Twisting for beginners

[Anonymous]

From the Manual it looks like twisting of arms and legs is supposed to be mastered by beginners to a reasonable degree before moving forward. For myself, I’m not sure what time I’d need to even start feeling twisting at all.

Here are my questions:

1) Would it be right to move forward to 4-part walking and circle walking and at the same time keep working on twisting? Or should I focus on twisting first and only then move on?

2) Another question is how we distinguish between imagination and real twisting? I understand nobody needs imagined twisting, it should be real thing. Are there any benchmarks?

3) Do we practice twisting as such, as a single exercise or do we practice it as a component of other exercises like 4 part walking or Palm strike?

[Anonymous]

You guys are already at 4-part walking?! And palm strikes? I just yesterday even began to try attempting 3-part walking, and even that i thought could have possibly been a little premature. Do you guys already have some experience with this stuff, or am i just going too slowly?

[Anonymous]

Twisting is something to keep in mind and return to over and over in the years to come. No need to perfect it, and honestly, there’s no end to it! It only comes in time, and slowly, bit by bit with each training session. Do it for a while, forget it for a while, then back to it. That’s my way anyways. Twisting is a skill found throughout the Energy Arts program so there’s no escaping it!

My thoughts on skipping ahead, do each lesson once or twice, then move on, no need to get it perfect before continuing. Because you’ll always be returning to the basics of four part step, twisting the limbs, dropping the elbows, opening & closing the joints, etc. I’ve been doing four part step for like ten years now and it remains a very productive exercise.

[Anonymous]

Hi paralece,

I’ve done some bagua and taiji. The school I’m studying is good and instructors there are actually masters of the arts. They show stuff how they do it and they do it really high level. What Bruce does – he explains how to to things; and this is what you rarely can find. As for me, I have to re-learn many things now. In some respect this is easier than doing from scratch but not much.

I’d suggest you peek into Module 3 for some basic hand movements. In the beginning you can do them as separate exercizes without any footwork. I mean your learning curve and time can improve. Y

[Anonymous]

Igor, i was thinking that you probably must have some good foundation. I’m glad you have a good school and instructors.

Jess, Im glad you mentioned that, because i was thinking it better to wait until i had basically mastered an element before moving on. But what you say makes a lot of sense, especially when thinking of the 16 neigong and how that development doesn’t happen chronologically.
Thanks to both of you,
Patrick

[Anonymous]

Hi All,
Jess, I really appreciate your insight. Thank you.
This AM I was practicing 3-part stepping as described, breathing at each point in the stepping process when something seemed to click. It seems that in part-1, when I kick the leg out and then pelvic-tilt Kid-1(Bubbling Well Point)/the foot to the ground empty, the opposite foot/weighted foot seems to become even heavier (like from a 100% to 1000% full) or rooted deeper. Between the two feet, it’s like the weighted foot became cocked and loaded and the empty foot moved out in preperation to receive the qi. Then the full foot explodes and transitions qi to the empty foot. The empty foot receives and now becomes 100% full and the process continues.
Does this sound like I’m experiencing the right idea. It feels good and seems right, but I just wanted to check in with those more experienced.
Thanks,
Steve

[Anonymous]

Hi Igor,

1) Would it be right to move forward to 4-part walking and circle walking and at the same time keep working on twisting? Or should I focus on twisting first and only then move on?

Answer: focus on twisting first and only then move on

2) Another question is how we distinguish between imagination and real twisting? I understand nobody needs imagined twisting, it should be real thing. Are there any benchmarks?

Best short answer seek out a qualified instructor. Next short answer

If your soft tissues physically move, for the inexperienced this is difficult to visually ascertain. Easiest and most reliable method is to have someone else verify by putting their hands on you and feeling if your muscles are clearly moving, a tiny bit or not at all.

3) Do we practice twisting as such, as a single exercise or do we practice it as a component of other exercises like 4 part walking or Palm strike?

First as single exercise. Next as component of other exercises like 4 part walking or Palm strike

Stay good,

Bruce

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot for taking time to answer the questions. I guess that means more work and practice for me than I initially thought…

[Author]

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