Tai Chi

[badpiggy]

Do you qi gong and practice the form every day? I'd started getting up before work to do it. Took about 15 minutes. Really want to go back to it now - we could take on the MMA/UFC thread You should just bring a broken bottle to your next lesson.

Kung Fu - Float like a ****** sting like a bee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUs4DiuG8js

[Venton]

Do you qi gong and practice the form every day? I'd started getting up before work to do it. Took about 15 minutes. Really want to go back to it now - we could take on the MMA/UFC thread You should just bring a broken bottle to your next lesson.

Kung Fu - Float like a ****** sting like a bee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUs4DiuG8js

that looked a fairly unorthodox punch at the end!

I try and do some every day but I've being doing some yoga exercises for my back before doing it so am concentrating on the form rather than the qi gong so I don't get left behind. Once the back is better I'll do more of the qi gong though as it fits in well with the whole mindfulness. In fact there is a little used fire exit stairwell not 10 minutes away from me at work that I should be able to use for 10-15 mins in the afternoon - might sneak in some qi gong shortly. Draw the bow to shoot the eagle ftw!

[Mr Darko]

I've been practising Tai Chi for about 7 years, the same form as you if your short form is Cheng Man Ching's shortened version. The whole thing looks quite scary when you first start - I never thought I'd learn it all but you soon will.

I find it excellent for balance and exercise recovery, without really changing diet I found I started to recover from running/football a lot faster.

The partner stuff you are practising is this push hands, or San Shou?

There is a 'compact' version of the Cheng Man Ching style designed for small spaces if you'd rather practice inside without being seen.

[Venton]

Not quite sure which version it is, there's a lot of talk of Yang Chenfu though. I'll ask tonight.

They describe the partner work as Tuishou and in brackets push hands which at my level is yielding, sticking, fixed and moving sequences. At the later levels I can see the Eight Powers and then Da Lu and cai lie Zhou kao. Top level is just called level 5 which sounds plain frightening. Obviously I'm not ready to know the name of that yet.

Seven years is good going. Have you continued to advance all the way or did you reach a level that you are comfortable practicing at? Obviously you continue to improve by practice even if you don't learn the advanced stuff but I wondered if the later levels involved so much continuous practice that it's hard to fit in? Cheers

[badpiggy]

He's testing your patience grasshoppah...

[Venton]

It is a test I will pass on my quest for enlightenment. Do not despise the snake for having no horns Badpiggy, for who is to say it will not become a dragon?

I am signing up for the qi gong class on Monday night from the beginning of July so I'll be doing that and tai chi twice a week. I'm going to be so ****ing Zen it'll be sickening.

Bwooonnnggg!

[Neil Young]

It is a test I will pass on my quest for enlightenment. Do not despise the snake for having no horns Badpiggy, for who is to say it will not become a dragon?

A herpetologist?

[Venton]

A herpetologist?

More of a batrachianophile bacchus.

[Neil Young]

Ok, you win.

[Venton]

I think not, you've use synecdoche entirely appropriately today. It's a slam-dunk really.

[badpiggy]

It is a test I will pass on my quest for enlightenment. Do not despise the snake for having no horns Badpiggy, for who is to say it will not become a dragon?

I am signing up for the qi gong class on Monday night from the beginning of July so I'll be doing that and tai chi twice a week. I'm going to be so ****ing Zen it'll be sickening.

Bwooonnnggg!

Ah - but you can't make tuppence from a farthing

[Venton]

That's some seriously enlightened porcine paradise action right there.

[badpiggy]

The fact that Charles Manson hasn't answered your question yet is seriously ****ing with my already very limited stores of Zen.

[Venton]

I've been waiting every night on tenterhooks in the left bo stance waiting for a reply. I'm obviously still not ready.

[Mr Darko]

Apologies for the long delay, I binge on Est1892 - have several weeks away trying to burn my jing then back for a few days straight.

Seven years is good going. Have you continued to advance all the way or did you reach a level that you are comfortable practicing at?

There was a lot of stopping and starting - on numerous occasions my current partner would leave or be away for several weeks and I'd have to start with someone else interested in learning from the beginning. These lessons were at the same time as the health-based sessions.

Obviously you continue to improve by practice even if you don't learn the advanced stuff but I wondered if the later levels involved so much continuous practice that it's hard to fit in?

I don't find it hard to fit in - I always try at least 30-45 mins each week night (when no classes on obviously).