37 Posture Tai Chi Chuan Form, scarf blindfold, uneven terrain, bird's eye view, front - 04/30/09 (Spring)
Bruce Kumar Frantzis, a highly accomplished internal martial arts teacher (Ba Gua, Tai Chi, Hsing-I), makes some very interesting observations about the importance of "dropping the mind into the feet" during Ba Gua practice in his video
"Ba Gua as Meditation-Put Your Mind in Your Feet"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR89GkVvR0k
Something very similar happens when I practice Prof. Cheng Manching's 37 Posture Tai Chi Chuan Form
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8P-ZCG1ysDo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sjV9bx9unxQ
with eyes closed, or while wearing a blindfold throughout the form. Especially when I'm practicing outdoors, on uneven terrain, like in this video.
When there are no visual cues available to my brain to help orient me in space, and help me figure out where to place my next step, I can't help but "DROP MY MIND INTO MY FEET." My feet become super-sensitized. Super-alert. They start to function like feelers, or super-sensitive antenna, sensing out every slight variation in terrain before I transfer body weight onto the sensing foot.
When my eyes are closed, and I'm wearing a blindfold, I have to "feel my way in the dark" while taking every step throughout the form. My weightless foot has to tell me whether it's safe to transfer body weight onto the "empty" foot or not. Whether I should remain in the weighted foot, and seek out a more stable surface with my sensing / feeling / empty foot, before I decide to transfer weight onto that foot.
When practicing Tai Chi with closed eyes, especially outdoors, on uneven terrain, I immediately understand what the Tai Chi Classics mean by "walk like a cat."
Blindfold outdoor tai chi practice on uneven surfaces develops a heightened sense of tactile sensitivity, especially in the feet. Mind drops deep into the feet. Mind becomes aware of every tiny sensation in the feet. Like a cat that feels its way from step to step, not committing body weight onto a front paw until it is sure that the surface it is about to step upon can support its weight. If it senses that the surface is unsteady, it changes course, pulls back its paw, and sets the paw down a little to the right, or left, or further ahead, or draws backward (to re-evaluate the situation).
When doing the tai chi form with closed eyes on uneven terrain, each foot needs to sense what type of surface it is stepping upon. My mind has to make a quick determination during each step: "Can I transfer my full weight onto this foot? Or should I adjust my step a bit first? Refrain from transferring body weight until I'm certain that my foot, and what I'm stepping upon, can support me!"
Sometimes I feel a knot of grass under my foot. I know that if I step on that knot, my foot will wobble; I won't be able to transfer my full body weight onto that foot and remain steady. If I want to maintain upright stability, and not have my upper body wobble and lean perilously back and forth, I move my foot slightly to the left, or to the right, feeling out a more stable surface to step upon. Sometimes I feel loose sand below my foot, or an inclined surface. A bump. Part of a hidden rock. A protruding root. A slight depression. I know if I shift more weight onto that foot, I'm going to start slipping, sliding, losing my balance. So I rearrange my foot slightly to find a steadier surface before transferring the rest of my body weight onto that foot.
Sometimes a perfect 70-30 shoulder-width forward stance can not be assumed in a specific spot. As I start putting my foot down, I feel I'm going to wind up in an unsteady, wobbly position. I don't have a steady surface to step upon. So I adjust my foot. I either bring it closer to me, or move it further away from optimal "shoulder-width" position - - just so I can plant my weight upon it and feel strong support for my entire body.
Please see my complete 4-part discussion regarding "The Challenge Of Uneven Terrain"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUaI90WGe88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JcVD1w_HIU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVXaPPBw3SA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CZHunZeyqw
All the observations I've written there also apply to this blindfold version of the 37 Posture Tai Chi Form.
ChiGuy396
ChiGuy396@yahoo.com
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Qigong Exercises - Chow Medical Qigongby CultivateQiOneness2,634 views
Interesting, I can do the same just by closing my eyes but, I don't. Let us see this as an "exercise" but not regular practice. In regular practice; don't close your eyes, don't do the form to music and do not shuffle your feet and bounce your chi around...Clear your mind and be the moment (not - be in the moment). Drop your chi - Pump thru your feet and Turn your core more than this. Root. If you need to THINK - think of an opponent or martial apps. Do it in your mind without moving. Good job!
steveuke 1 year ago