Tai Chi Connections Advancing Your Tai Chi Experience

by Loupos, John

• ISBN13: 9781594390326
• ISBN10: 1594390320
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-03-24
• Publisher: Ymaa Publication Center

Summary

With training skills on rooting, stepping and TaiChi's mechanical nuances, you'll also learn how to slow your life down be free and develop a modality for life long happiness.

Author Biography

John Loupos is an accomplished martial artist, author and teacher

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgements	ix
Romanization of Chinese Words	x
Prelude	xi
Part 1: Points to Ponder
Opportunities in Slowness	3	(8)
Balance	3	(1)
Proprioception	4	(1)
Rooting	5	(1)
Stress	6	(1)
Chi	7	(1)
Momentum	7	(1)
Breathing	8	(1)
Fitness	8	(1)
Critical Thinking	9	(2)
The Benefits of Group vs. Individual Practice	11	(4)
Loose Ends	15	(6)
Be Fluid, Be Resolved	15	(1)
Three Reasons to Get Loose	16	(1)
Keep Your Mind Loose Too	17	(1)
Loose Ends Beget Loose Ends	18	(3)
T'ai Chi as a Path to Congruence & Congruence as a Path to T'ai Chi	21	(12)
What Does It Mean to Be Congruent?	21	(1)
Let's Get Congruent	22	(1)
Why is Congruence So Elusive?	23	(1)
More Impediments to Congruence	23	(2)
Why is Congruence Important to T'ai Chi?	25	(1)
The Connection Between Process and Congruence	26	(1)
What Steps Can you Take to Become More Congruent?	27	(6)
Part 2: Arranging Your Body in a Tai Chi Way: Miscellaneous Connections
Transitions & Connections	33	(50)
There Are No Transitions in T'ai Chi	34	(3)
Stylistic Differences Aside	37	(3)
Your Initial Connection	40	(4)
Your Guy Wire Connection	44	(4)
Follow the Money	48	(5)
Wave Hands Like Clouds, But You Still Gotta Step Right	53	(8)
Your Knee: Turn It or Torque It?	61	(4)
A Shortcut That Makes Sense: The T'ai Chi Punch	65	(7)
Feeling Your Ward Off Connection	72	(6)
How to Develop Spiraling Force---or The World is Our Screwdriver	78	(5)
Moving Force from Your Earth Root	83	(20)
Rootedness as a Foundation for Issuing Force	83	(2)
Getting Started: Part 1	85	(5)
The Return Trip: Part 2	90	(4)
Putting It All Together	94	(2)
Possible Problems	96	(7)
The Role of Momentum in T'ai Chi	103	(10)
Momentum is Unavoidable	103	(1)
Momentum in Lieu of	104	(2)
Rid Your Form of Momentum	106	(3)
Momentum in Class	109	(1)
Momentum in Your Mind	110	(3)
The Three-Treasures Guide to Proper Stepping in T'ai Chi	113	(14)
Turn Your Foot to Open the Door	114	(2)
Aligning Your Knee	116	(1)
Opening Your Kua to Pass through the Door	117	(1)
Your Most Elusive Kua Connection	118	(9)
Part 3: Other Topics and Lectures
Optimizing Your T'ai Chi Practice	127	(8)
Size Counts	127	(1)
Move Slow, Move Fast	128	(1)
Be Soft	129	(1)
Bring Your Power to the Surface	129	(3)
Shake to Your Root	132	(1)
External Variables	133	(2)
Other Lectures	135	(38)
Integrating T'ai Chi Into Other Martial Arts Programs	135	(3)
Discernment	138	(1)
Trick or Skill?	139	(2)
Extend, but Don't Reach	141	(2)
Sink Back and Relax While We Discuss Sung	143	(3)
Forget Yourself	146	(1)
Quantitative vs. Qualitative	147	(3)
Auxiliary Practice	150	(1)
Cross Associations	151	(1)
Mining Your T'ai Chi for Gold	152	(1)
Affecting the Mastery You Fancy	153	(2)
The T'ai Chi Learning Curve	155	(2)
What Might You Be a Champion Of?	157	(2)
Simple Ordinary Learning or ``Transmission''?	159	(2)
The Value of T'ai Chi Weapons Practice	161	(3)
Pregnancy, Low Back Pain, and T'ai Chi	164	(5)
The Nature of Intention	169	(4)
Thoughts and Musings on Being a Teacher	173	(12)
To Do or Not to Do	174	(4)
Guiding, Providing for, and Educating Students	178	(1)
A Survey	179	(5)
In Summation	184	(1)
References	185	(1)
Resources	185	(2)
Glossary	187	(4)
Index	191