QA with Bruce

[Anonymous]

Hello Bruce, I would like to ask a clarification about one of the ‘circling hands’ movements (and relating to the TaiChi Chuan form, in terms of arms alignment with side channels)..

When one does the ‘horizontal circle’ (what I refer to as the polishing the table one) – or the coronal (‘wiping the wall’) if isolating the movement of the hands to arms (independent of waist turn), is arm/elbow staying bending/stretching on a parallel and directly out from shoulders.. . with the movement “circle” being from the rotation (left and right) as an optical-illusion/relative motion…
or
is there a slight change of the line of the wrist&elbow so that coming in (or going out) it moves slightly inside of shoulder -then outside of-

…
In short, if not rotating the waist and/or step-shifting weight (as in the TaiChi form) -or if just visual isolating shoulder to arm from any movement of else – would there be a circle? (ie would there be a movement like in HsingI Beng Chuan, where the vector starts closer to the centerline ~belly button; going outward-fwd parallel to, but not on the line outward from shoulder —- as opposed to a “punch that begins ‘chambered at hip or armpit)

The reason I ask is to confirm (as I suspect) that the movement in TaiChi (and some chi gung) does not begin closer to the sternum but rather directly fwd from the shoulder’s-nest [thus, alongside, but not crossing, the line outward from “middle dantien’ directly fwd light a flashlight shining, as if the hands slide along the edges of that field],… or if a slight arcing into (and further away from that edge) occurs.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

I’ve got a couple orgonite pieces, I’m still pretty insensitive to chi so that I don’t get much feeling from them. Thanks for the answer though. I wonder if this still applies to devices hooked up to a power source, i.e. electrical current?
Just to rehash your answer for clarification, setting up a piece of orgonite is doing qigong (awesome)? But, after a certain period of time a qigong practice becomes more beneficial than any device?
In this way it sounds like orgonite is good for getting your energetic foot in the door with regards to a qigong practice.
Because of my chi insensitivity I kinda thought orgonite was hokum, but it’s good to know there’s something to it, not just a pretty piece of art.

[Anonymous]

OldYang Month 14 TaiChi #8
In this segment Bruce explains the expansion and contraction of chi from the tan thien through the 5 bows. It is mentioned that the flow is equal; reaching the extremities at the same time and all flowing back and arriving from head, hands and feet at the same time.

My ?: I have long noticed in Push Hands practice with a partner that I have the feeling of chi forming a line from feet to head and then flowing to the hands. For example, my partner pushes me, I move my tan tien internally away from the push and this brings my weight onto one leg or the other to achieve single weightiness. Standing thus, I then lengthen downward and upward along the spine and then issue chi from the hands if the opponent is offering me a hard point,

Is this sequencing OK? Is it simply a slight variation on the concept or should correct this approach?

[Anonymous]

this is a question
have you any reccomendations about how to deal with tendonitis
it’s in the arm (right) – between the shoulder and elbow
i think also it ‘s linked to the ring-finger
i play the guitar and there’s a connection to that

tom o’farrell

[Anonymous]

Hi, Tom. I’m a piano player and had some tendonitis in college. It went away as part of a more conscious practicing habit I developed based on physical awareness and relaxation. I know that doesn’t work for everyone, but it did for me. If there’s a performer’s wellness specialist around you it’s worth a trip to see them.

good luck, matthew

[Anonymous]

I would like to propose the question of how to work speed&power(impulse of) of not only KAI-HE (opening and closing), as well as sinking-‘chun’ (recently FiveElements bonus had emphasis on sinking.. fast and strong, vs a slow and gradual).

I found that manifesting the energies (those above and others- as in the 4 of taichi or of WuXing. etc), I found that when I get a pulsing going, it gets slower and more molasses-like.. and I’ve wondered what I’m mising (to either even have a push-speed ability, and/or to go with movement, like Bagua Walking speed). -I do sense I can “override it” and push to speed it up, but it sort-of disconnects.. the hydraulics say of the jt seems to only draw in the fluids so fast..

Is this just a matter of doing the skill- and dissolving along that path? (like sandbag-dropping way below the floor.. I feel the project and extended-connection, but then the affect upon my body seems to lag behind…)

Whether that is conveyed via driving my own body (internal open or close, or sinking moves an arm, and thus vs contact pt), or whether it is an energetic affect (like a magnetic field draw iron fillings even though the ‘magnet’ doesn’t move)…. either way, what increases the flow, and reduces whatever the resistance-inertia is… without disconnecting from the structure (and yet it not being only outward movement or force).

-thanks very much

[Anonymous]

Are these questions answered directly and privately to the person who asks the question? I don’t see any responses from Bruce. What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Bruce has answered many of these questions in the Facebook Group

Tom

[Anonymous]

Hello Jim.

The answers to these questions are posted directly into the Training Circle group that asked them. Also moving forward they will be posted in our facebook group.

We hope this is helpful.

Warm Regards, 

Energy Arts Team

[Anonymous]

Jim, I would also wonder if question are either considered for inclusion within future instructional videos (ie not “answered directly” but later training circle addresses said issue-topic). –

-Also I think not all questions are responded to (there were some Q&A audios, attached in prior Training Circles to the webpage with videos/month.. but even then not all the questions were addressed,)

unless I’m mistaken; none of the handful of questions I posted have been responded to… not that there isn’t plenty to think-explore-practice on.. and just being able to formulate the question can cause one to understand more (so I’m either missing some of what EArts team is mentioning above, or only some of the questions are addressed). just a thought… luck all

[Anonymous]

hello Energy Arts Team –
i read about the new facebook group, but i was taken a bit aback. i feel, like many folks here, that the level of control our social media has over us is often at a disturbingly high level. i realize the convenience that facebook provides, but as a non – user of facebook, im feeling a bit short changed by the move from the forum here to ‘there’.
i love reading and learning and beginning to participate in the discussions concerning our practices. itd be a shame to not have access to that – based on my preference for as much social media rejection in my life as i can muster.

respectfully,
andrew whiteman

[Anonymous]

Hi Andrew,

We completely understand the FB group is for those that want to discuss and interact more. As well we are very sensitive to privacy concerns so the answers from this Q&A forum are still being posted within the EATC group. The most recent Q&A for active Standing Qigong Mastery Edition can be found here.

http://www.energyarts.com/month-05

We hope this is helpful.

Kind regards,

Energy Arts Team

[Anonymous]

Sorry Team 2 I’M 100% with Andrew on this,.
No offense intended but from my perspective you understand not at all.

[Anonymous]

Hi

As a first time EA member & current participant in Standing circle, I would have to agree with Andrew Whiteman.

One of the things that tipped me in favour of committing financially and mentally to a year long online course was the access to the dedicated forum, which I have found very useful as part of the learning process as I live nowhere near an instructor.

Even with Bruce’s video answers recently posted directly to the course, the idea of a separate FB discussion dissipates the energy of the forum for those who don’t want to engage through social media & so may miss relevant commentary.

Regards

Nick

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Thank you for the feedback and we will definitely take it under consideraton moving forward. To be clear if you don’t want to use FB please post your questions here and they will be reviewed by Bruce and/or addressed by other group members.

Kind regards,

Energy Arts Team

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