Abdominal breathing intro, alternating feet tai chi form, elbows rise & spread out as abdomen expands on inhale, front view - 07/29/10 (Summer)
Here are some of the most authoritative statements regarding ABDOMINAL BREATHING that I have come across throughout my tai chi studies. These passages have influenced my personal tai chi practice profoundly.
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T'AI-CHI
THE SUPREME ULTIMATE EXERCISE FOR HEALTH, SPORT, AND SELF-DEFENSE
By Cheng Man-ch'ing and Robert W. Smith
p. 6
"Like A Child" section, photo captioned "You must become like a child."
"Observe a child. Note how he breathes -- not high in the chest but low in the abdomen."
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BODY MECHANICS OF TAI CHI CHUAN
William C.C. Chen
p. v
"All the movements of Tai Chi Chuan are activated by pressure changes in the lower abdomen. As the pressure increases, the arms flow outward or upward. When it decreases the arms move inward or downward. The arms never move by themselves without the abdominal pressure changes.
"... in the movements of Tai Chi Chuan the arms never move alone or independently. If they do, the movements are not considered as Tai Chi Chuan.
"Abdominal pressure is the main source of power, especially, the center point of the lower abdomen, known as Tan Tien."
p. xviii
"In the process of doing tai Chi Chuan slowly, the movements are soft, gentle and flow continuously. The mind and body are relaxed, the breathing is long, deep and very calm. While inhalation is taking place, the diaphragm is contracted down to the lower abdomen, abdominal pressure is increased and the energy begins to flow. At this time, the arms are moving outward or upward. During exhalation, the diaphragm is released, abdominal pressure is decreased and the flow of energy subsides. Now, the arms are moving inward or downward."
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TAI CHI DYNAMICS
Robert Chuckrow
p. 22
When I was studying with William C.C. Chen in the mid 1970s, I often arrived early to warm up and stretch. One day, I came to a studio that was empty except for an elderly Chinese gentleman standing in the center of the room. I immediately recognized him to be T.T. Liang. I said hello and, after a while, approached him saying, "Can I ask you a question?" He answered, "I'm retired" and waved me away. I said, "The question is about qi." He said, "What's qi?" I tried my best to give him an answer even though I realized that he was playing with me. Next he said, "Put your hands on my waist." He powerfully expanded his whole waist area - - front, back and sides. Then he said, "learn that," and walked away.
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Due to YouTube's space limitations for video descriptions, please see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ofJ4aUUBM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PAFy2k_VCs
for other important quotes regarding abdominal breathing.
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In this video, I am practicing my Alternating Feet Tai Chi Form using the HEALTH method of breathing. All expanding movements, strikes, punches, and kicks are performed during an INHALATION. Whenever I inhale my abdomen expands / inflates. When I exhale, my abdomen contracts / deflates.
I face the camera and keep my elbows near my center throughout this entire form. It's easy to see how the expansion and contraction of my abdomen influences all arm movements. When my abdomen expands, my elbows naturally spread out and move further away from the center of my body. When my abdomen contracts, my elbows return closer to center. During each breath cycle, chi gathers at my abdominal center (tan-tien / "field of chi"), and expands outward to my peripheries.
ChiGuy396
ChiGuy396@yahoo.com
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