I don't know that I'll get it much faster than this without changing my profession to 'whirling dervish' but it will be amusing to try.

After the set, Charlie and I executed six minutes of standing meditation using our usual 'Embrace the Tree' pose and then did another couple of minutes using a different pose. It was quite enjoyable.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 183

Four (eventually) made their way in for a 17 minute called set. I reduced the slowness of the pace due to a report from one of the other folks there that campus was off the Internet and since I have the pleasure of being on-call today, I wanted to get in and investigate the claim. Although true, there is nothing I can do about it.

The pace of the set did seem faster than 17 minutes, but as Charlie pointed out, it may have been because I was calling the set. Breathing and talking make whole-body movement so interesting sometimes.

There were no significant questions before or after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 182

Four found their way to the field behind the HEC for a 28 minute uncalled set.

There were no questions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 181

Two tromped in (and out and in again) for a 25 minute uncalled set. We ended up in a gym instead of outside as the clouds were threatening more than covering the sun. The room we used was nice enough but was very warm such that after the set, we took a bit of water and went our separate ways.

There were no questions.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 180

Three throbbed in for an 18 minute called set. - Although the set was okay, it didn't go quite the way I wanted. I discovered that calling the set and attempting to root at the same time is difficult at best. I may try it again sometime, but for now, I wouldn't recommend it.

There were no questions after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 179

Two tromped in for a 24 minute called set. After the set, there were questions on Transitional Single Whip and Turn and Sweep Lotus. After the questions, I also suggested a continued focus on leading with the waist and compressing the hips a bit more.

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

Canceled today on account of storm damage, power outage, flooding, and downed trees. Perhaps tomorrow.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 178

Two tracked in for a 7 minute set. Alas, that I was not among them.

(I awoke at the appointed time, looked at the clock and thought to myself, "That's silly. It's the weekend." I then reset the clock accordingly and went back to sleep. :-p )

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 177

Four flopped in from the already-hot and muggy morning into the Allen Center for a warm-up (*heh*) and a 24 minute called set.

After the set, there was a question on the transition between the second and third Fair Lady Works at Shuttles, another question on the transition between Ward Off Left and Ward Off Right and a third question which eludes me at the moment.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 176

One ploughed his way through the oppressive, water-laden air to the field behind the DUC. Therein, a 'warm'-up was performed followed by a 4 minute set. This felt good. It flowed where it was supposed to flow and it snapped crisply where (I believe) it would snap in usage. I found it very rewarding.

The only question (while I was executing the set) was, is there any truth to the theory that Taekwondo could have started as a soft, internal art form? The sleeping kitty says, 'Ask again, later.'

Before the set, I popped up to the room and found that it still stinks of the floor resurfacing chemicals. It still looks nice, too, but of course if the people who normally use the room are dead from the fumes, they are unlikely to scuff the floor overmuch.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 175

Four flapped through the muggy air, redolent of soon-coming rain. We gathered on the lawn outside of the HEC near Pray-Simms and after a warm-up, executed a 16 minute set. It would have been longer, but partway through part 3, the pregnant skies gave birth to the much-expected rain. T'was appreciated by this practitioner that it started slowly and thus gave us time to complete the set, albeit at a much accelerated pace.

After the set, we all hastily headed to our horseless hansoms, heeding the watery clouds proffered warning. There were no questions. ;-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 174

Three threw in this morning for a 17 minute called set. I was about 10 minutes late due mostly to a train very slowly crossing Business 51. Fortunately, the set was still quite enjoyable though I felt a bit rushed in breath while trying to call the set at that rate.

There were no questions after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 173

Four fled the delightfully cool outdoors this morning and met inside. Prior to the warm-up, most folks walked around the room and removed long, dark shoe marks from the floor. I'm not sure who is leaving all the marks on the floor, but I would enjoy having a conversation with them about their inappropriate behavior.

The set ran for 29 minutes today and to increase the usefulness factor, I asked that everyone face true south (again, instead of the true east we normally face) such that they could see themselves in the mirrors from yet a different aspect. At least two of the people there commented that they found it quite useful. Comments I have made before are now seeming to gel and be retained as well. This is positive in my opinion.

There were no questions after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 172

Three threaded in for a 27 minute uncalled set facing north instead of our usual east. This gave us significantly different perspective with the mirrors. It was nice to see, actually, though I didn't find any startling revelations from that.

After the set, Charlie and I got to talking about feet and the 9 points on said feet which should be in contact with the floor. He was talking largely about the outside edge and it occurred to me that the chaining necessary in the arms and hands for a good push is probably similar to the chaining required for a good, rooted stance. I shall have to examine this further.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 171

Four flocked (some like seagulls, some like Ravens, one like a vulture) in for morning practice today. After a  delightful warm up, we executed a 6 minute set. (Funeral to be announced later.) After the set, we enjoyed about six minutes of standing meditation. After the latter, Charlie echoed my thoughts by indicating that 6 minutes of standing meditation was becoming almost easy. It may be time to ramp it up a bit.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 170

Three thronged in for a 29 minute called set this morning. The flow (to me) seemed quite nice and relaxing. There were no questions after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 169

Charlie and I showed up to play on the same stretch of lawn from yesterday. After a nice warm-up, we blew through a 6 minute set followed by 20+ minutes of push-hands. It was quite enjoyable.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 168

Four flopped in to the field by the HEC for a warm-up after which we moved to the lawn in front of Pray-Sims Hall. There, we executed a 24 minute uncalled set. We wrapped it up after the set as I needed to be elsewhere.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 167

Four flowed in for a 29 minute called set today. By and large, the form went well. One or two of the students still need to remember the breathing in one or two of the positions. This will likely help them slow down and prevent them from the need to wait until the next position is called, or from getting a position or two ahead of the rest of the group.

After the set, there was a question on the arm motions from Ride Tiger into and through Sweep Lotus. Everything is circular, in this case, overlapping spirals. ;-)

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 166

Six slid in for an 18 minute uncalled set this morning. Charlie was back after a week-long sojourn for his betterment in certain art forms. - I asked the students to focus on rooting today. I found it rewarding as well. I feel very rooted now, so soon after the set.

After the set, one of my students noticed a variation in my execution of the last Turn and Kick With Heel in part two. The initial portion of the movement is the same, but during the spin, I am hooking my left foot in closer to my right. I am still able to set the left foot down in the correct spot, but the spin is more centered and a bit less slow. I anticipate this will be especially helpful in the Tuesday sets.

There were no further T'ai Chi related questions this morning.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 165

Four filed in for a 25 minute uncalled set. I seem to be taking notably longer stride when traveling to the "west" than the "east". Part of it may be setting the foot down from the kicks though there are kicks to the east, too. *shrug* I'll have to try to pay closer attention.

There were no questions after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 164

Two tromped in for a 7.5 minute set this morning. Other than wanting to do another Wave Hands Like Clouds from the last Single Whip, it went well.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 163

Three again gathered in the field by the HEC for a 17 minute uncalled (but insect-present) form. The building was locked so we were unable to retrieve our staves for practice. - There were no questions after the set.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 162

Four took to the field for a pleasant 'warm' up and a 26 minute set. The sun was strong but the breeze helped keep us from overheating. After the set, all three of the others stayed for some very basic staff instruction.

The room we normally practice in on the weekends looks very nice. Unfortunately, the resurfaced floor is still emanating considerable toxins and even for the short times I was therein retrieving or returning staves, I started feeling light-headed and a  touch ill. We won't be practicing there this weekend for sure and probably not next weekend, either.

T'ai Chi at the Allen Center - 2011 Day 161

Four flapped in for a 25 minute called (and called breath) set this morning. I spoke briefly before the set about how important coordinating the breath with the movement is, and today did my best to demonstrate that while leading the set. I did get comments from two of the three other people there about how helpful it was, so well worth the effort on my part.

There were no questions after the set.