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.Tai Chi in Beijing s Bamboo Park38Copyright © Scott Baker 2000 Master Yang & Si-Fu Baker testing each other sMaster Yang teaching in the Yue Tan Parkskills.His name was master Yang Da Houand I found him to be most humble andgenuine, like most of the masters Iencountered.We began comparing upon theagreement that we would reframe frominjuring each other and I was mostimpressed with his skills.He was 81 yearsold and small in stature, about 100 lbs.atbest, yet he moved with a solid root and Ifound him very skillful at resisting andcountering my efforts to unbalance him.However, I also was able to counter hisAs in most schools of martial arts,efforts to throw or unbalance me, whichthis wise master had one student who wasgreatly impressed the audience as well as theone of those characters who thinks he knowsold master, who later stated that my skillsmore than he really does.He wanted to trywere very good.his hand at unbalancing me, but he alsofailed while I was able to throw him severaltimes.He then declared that it was onlybecause I was too big and strong physically.He invited me to stay for another master tocome who he was confident could throw me39Copyright © Scott Baker 2000 easily.I naturally agreed, they said this Master Lu was very gracious andmaster was a big man who had great skills acknowledged that I had gotten him, butand had beaten many challengers.He was then returned with zeal in an effort toskilled in Tai Chi as well as a version of redeem himself.We continued for anShaolin.Naturally I was excited to see what additional 3 or 4 minutes without eitherhe had.getting a real advantage.After about an hour or so he arrived Upon stopping the exchange masterand the group eagerly took me over to him Lu declared to the crowd that I was mostand introduced us.His name was Lu Jian formidable and had a great ability withGuo and he was a large man, somewhat energy.This was a great compliment and thelarger than I am, and I m not exactly petite.crowd began to respect my skills more thanHe was in his late 40 s and looked very my size, even though I was not Chinese.Istrong, he had the eyes of an experienced was very impressed with his skills and wefighter.I was eager to feel his skills.When parted as good friends.Although he andthey told him I practiced Wing Chun master master Yang, as well as two other mastersLu commented that Wing Chun injures who I had compared with that morningpeople.I quickly informed him I was not commented together that I would be almostthere to injure anyone and so we agreed to unbeatable if I studied Tai Chi to bettercompare without injuring each other, but to refine my Chi-kung skills.simply unbalance each other.Si-Fu Baker with master Yang.Master Lu with Si-Fu BakerI took this as a great compliment, as I havethe uttermost respect for Tai Chi.To haveA large crowd gathered, 30 to 50these masters of China encourage me to takepeople, to watch the master throw me.Wetheir preferred style to improve was a highstarted in a push hands sequence and quicklycompliment.I truly felt honored.And inmoved to directly attempting to unbalancetruth I believe that if I was able to studyeach other by applying presses and pulls inunder some of these masters I would trulyfree form.He was solidly rooted and I foundimprove considerably.the exchange most enjoyable.We went backThe ability to move while rooted isand forth for several minutes without eitherwhat is taught in the Chum Ku boxing form.getting an advantage, then when he applied aIt is one thing to be able to root, it is quitestrong press to my body I slipped it and wasanother level of skill to keep that root whileable to jerk him out of his stance and throwmoving, and it is an even deeper skill levelhim about 12 feet.This greatly impressedto move the body from the rooting energy!the crowd who let out an audible gasp.40Copyright © Scott Baker 2000 So how does one progress through these When you are relaxed energy canlevels of skill? feel heavy, like it has weight.As you throwA fundamental truth about the nature the front foot out to step, drop the heavyof chi is that it is fluid.In its natural state it energy feeling down the leg and into the footis alive and moving.The fact that it so it feels like a heavy metal ball rollingnaturally moves is a key to being able to down a sealed tube and hitting the bottommove with it.However, chi also wants to be with a thud.Your chi shoots down your legled; to be told where to go.If it isn t told by from your Dan-Tien and hits your foot withthe intent of the person then it simple moves a thud too.This Thud feel will pull youand cycles naturally within the grand sinking forward somewhat.At the same time thecontinuum that is chi.The first level skill of energy ball hits your foot you shoot a springrooting your energy is accomplished simply like energy down your back leg to fire youby relaxing and quieting the mind and body forward.All this happens in a split second,enough to release the energy and allow it to and is all about presencing feelings,sink due to the force of gravity.(Energy is relaxing, and intending from the Dan-Tien.effected by gravity, in fact gravity is an The leg and feet must be relaxed.effect caused by the flow of the earth s chi, You do not lift up your root to dobut that s another book).Then you begin to this.In fact you are still presencing down bypresence down and draw the chi into the centering your motion in the Dan-Tien andearth, to essentially direct the chi to sink intending into your feet as you step with thedeeper.This is done through training your relaxed void feeling.The motion is initiatedattention and intention, two mental aspects by presencing from the Dan-Tien towardsthat bring control over chi.It s not enough your target, while keeping rootedto just wish, or think about moving the simultaneously.As you create a vacuumenergy here or there, you have to really within the Dan-Tien you will draw energypresence the feeling through intent.up from the root which loads the springenergy in the rear leg.This drawing rootStepping enables you to shoot from the Dan-Tien andThese same skills then are used to make the move with the root intact.root dynamic.Essentially what you do is Notice when you step that you do notpresence or send out your energy feelings move both feet in the same moment.Ratherto where you want to be.To do this you you move the front leg out then you push ofmust apply several key principles.First and from the back leg and move it up.The frontforemost Relax and create a feeling of a void leg draws the back leg behind it as if a largeor vacuum, you can not move energy rubber band was around your legs at thewithout relaxation.The feelings of energy knees.This is what is often called thethat you will presence or intend out are these abduction stance, or abduction stepping.Therelaxed void feelings.Also center your body timing of your intending down into the footmotion from the Dan-Tien; move from should be to capitalize on this.As the ballthere.If you are stepping forward you step thuds into the lead foot you will shoot byas if someone has a rope around your hips releasing the spring in the rear leg.Theand pulls you forward
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