I think everyone has this feeling once in a while. Sometimes, we just run up against a wall. We may start to ask why are we doing this. Or where are things headed.
I try to practise taiji daily, yet I don't seem to be improving. I tell myself to relax when pushing hands, yet when I push hands with my teacher, my arms still get tired easily (which means I am using brute force still). Is all that practice really helping?
A totally unrelated blog (somewhere, forgot where...) helped me to think things through. Sometimes, when we go up against a wall, we should stop and not try to push on. It is time to review what has been done so far, to work on other things, before coming back to the wall and try to get past it.
In taiji terms, if I come up against a wall, it doesn't mean I stop practising. But maybe it is time to change the focus of practice (work on single moves, work on basics, etc.) before coming back to work on the full routine? Maybe it is time to focus on relaxing the kua rather than trying to discern the opponent's force?
Sometimes, the answer is not in answering the question. Because there may not be an answer. Just the question and the process of answering it.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Up Against The Wall
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1 comment:
Building push hands endurance will really help you. Take the patterns that your teacher taught you and do them as a solo exercise. you don't really need two people. Practice the patterns over and over again, resting when you arms and shoulders get tired. Gradually both work on relaxation and go longer each time. Eventually you will have more endurance in push hands and more relaxation. Good luck.
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