Silk-Reeling Exercise for Tai Chi, Bagua, Hsing-I

[griqs]

@kungfukennyg What style of Buguazhang is this?

[kungfukennyg]

@griqs This is silk-reeling as taught to me by members of the Chen family and their disciples. It's critical for any style of Tai Chi and Bagua. In Tai Chi, the Chen style uses it most obviously, but most Tai Chi players in America who are not in Chen style have sort of lost it over the years. All styles of Bagua should use this spiraling movement.

[arahim1231987]

I noticed that you keep your center of gravity in your dantien and elbows. for the longest time i could not put my finger on it, but it really does help to use that mental intention to keep low and balanced. bravo!

[paguaplayer]

Nice explanation of the 'energy' and how the power is produced.

This is the lao jia silk reeling I learned from Gaofei Yan. You explain it very well.

[munchichi8]

@ChenStyleJohn

"Yi leading the qi" means the mind has to imagine qi in an area before it manifest. It is the same concept of an artist visualizing the picture before he can draw it. If you can't visualize it, then qi doesn't manifest. It is not mysticism but the fact that your mind has more potential then one can understand.

[kungfukennyg]

@munchichi8 It's actually just the way we work. If you're playing baseball and the pitcher throws the ball, you must have the intent to swing the bat at the ball. Before he pitches, you have no mental intent to swing the bat. This process is no different in tai chi, but some people want to make it very complex and mysterious, as if the mental and physical processes are different. They're not.

[Allen2saint]

I think it's important to point out, before we dismiss the original teachers and their terms, is that these traditions existed and perpetuated this art for a long, long time before we came into it with our utilitarian approach to martial arts. The terms of "energy" and "powers" are extensions of the Chinese language which has an entirely different character than English.

[chentaichiacademy]

Ken keep up the good work, I wish you all the best. Thomas, Chen Tai Chi Academy

[dojakk]

I'am studying chen style taiji too. Your clip descriipe how to silk reeling very clear. It very usefull for me to do my rutine plactice. Thank you

[martialtaichi]

I applaud your comment that chansijin is not anything real, but am honestly a little puzzled as to why you go on to use terms such as "dantian" and "lowering your energy" when you could describe the lower abdomen and lowering one's centre of gravity or remaining as sunk as possible (I know you use the term "song" elsewhere). I appreciate it can take a while to fully make the transition, but I think it is important to root out ALL esoteric and misleading unscientific language. Regards, Joanna

[kungfukennyg]

Good point, Joanna. I make it clear in my teaching that terms like "chi flow" can be used as mental visualization tools as long as you don't take them as scientific certainty. The dan t'ien is an area in the body you need to focus on for correct movement but that also doesn't mean you have to believe it really does collect "chi." Those who hear my teaching enough understand that I'm talking mental visualization not scientific fact. I like the point you're raising, though.

[martialtaichi]

Thanks for your reply. Good luck with your teaching :)

[chiman1000]

I bought this video. I was very impressed. I did learn something. Very very good

[MasterHuJwang]

Would you like to be my neighbor?

[BRUCEBBBBB]

really good

[aeortiz2004]

Very comprehensive presentation of the concept...

[kungfukennyg]

Chen Xiaowang was not my "teacher," although I have learned from him. There is quite a language barrier when you study with some Chinese masters like Chen Xiaowang. I've learned most from Americans who studied with Chen Xiaowang and others--because Americans can explain movement and principles in ways we can understand. They are also more generous in their teaching and not as traditional.

[chimab]

Nice job. The basics are clearly defined and easy to grasp. Good luck with these.

[Square41]

What style of Taiji is this?

[kungfukennyg]

Chen taiji.

[kungfukennyg]

I've studied silk-reeling with Jim and Angela Criscimagna, Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, Master Ren Guangyi, and others. Jim and Angela were my best teachers. They are disciples of Chen Xiaowang and they live in San Diego.

[taiqiwudang]

Very nice, very good teaching, real silk reeling, who was your teacher ?