Arm position before the flick

[Anonymous]

Arm position before the flick

If body is aligned toward right and left corners from the twist before the flick.

Should the arm be forward toward the corner (where 4 body points aligned) or more horizonally to the side?

I find my head and arm is more horizontal toward the side, is this correct?

Many thanks

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting question. Let’s work backwards from the ultimate ideal in Movement 2 being that you’ll be flexible enough to keep your weighted leg and foot pointing straight ahead while you turn your hips 90 degrees and face directly toward the side. That’s pretty flexible.

Anything that do as you work toward this ideal is what Bruce likes to call a “fudge” or what I call “creative cheating”, because it’s up to you to find what are the best ways for you to develop your body movements toward the ideal.

For many years, the “fudge” arm position that I taught was that June describes, with your body toward the corner (perhaps 45 degrees rather than ninety) but with the flicking arm pointing pointed horizontally toward the side (90 degrees from the front). I would let people’s heads turn anywhere form 45 to 90 depending on their neck comfort.

This position is still a fine “fudge” or approximation of the ideal position. But in recent years I’ve realized that when people flick their leg and their arm the two aren’t aligned well and people can strain their backs as a result.

So now I encourage people to align their arms in front of their bodies regardless of how many degress their body turn is. So if you turn your body 45 degrees, your arm and hand will be in front of you. That way when you flick, your arm will be in front of you and your leg behind, so they balance each other.

Either approach is a fine fudge or approximation. It’s all about how do you find your way toward the “ideal” or “goal” while following the 70 percent principle and never straining your body. Try these two or any other variation you come up with, and see what works best for you at any time in your development.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Bill

I think the arm in front and opposite foot behind is balancing the body better but I do find on occasion I have to correct that when they arm goes further to the side. But I will experiment as I go. Thanks again for your help.

[Anonymous]

“fudge” is a great term. I’ve had trouble with every movement in D/T, and every time I thought I’d found a new tweak it would work until I hurt myself. Its been pretty frustrating. I began D/T in 2007 with a limited concept of relaxing emotionally. Earlier this year I made a commitment to engaging in the energetic practices covered in the second D/T text. I didn’t feel I had made any progress. But I realized I was practicing as if I was doing callisthenics . Slowing down was something I was having and still have trouble doing. However, in the last six months, I’ve made progress. I no longer allow myself believe that having the intention to move chi in any pathway is the same as being able to feel the actual experience. All those “fudges” finally forced me to feel what was supposed to be going on. In this regard waiting for and then experiencing the drop in Movement 5. And then finding that the Flicks in Movements 2,6 and 7 work wonderfully when I allow my energy to drop from the top of my shoulder to my foot . So far this “fudge” grounds the movement for me, protecting my knees and giving balance.

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