kwa squat and opening deng

[Anonymous]

At the end of lesson 52, squatting pulldown, Bruce says that the next thing we’ll deal with is the “real thing” of this move, how to squat from the kwa and keep the deng open. However the next lesson goes right into the next move. Several references are made in later videos to the difference between using the kwa in turning, and using the the kwa in opening the legs with squatting (“like we showed you yesterday…”). But I can’t find where this was actually shown. Is this missing from the videos, or am i just missing it? And/or is there some info on this? It seems he is indicating that the bikini line is where you use the kwa for turning, and he seems to point to a more interior/central area for the kwa in opening the deng/legs. (??) Thanks, Rupert

[Anonymous]

Good question. You may want to post it to the Monthly Question to Bruce area.

[Anonymous]

Hi Rupert,

I think he goes into it a little bit more in lesson 59 as well, when he’s discussing the sinking and rising in Single Whip.

There’s a place deep inside the kwa, where, when you find it and release it, the legs let go and the dang opens. As he shows in that lesson, the muscles around the hips and the inguinal fold itself have to sink, but the hollowing of the kwa, right along the side channels, is a separate sensation, deeper in the body.

I’ve had better luck finding this space through posture holding (as I’m doing in the video ) than through moving practices.

Let me know if that makes sense,
Dan

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dan, so that must be you in the video, lesson 59? Your post and that lesson does shed some more light, but still kind of vague (i guess it would be until felt…)
May also ask Bruce in the monthly questions as the other good suggestion(thanks Maria).
Seems he meant to cover this in some detailed way….
Thanks, Rupert

[Anonymous]

Yup, that’s me.

I’d like to think I’ve gotten better at posture holding since the filming at the training (too much chi in the eyes) and this little experiment:

Over the years, for me anyway, standing practice has locked in and uncovered more internal content that anything else. It’s been fascinating from the beginning, so I tend to think it’s a personal bent…

[Anonymous]

Dan, thanks for sharing. I watched your standing video and have one question, do you do anything special to the kwa to help you find the side channels during the standing? It is not clear from your video.

[Anonymous]

Hi Maria,

Finding the side channels in Single Whip is a little tougher than in the neutral Energy Gates stance, or commencement. In small frame, like the Wu style, the feet are on the side channels in commencement and you pay attention to aligning the side channels throughout the form.

The challenge with Single Whip is that you’re so stretched out that it’s harder to find the internal alignment. I think this is part of the reason why Bruce goes through all the corresponding sinkings around the shoulders and hips in the video…if you get the out layers working, you’ll eventually find what’s inside them.

So if it’s not obvious in Single Whip, I would try to find it in commencement…but then it’s just hollowing into the kwa, maybe pushing your fingers into the kwa and figuring out how to yield to the pressure, as you refine your sensitivity in this area.

Does that make sense?

Thanks,
Dan

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot, Dan.

[Author]

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