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Hello all,
I’m brand new to the Forum and the Bagua Mastery Program. Working on module one stepping. Just curious if someone can explain the level of twisting in the legs while stepping. Is this twisting subtle or should I be making a moderate effort to twist in the legs? Say for example, if I am stepping forward with the right leg, and twisting outward, on a scale of 1-10 what would be the proper level to twist? 1 being mostly the mind thinking twist as opposed to 10 which would be a conscious physical twisting of my muscles. Hope this makes sense? Thanks for any advise.
Chuck
Hello Chuck, best wishes- the magnitude of ‘effort’ (not “strain”) is tricky, as subjective, but also relates to “learning-curve” (ie when you don’t know how, in addition to not having coordination/nerves linked to do.. vs when you have it in your system- “effort” changes)
– as example consider writing, or typing, and compare one who knows how (and can do barely focusing, and yet clearly and distinctly does the motion), while one learning (say a young kid- Kindergarten or whatever, trying to write uses max effort, with the pencil/crayon/pen etc moving all-over the place.
[ I write those two aspects, as it ‘could be interpreted’ from your post that if one uses their effort to make it twist- that it does so, and if one uses little ‘effort’ that the muscles then hardly twist- in a concrete way—- which I wouldn’t infer that relationship… how distinct the movement is, or isn’t, is related to how loosened up and coordinated your system is to that movement; which is fully unusual to how modern-phy-ed moves. ]
A related inference would be that twisting is sort of tightening and angling the joint, so that the muscle pulls in a stretch from partly contracting, and partly reaching.. this is trying to use the bone-jts to affect the soft-tissue, rather than work with the soft-tissue directly.
That might not seem to respond to the question you posed, but perhaps you might see the question a bit differently? (the distinction of the soft-tissue, as separate from the “muscles” ie if you contract or move a muscle, part of it tightens, and inside and around that is all the other soft-tissue that is there but doesn’t directly respond. -that whole is what is felt into and worked-with).
So in short- at first there is a “flailing in the dark” sort of not-sure-what-is-going-on.. but that seeking is a type of effort, that isn’t the same as “Make it happen” effort.. once get “in the ballpark” then try and zoom-in that….
with above, and perhaps ponder and re-watching Bruce (a few times- I don’t know any that “got it” the first time, even seeing in person- had to struggle a bit, bitter eating and all that).. its a new possibility, not something that is likely in your mind as how tissue and bodies can move- once see that new option, ahhh is that what?
anyway, luck
Hi Chuck,
The best I can think of is to follow the 70% rule, or 80% as it pertains to bagua. Don’t be concerned with what you should do but what you can do without strain.
Cody
Hi Chuck,
Great question.
IMO you’re the boss.
Let’s assume that you are only straight line walking;
No circle walking at at this point.
Furthermore, let’s assume that you are doing four-part stepping.In four-part walking,
all the weight remains on the back left leg as the right leg glides forward.
In mud-walk stepping,
the whole right foot lowers to the ground;
Still no weight on the right foot or leg.
So no twisting here at all.
Then comes the foot-brake.
Now I might start to think about twisting.
But before I do, I think about the safety of my right knee.
No torquing the right knee– ever.
Now we must know what we mean by “twisting.”
Distinguish between lengthening, rotating, opening, closing and twisting.
So far no twisting.
You’re the boss.
Start with 0.
Then just think about it, maybe it’s a 1.
What is your purpose?
Now foot-brake: how? why?
What’s next?It’s a long journey.
Have patience.
Thanks all for the responses,,,,all are very helpful.
Thanks all for the responses,,,,,very helpful.
Right leg slightly curved in, turned in
Bruce: Module 15; Video Lesson 15
IMO it is always physical even at the most advanced level. The difference is how deep and complete you twist.
Others listed a bunch of good guidelines. Basically, the twisting should feel more like a massage. The crass way Bruce puts it is “it’s a seduction not a rape”.
You are trying to do something that is good for your body not damage it. If you feel the tendons and ligaments ache the next day, you’ve way overdone your twisting. Ideally you want to feel more relaxed and slightly more flexible. The truth is you’ll probably overdue it many times before you start to understand the right amount of twisting. Keep in mind it isn’t the same everyday. So you want to be mindful of what you are doing and don’t twist the joints: the muscles twist, the joints stay properly aligned.
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