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Can anyone define neigung element #6 – “Bending and stretching the body’s soft tissues.”?
“Bending and stretching the body’s soft tissues.” is 1/16th of the 16 part neigung and no one has even a simple definition of what it is? If it isn’t key to the internal material, would it have been given equal status to the central channel or opening and closing which are both huge topics. Something is missing. 40 years of teaching and no one knows?
If you have access to the Tai Chi Classics videos, check out video Lesson 36, Bend and Stretch Part 2 @ 6:35. Bruce doesn’t define bend and stretch any better here, but he does point out that bending and straightening is the obvious beginning. He calls it a “per-requisite of bend and stretch” which implies there is something more. So, if all you know is bend and then stretch, or bend and straighten, he is clearly saying you don’t know what this is about.
As an aside, the last 30 seconds has the clearest definition of the Tai Chi space I’ve ever heard from Bruce. If you understand what he is saying, you probably can do Tai Chi. If not, you’re not. What I figured out is the physiological mechanism that he talking about and how bend&stretch helps you find the Tai Chi space.
Just to illustrate how important bend&stretch is, I can explain much of Bagua by organizing bend&stretch.
I can explain how it is used to create circles and spirals. I can use it to explain how it brings energy down the body as well as up. How it is used to activate the yin and yang sides of the body and how that is the basis for connecting to the energies of heaven and earth. How it is used to find the Tai Chi space. How it relates to the bubbling well, the heel, and how bend&stretch is used to activate each of them while coordinating with open and close. I’ve even found how it can be used to get glimpses of wuji.
Bend&stretch is just as important as any of the other 15 parts of the 16 part neigung foundation. Most people think that pulsing the joints includes bend&stretch. I think pulsing mostly bypasses the subject and reduces it to bend and straighten.
There is much more to bend&stretch. If I ever finish my book and explain what bend&stretch is, remember this post when people are telling you: yeah, I knew that. No knows or no one is telling. Which is it?
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