QA with Bruce

[Anonymous]

Hi Bruce,

in single hand peng of the old yang style tai chi you showed us how to make a step by placing the heel of the foot first and letting the ball of the foot touch the ground when finishing the weight shift onto the moved leg.
In some tai chi schools of the new yang style stepping is done by letting the heel and the ball of the foot touch the ground before shifting the weight to the moved leg. May be you can explain a little bit of the pros and cons of both stepping methods?

Thanks.
Ulrich

[Anonymous]

Amazing answer; I heard you say this before about the holy spirit/qi and I mentioned this to my Mom, but, you’re right, some people just think qi is the devil (or whatever nonconcept fits their fears and anxieties).

I have a question concerning breathing, tai chi and releasing somatic trauma as per Tai Chi Session video #22: I feel I have some trauma surrounding consciously holding my breath and accessing my breath consciously. I don’t jaggedly hold my breath, and it sometimes feels like I’ve been holding my breath for a very long time, but maybe this means that I am still breathing yet unaware of it or doing it below some somatic threshold of being proprioceptive of it (though I feel quite conscious of my body).
I know I can’t rush it and that blockages release in their own time, but I get so frustrated, afraid, anxious, angry/etc. when it feels like I can’t breath or breath enough.

Is there something I can do with the movements to become more present to my breath and address this trauma?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Bagua Heel-Toe Stepping in Old Yang Taichi

Hello,

In the Bagua Mastering program, you mention the possibility of using Bagua stepping in Taichi. Is it OK and is it recommended to do so in the Old Yang form?
If such is the case, I suppose it would be heel-toe stepping rather than mud-walking…

Erwan

[Anonymous]

Hi, I’m having a little difficulty following the direction of turns in the single and double hand peng because the camera keeps changing angles…maybe you could go over that again at some point…it looks like we turn 45 degrees to the right, then step off another 45 degrees so we make a full 90 degree turn to the right to complete the move

[Anonymous]

Hello again,

I was wondering how we can use what we’ve learned so far to address psychological-issues; issues like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, codependency and ADD/ADHD?

Thanks as always

[Anonymous]

question deleted : answer was found in Month 2

[Anonymous]

Hi Bruce,
I was wondering about the propitiation of spirits; is it harmful or helpful to our practices and everyday-life?
Neither here nor there?
If it’s beneficial, how can we, as Energy Arts practitioners, go about it?
Thanks again,
Cody

[Anonymous]

Value of Sun style or combination styles:

For the last 2-3 years have primarily practiced an intermediate length sun style taichi form. This style is a tai chi, baguazhang, xingyiquan hybrid. In that time I have also practiced yang long and short, and wu long form, but not as much. My question is: is it more worthwhile to continue with a combination form, or to focus more on doing a just tai chi form? Especially for one is not so skilled or developed at bagua or xingyi? I like the sun style form, and its length, but wonder if I would get more out of switching to a non-hybrid form [ie wu or yang which I do some anyways]. Or maybe I should stick with sun style, but also do a yang or wu short form more often to focus specifically on tai chi and internal mechanics?

Thanks,
Scott

[Anonymous]

another question regarding tai chi styles and value of practice: Wudang

Most of my tai chi experience is with sun style, followed by yang and wu. However, I’ve also done a little wudang, and feel inclined to do expand into that more in the future, though perhaps not as a long term or deep matter. My question is: do you have any thoughts you are willing to share on wudang style tai chi or its value? Do you feel like it particularly excels at any of your nei gung components? Does it do all of them? Any other general thoughts or reflections you want to share on this? History is clouded, but obviously Wudang mountain area has a historical connection with tai chi and internal martial arts, anything you would like to share or point out there? To me their material often seems “semi-internal”, in the sense of having some internal focus, yet still clearly having strong external martial arts aspects, though not as external as typical shaolin stuff.
Have any/many of your students come at the deeper internal stuff after having a background in wudang and/or shaolin material first?

Thanks,
Scott

[Anonymous]

First, I’d like to thank you again for making all that knowledge available to the public – its worth is beyond measure in my opinion.

My question is the following: When we practive single postures, for example 10 times Ji, should we practice it on both sides? My first teacher insisted that we should always train both sides – he even tasked advanced students with performing a mirrored version of the forms.

So, should we do ten times both sides, or only the side you show in the videos? And why in both cases?

[Anonymous]

Throughout the Old Yang form practice, you emphasize focusing on “a sense” of energy rising, sinking, etc. Doing so seems to help getting into the body and feeling the energy moving. If one were to do the movements well, rather precisely emulating your movements with all of the weight shifts, turning, spiraling, breathing, etc., would energy move as well without focusing on “a sense”? Granted, the question is academic since why would one not focus on what the energy is doing.
My instincts tell me that the intelligences of the mind and moving center of the body play a crucial role in achieving a balanced flow of qi energy. What happens with and in those intelligences must, itself, be a fascinating study. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I am a YMCA Tai-chi instructor working with a senior community to improve their balance and reduce falling. Students range from those in independent living facilities who are mobile to those confined to a wheel chair. What I am learning about Energy Gates is encouraging, and I wish to share with them my experiences and guidance sinking the qi. While I believe I can guide those who are mobile, I’m uncertain how to apply the lessons for those unable to stand. I need your guidance on how to proceed. Thanks, Bruce.

[Anonymous]

Pre- or Post-Birth ?

Hello Sir,

In the Bagua Mastery Program, you mention the fact that one of the unique characteristics of Circle Walking is that it develops Pre-Birth chi.

Does the practice of Yang Style TaiChi also have the ability to develop Pre-Birth chi ?

Thanks,

Erwan

[Anonymous]

Hello!

Would you suggest to do some energetic warmup before every qigong and tai chi session?

Like rubbing hands, getting some sensation in hands, tracking arms pathways or something.

Or some days — when I feel less sensitive — it’s ok to start cold and just focus on mechanical movement.

Thanks, Yar

[Anonymous]

Hello!

In qigong set sometimes I feel like performing the first movement not touching the back of the head (before the marrow washing thing).

Because the feeling of the hair is distracting, it ruins the sensation and the focus on the movement.

How critical is this? To which degree does it make the practice less effective?

Thanks, Yar

[Author]

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