Constant Bear Tai Chi, sweep with empty foot, front view - 02/11/09 (Winter)
Just like his Tai Chi teacher, Yang Cheng Fu, Prof. Cheng Manching stressed the importance of dropping 100% body weight through one leg at a time while practicing Tai Chi:
"In practice, Tai-chi Chuan is rooted in one foot at a time, never both simultaneously. Place all one's weight on one foot at a time so firmly that one feels oneself rooted in the ground like a tree with a single tap-root.
"To divide the weight on two feet is considered a serious mistake since the boxer will then lose agility due to the duplication of (as it were) his centre of gravity. This fault is technically known as 'double weighting,' which impedes instant readjustment of one's body posture."
From "A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health and Self Defense"
by Cheng Man-ch'ing
p 45
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"In short, the energy of the whole body, one hundred percent of it, should be sunk on the sole of one foot. The rest of the body should be calm and lighter than swan's down. In this way one can never be toppled."
From "Thirteen Chapters"
translation by Douglas Wile
p 76
"Generally, the whole body's weight should sink one hundred percent onto one foot. The rest of the body is relaxed and light as a feather. If you can master this, you cannot be pushed down."
From "Thirteen Chapters"
translation by Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo & Martin Inn
p 91
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"The Constant Bear combines both the Five Animals and t'aichi into a single move. When you practice be sure to keep your mind and ch'i in the tan-t'ien, about 1.3 inches below the navel. Also, take care that the soles of your feet are fully on the ground.
"As in t'aichi, distinguish clearly between full and empty, as expressed in the statement 'Heavy as a mountain light as a feather.' When you turn left, your weight should be fully upon your left leg, making it as heavy as a mountain. Do the same when you swing onto your right leg."
From "The Constant Bear"
Master of Five Excellences
translation by Mark Hennessy
p 116
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Taking as my inspiration the Constant Bear format (feet parallel, approximately shoulder-width apart),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS_XbedAHsg
I practice several variations of Prof. Cheng Manching's basic 37 Posture Tai Chi Form
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8P-ZCG1ysDo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sjV9bx9unxQ
which emphasize dropping 100% of body weight into one leg at a time during each movement.
When 100% of my weight falls through one leg, the other leg becomes "empty" and can be raised to take a step, or kick, or sweep, or stomp down, or trip, etc. Many different types of movements are possible when one leg is empty and the other supports all the body's weight.
Tai Chi forms like the Constant Bear contain implied or concealed actions which are not immediately apparent to a casual observer. To a random passerby, when I'm practicing the Constant Bear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQI0CBggR0M
I appear to be standing on two legs when, in fact, one of my legs, or the other, is always becoming "empty" and is ready to be used for kicking, or tripping, or sweeping, or stomping, or raising the knee suddenly.
In this particular variation of Prof. Cheng's Constant Bear / 37 Posture Tai Chi form, each time one of my legs becomes empty, I raise it off the ground and do a sweeping motion (as if sweeping the leg of an invisible opponent).
I am making obvious a concealed action implied throughout this form.
ChiGuy396
ChiGuy396@yahoo.com
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EXERCISES FOR ALL SEASONS: Cloud Hands Tai Chiby ChiGuy3962,966 views
Very nice. Our Taijiquan is likewise all on one leg.
oldoakdao 2 months ago
Excellent! Well done. :-)
Samoobramba 3 months ago