First Steps
When teaching someone new to Taijiquan I do not start with the form but with breathing and movement. Without the breathing being under control one’s stamina will quickly dissipate and one will not be able to remain calm under a continued assault. To be able to do this we inhale and exhale through the nose. To prevent the mouth from drying out we keep the tongue positioned touching the roof of the mouth just behind the teeth which causes the saliva glands to continue producing saliva. We keep the teeth slightly clenched to prevent dislocation if struck.
Once this has been explained I then begin with a few gentle exercises to practice this breathing while performing movements and basic coordination. I have found a beginning style exercise followed by some Qigong exercises to warm up.
It is at this point that I teach the seven stars step. This step teaches the fundamentals of the taiji theory as well as setting the foundation of the fighting art.
To perform this exercise properly one needs to learn correct weighting, balance, coordination, evasion, yielding , following , continuity , centerline theory, basic postural components, timing and fundamentals of diversion.
As there are so many things for a beginner to learn it is obvious that the teaching of this must be broken up into small manageable components that a beginner may be able to learn without being overwhelmed. Once each part has been learned to a basic functional competence then they can be joined together to make the complete exercise.
Step 1. Show the basic footwork pattern 7 steps forward and backwards in a zigzag pattern.
Step 2. Show the basic arm positioning and the use of the waist explaining centerline theory.
Step 3. Show the methods of attack and defense, the seven strikes and the seven diversions.
Step 4. Merge the lower and the upper. Add the strikes and the diversions to the steps, striking on the forward steps, diverting on backward steps.
Step 5. Once the student has achieved basic competency in the coordination of the lower and upper can one then begin the real exercise with a partner.
Controlled Seven Stars Stepping | |
Stepping must be balanced and controlled. Beginners often are unable to judge their stepping distance especially when going backwards leading to the situation where they care doing 7 steps forward and 5 steps backwards with the same distance. It is necessary to be able to feel where you are stepping by body awareness of the position and tension of the legs and hence be able to step where you want to and not where you are pushed. |
Step 6. Only at this point do I describe the reason and purpose of the exercise. This is often the first experience that beginners have at either trying to hit somebody or having somebody try to hit them. This is the critical moment where the student must overcome their basic fears and autonomic responses and do what they have been taught and not what they would automatically do .
Sidestep and Turn | |
Seven Stars step with body turn to avoid a straight punch. |
I have had many problems with people who refuse to try to punch at their practice partner because they believed that they would hurt them or even knock them out. Their belief was based entirely on ignorance and watching too many movies which was readily demonstrated when they could not even move the punchbag when asked to strike it. In one case I actually stood in the way of a punch to show the person his lack of punching power.
Other people refuse to punch in a straight line, in a misguided attempt to show that the evasion techniques would not work. Yet others only pretend to punch and do not commit themselves. These people do not understand the purpose of training and will never make any progress as they do not listen and do not observe.
Only after starting off on the correct footing is it possible to make swift progress. Any mistteps at the beginning are compounded as time progresses and correcting them are correspondingly harder.
Seven Stars Step | |
Stepping Methods are the missing link between form and function. The Seven Stars Step is the simplest stepping method and the most important. It is taught first because it is the easiest to use, and is the most useful step, but is also the most difficult to master. |
So although a student needs to choose his teacher carefully, the teacher must also decide when it is the correct time to teach the student what they should be taught anything if at all.
February 20, 2010 at 5:33 pm | Training | No comment
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