EXERCISES FOR ALL SEASONS: Sweep Lotus Kick

7 Stars to Sweep Lotus Kick, right side view - 03/25/09 (Spring)

"Sweep Lotus Kick" is one of the movements in Prof. Cheng's 37 Posture Tai Chi Form
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8P-ZCG1ysDo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sjV9bx9unxQ

This rendition of the "Sweep Lotus Kick" contains some slight variations in footwork - - my moment-to-moment adjustments to the loose, uneven sandy soil I'm stepping upon while wearing thick rubber-soled shoes.

Since the knee of the weighted leg might be injured when attempting a spin on rough, uneven terrain, I take a few small steps to turn around during "Sweep Lotus Kick."

It's easy to spin on the ball of one foot on a smooth, polished wooden studio floor; there's hardly any friction there. But on rough, uneven terrain, attempting a spin while wearing heavily textured rubber-soled shoes would NOT be beneficial to one's health. The sole of the shoe sinks into the moist, sandy soil and barely budges, while the upper body continues to turn, producing powerful torque on knee ligaments and tendons, which can be damaged by the twisting upper body motion.

Since the purpose of practicing Tai Chi Chuan is to IMPROVE one's health, not to cause self-injury, it's important to make adjustments to the terrain one is practicing upon.

Therefore, when practicing on soil, sand, grass, rough cement, or other uneven outdoor surfaces while wearing thickly textured rubber-soled shoes, I take a few small steps to turn my body around, instead of attempting to spin on the sole (or heel) of one foot.

When one practices Tai Chi Chuan in a variety of different indoor and outdoor environments, one learns to adapt to one's surroundings.

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This Sweep Lotus Kick demonstrates an important Tai Chi dynamic - - "turn like a millstone."

A small turn near the central axis of an upright column generates a large arcing movement on the periphery of the column.

A small turning movement in the area of my central axis (a plumb line that drops from my head, through my weighted hip joint, through my weighted foot) generates a fast, large whipping arc in the vicinity of my outstretched arms and kicking foot.

ChiGuy396

ChiGuy396@yahoo.com

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