lesson 124 Joints opening and closing in commencement

[Anonymous]

In this lesson Bruce does not say what the joints are doing in Lu but the implication is that they are opening as he says
close them at the very end of Ji and then to begin closing them as you go into An.
I would very much like some clarification on the close at the end of Ji and on what is happening in An.

Mary Craig

[Anonymous]

Hello, I may be misunderstanding but it seems you are referring to Peng, then Ji (both open, the first is also rising and expanding, the second is more spine and organs outward).. then Lu lastly An (both close, these reversing the prior- first absorbing into spine and organs, later sinking-gathering)… sometimes the end An as closing and collecting to density.. othertimes the end An is an Opening (like projecting-pushing downward). I think these are mentioned in the TaiChi for beginnings videoes (when you wrote lesson 124, did you mean one, two and four (1, 2, 4).. vs One Hundred and Four? [124]

Something I find really signif (talking more in Dr&T and even HsingI, but referenced in the TaiChi Ji).. is that change-pt where your mind stays with the energy (that has travelled up to shoulders- then down arms to fingertips..) which might project a tiny bit… keep in contact with that E so it remains “threaded”.. and then change over (sort of “loop” -circle it back) to absorb… and draw it back it..
like tossing a stone-ball etc up in the air.. at the peak it slows and reverses and descends (as if it was on a rubberband).. then catch and reabsorb that energy like “catching an egg”.. (and “inside’ reverse also– slow the down.. and arc it around to bring it back up.. that same link- flow

ie often the moves are peng (whatever that is understood to mean) and then the next move, and click there is a break.. vs the energetic quality change smoothly transitions- linked..
thus Lu (gravity-well sort of feeling drifting inwards) smoothly links to An- not as a jump, but that Lu quality is there and doesn’t leave.. and becomes a bit more An-like and more and more and then.. it is fully An (sort of like “being still” and yet being in an Elevator that is rising up- it just started to move up and is accelerating.. you have that feeling of all in you is going down.. (just as the end of the move- that little “lift” is like being in an elevator going down which suddenly stops.. and there is this little bounce as the sink- rises and fills to neutral.. resulting in a slight rise-rebound (not a lifting, just a balancing of the downwards the Closing that was and now Changes.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for your reply. It does help in explaining the transitions.
I was referring to lesson 124, Intermediate Level of Commencement
Would you mind looking at that.
Many thanks!

Mary

[Anonymous]

Ah 124 yeah- that makes sense.. just wasn’t sure (my DVD player is not playing at the moment, but recalling and looking at the printed outline, my comment above references on two ways I’ve seen Bruce show it (as the outline says- the jts feed into/change the Spine.. as the bend/str coords with shrink-grow (HE-KAI, or closing-opening)..

… so, how much the jts and spine can range in relation to the movement (percentage wise), ie
depending upon whether from the most “poked” outward-fwd (the most Ji) one “bends” the spine and closes (HE) all the way down until “settling the Palms” at the bottom. (which would be closing- absorbing all the way in lu and an) -one way, which I don’t think he is showing in this video (?) would help if i watched what you’re seeing- I hope I’m not diverting..
-second way (and if one doesn’t have “enough puff” to close from Open at top…all.. the..way down.. then the Spine bends in Lu and part of An transition, and then spine-straightens while still pressing down..

[ie if can only open-close / bend-stretch so much, then need ad a cycle.. vs if one has ability, then can choose.. same issue in the Initial part of commencement.. from start one Opens… open- open.. can one open all the way through Peng to the end of Ji? if “not enough puff” then need a bit of a close (or a bit of a release in lengthen, or a bit of bend- so can continue straightening). -so parallels in some way the later part… both of these mentioned in Mariage of H&E (and G.Playing) sets… (I’m not certified to instruct in TaiChi nor any of the ChiGung sets, so I expose my attempt to be viewed by those others in this Forum that are qualified.. I hope I’m not too far off

-flipside to 70% rule (the threading/presence aspects also) .. not only ease, smooth, connected.. but when doing the TaiChiForm.. what qual are your seeking in your self? and which method perhaps assists in developing that, or at least doesn’t dis-connect you.. (ie if you find one way gives you more the integration you are seeking- steady.. and perhaps Stillness in Motion) ..
also relates to how your up-down level stays

(I tend to seeking to be much more “under-the ground” more Bagua-HsingI-neigung feeling as if my ‘pulsation’ and flow-shape is a hand and the “iceburg”-bulk of me is under- reaching up… vs being above the ground say shoulder level “pressing down” (makes a different down-orientation) -ala if you have a sphere that is receiving into itself, which is under your foot, which pulls your hands -sweeping your echannels towards it… a bit distinct from Projecting downwards under the ground (thus An could have a bit, as an analogy, of a Ji type extension… although not really “ji”..etc.)

(the last part, although it was the first thought I had as I started to write this as you do the two phase (four sections) of this along the weichi– it shifts flavour.. as not just opening/closing but whether one is one the Yin Channels, vs along the Yang Channels (even a strong pull via Yin feels different than a gentle Yang channel flow).. thus relates to the change-over/hand-off in the middle
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anyway (yesterday and today- just a bit ago- a big release, so I’m riding that.. thus my enthusiasm to try and respond here… and to be fully-complete as I learned from Bruce) what you might really be asking is how he says “opening”.. then changes to LU.. moves a bit and says “closing” as he shifts near armpit-shoulders.. I think that actually might be a timing issue, as I recall often he’d say in that phase-area.. not at the “moment of”.. as its not a click-boom change..

ie Lu is beginning the arc around absorbing.. that could start as the last bit of reach in fingers, or actually after the closing has started.. and likewise the LU to AN change might be solar plex level, or lower, vs before hands-wrists/elbows get near torso… as the AN is an energetic thump which imagine the entire aura is filled solid-with liquid- with more above it, and below feet opens-drain.. the Entire Fluid-Mass descends at once… part near crown goes down an inch, while the part near ankles moves down an inch- simul… not the ankles don’t Sink until the top reaches bottom… ie (hope this isn’t way too much, or irrelevant).. thus Lu to An is when that downward starts..

****
-perhaps (challenge.. exper?) do Lu just a few inches, and then as hands are still moving horizonally inward- Energetically An.. continue as hands glide in (while absorb via arms WeiChi Yin).. then hands down torso to daimai and down legs (weichi Yang)… and contrast all that to do Lu all the way in and even as hands trace down to dantien level (energetically “absorbing” the entire time”) and then An shift as smoothly continue the downward… etc.

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With those variations may reveal different combos and then when you figure what he’s specifically showing there- may plug in better (ie I find i can SEE or exper an aspect until I’ve opened up my Functioning in a way… ie really see Peng only as well as can do (likewise only Feel in Another and/or Do myself as well as I can SEE it.. allows perceptual fdbk linkage)

[not as polished as it should be to be posted, nor as complete nor clear as others here… perhaps else could correct/comment] best of luck -that connect with what you were seeking?

[Anonymous]

Thank you! From what you say,I believe, that Bruce decided to not go
into much detail. When he says to close at the very end of Ji, I guess
he meant to begin to close and when he got to An he meant to
continuing closing not to start again, as the closing also continues
through Lu.
Thanks again for your explanation. I was not expecting so much
detail but so glad I got it.

Mary

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