- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
On the “Strings of the Tao” CD Bruce says that the tai chi space is the foundation of all Taoist practices. But, what is it and how do you work with it? Before you can understand the tai chi space, you have to understand yin and yang. Yin, yang, and the tai chi space he says are the basis of the trigrams of the I Ching. IMO, all of the practices that Bruce has ever taught about eliminating gaps are really about working with the tai chi space. I don’t recall seeing anything in the BMP about the tai chi space. Hopefully the second part will talk about it.
Like Diogenes looking for an honest man, I’m seeking someone besides Bruce who knows what the tai chi space is. If you know someone, let me know.
There’s a second part?
IMHO
you’re wasting your time.
You could ask Lao Tze or the Buddha or Jesus
and they wouldn’t tell you.
Tai Chi Magazine just reprinted a 2000 article about Wang Hao Da.
George Xu said that Wang used a deep invisible force to create the motion in the center.
Wang used the empty to replace the full.
Wang is quoted as saying, “Every movement has to come from very deep inside and then come out.”Sounds a bit like “Tai Chi space.”
On youtube I see Robert Tangora and Dan Kleiman (both studied with Bruce) using Wang’s principle.
Kleiman has dropped off the screen on tai chi.
Maybe Tangora has an idea about “Tai Chi space.”
Hi Matthew,
There isn’t a second part of the Bagua Mastery Program but we are planning to re-release the program this fall with some additional palms.
We hope this answers your question.
Warm Regards,
Energy Arts Team
This is great news. I’m looking forward to the release of the additional palms. It would be really helpful if Bruce would consider putting them in context.
“Tai Chi space” candidate:
the KIDNEYS!
One of my Instructors, a push-hands master, has been explaining and refining the function of the Kidneys in “song” and “peng.”
I’ve added my breathing method as it applies to the Kidneys.
Many times Bruce explains “opening” and “closing.”
(part of the 16 neigong, eh, James.)As for breathing (natural or reverse)
“opening” expands all parts (internal organs as well as all joints open).
Exhale and everything opens, including the kidneys.“Closing” moves everything into the center
Inhale and everything closes, including the kidneys.Of course, in “opening” there also has to be closing;
in “closing” there also has to be opening.(Therefore, when in “opening” almost everything opens,
except for the lungs which “close,” the space/volume decreases–and the diaphragm relaxes–expands to umbrellas up–convex).So take the Bow and Arrow Stance for example.
The front leg bends and pulls the torso forward–
“closing” on inhalation.
The kidneys are also “closing.”
The diaphragm is contracting concave on the superior surface of the kidneys.When the inhalation is finished,
you start exhalation.
The diaphragm relaxes and takes the pressure off the top of the kidneys and the kidneys begin to open.
The kidneys are expanding.
There is more space for the kidneys.
The kidneys expand and are allowed to “peng.”
This is the start of creating the “Tai Chi space.”The “opening” expansion of the kidneys is spherical,
it is not just opening to the front anterior, but towards the back as well, posteriorly.
This satisfies the classical tai chi principle of no hollows or projections.
Have someone put their hands on your back to verify that you are also expanding your kidneys to the rear–
(about at the 12 thoracic vertebra, find the tip of the bottom floating rib and follow it to T-12/L-1).
The actual kidney might even be felt peeking below the rib cage there.)Now with the kidney filling with “peng” energy;
augment that energy and use it.
Lead it with the Yi/intent.
You can aim the energy down into the lower datian to sink (“song”) or aim it forward to energize the front leg to power up;
or aim it back to generate the bounce of energy up the back leg for a “thrust” forward.You can pull it with your intent to either kwa for turning.
As the Kidney space fills with “peng” energy it will naturally relax the lumbar area, which will allow the tailbone/sacrum/coccyx to drop and relax and achieve that misnomer-ed forward/downward “tuck” of the sacrum.
By working with this “Tai Chi space” of the Kidney you can power either front or rear leg. You can rotate around the central axis/channel to turn as in Part the Wild Horse’s Mane–or one of your bagua changes of directions.
The “Tai Chi Space” emanating from the center of the kidneys diffuses to the extremities–from this kidney space you can direct your Qi to your finger and toe tips.Not only do I like this explanation, it also works in push-hands.
Your center of gravity can lower below that of your opponent’s and the “peng” will up-root him/her.
I must say that I will have to work with this phenomenon
much more before the hypothesis becomes a theory.
Here I am replying to myself.
Already my above hypothesis is running into trouble.
In Bruce’s new video on the Thunder Palm Change in Video Lesson 8 he elaborates on the tai chi space.
His explanation of yin and yang seems just the opposite of mine.
I don’t see yang as resistance;
I see it as relaxation.I guess I’m a Tai Chi type that sees Qi operating in the waist.
Bagua sees it emanating from the feet.I’m still playing with my Kidney hypothesis.
Energy seems to change from yin to yang when the diaphragm relaxes.
Then the tai chi space opens in the waist.Heck, even Einstein couldn’t see beyond his theory of relativity.
It just didn’t support weird quantum changes based on probabilities.
God really does play dice in the world universe.
Maybe he plays dice in my kidneys, too.
I’m deleting this duplicate copy of the above comment.
This is an archived forum (read only). Go to our active forum where you can post and discuss in real time.