Take The Openings

Sometimes, there may be an opening available, yet we hesitate to take the opportunity because we are unsure of what lies in store. Is it a trap? Or is it a chance?

Today, I learnt that when there is an opening, take it. Even if it is a trap. If it is a chance, you will gain from it. If it is a trap, then react to the trap, and try to turn your misfortune into another opportunity for yourself. With skill, you will realise that you can turn the greatest misfortune into gain for yourself. All openings, real or fake, then becomes opportunities for gain.

So if your opponent presents an opening when pushing hands, take the chance and attack. If it is a trap, neutralise his counterattack and use it against him.

Admitting Defeat

It is important to know when you are bested. After all, if you have been defeated, there is no use struggling. Admit defeat, then move on. The most important thing is to learn from your defeat, know why you were defeated, and not make the same mistake again.

At the end of the day, being defeated allows you to learn about yourself, to know your own weaknesses (and strengths) better. And with self-knowledge comes great power.

Slow But Fast

My previous post talked about doing my routine faster. Well, that is not the way to go. Nope, in fact, doing my routine seems like I am rushing through things, and in the end, nothing is achieved.

The key, it seems, is not to do the routine faster, but to do the routine slow, yet know where to increase the speed. So while the whole routine is done at a slow pace, there will be occasions when the rhythm picks up. In that way, the routine doesn't appear monotonous, yet it doesn't seem to be a mad rush. I guess this is what is meant by 快慢相济.

So the important thing for me now is to practise and practise, until I get the timing correct.

Do It Faster And Many Times

My teacher told me that I am still not turning my kua, and suggested that I practise my routine slightly faster. Because it could be that my kua is turning, but because I am doing the routine so slowly, it is not noticeable. Well, I think if my kua is turning, whether I practise my routine fast or slow, it will be noticeable... but still, I will try to take his suggestion during my next few practices. The only concern I have is that when I practise my routines fast, I usually end up panting, which is not good.

Also, he mentioned that it is not useful to practise a routine, rest a while, then practise it again. It is more useful to practise a routine continuously for a few times.

So for my next few practices, I am going to practise my routines faster, and without rest in between.

Just Squeeze

Last night, my teacher was talking to another student about how to "squeeze" 挤. The most important lesson I got from this? It is that when you are going to do something, just do it. Don't think too much about "if he does this, then I will do this; if he does that, then I will do that". Think too much and you won't be able to do what you want in the first place.

Saw a similar post in another blog when I was surfing just now.

So don't hesitate, don't try to anticipate too much, see an opportunity, grab the opportunity.

Chen Style Taiji Sword 陈式太极剑

A video clip taken from yumintay's blog.



The static photo (before you click play) is my teacher, Mr Kwek.

1、朝阳剑　　　　2、仙人指路　　　3、叶底藏花　　　
4、魁星式　　　　5、哪吒探海 6、青龙出水
7、护膝剑　　　　8、闭门式　　　　9、青龙出水
10、翻身剑 11、青龙转身 　　12、斜飞式
13、展翅点头　　14、拨草寻蛇 　　15、锦鸡独立
16、哪吒探海 　　17、盖拦式 　　18、古树盘根
19、饿虎扑食　　 20、青龙摆尾 21、倒卷肱
22、野马跳涧 　　23、白蛇吐芯　　24、乌龙摆尾
25、钟馗仗剑 26、罗汉降龙 　　27、黑熊翻背
28燕子啄泥　　　29、摘星换斗 　　30、熊鹰斗智
31、燕子啄泥　　 32、灵猫扑鼠 　　33、锦鸡抖翎
34、海底捞月 　　35、哪吒探海 36、犀牛望月
37、劲风掩草　　 38、斜飞式　　　39、左托千斤
40、右托千斤 41、左截腕 　　　42、右截腕
43、横扫千军　　44、金针倒挂 　 45、白猿献果
46、落花式 　　　47、上刺剑 　　　48、下刺剑
49、斜飞式　　　 50、哪吒探海 51、鹞子翻身
52、韦驮献杵 　　53、磨盘剑　　　54、金针指南

Give Him What He Wants

A simple lesson, but important nonetheless. If your opponent wants something, let him have this way, give him what he wants. He wants to pull, let him pull. He wants to push, let him push. The important thing is not to resist him.

After letting him have his way, the next step is to use what you have learnt to change the direction of his force (without going in the exact opposite direction, since that becomes resisting his force). For example, if he pushes towards you, you can direct his force upwards and then away. If he tries to push you down, you can direct the force towards him.

Give him what he wants, put yourself in a seemingly disadvantageous position to lure him towards committing himself to using more force, and then redirect that force to your advantage. That will allow you to turn what seems like defeat into victory.