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Brian wrote:The standing leg should be slightly bent as this will help maintain balance and allow flexibility in the hips necessary to kick correctly.
If the standing leg is 'locked out' this introduces tension in the leg muscles and de-stabilises your root.
Locking out of any of your joints during Taiji will make you vunerable to having your rooting destroyed.
pete5770 wrote:A while back there was some talk about whether or not the kicks in Yang style long form should be done with the standing leg extended(straight) or bent as in the rest of the form. Would be interested in hearing any thoughts, musings, theories, either pro or con on this subject. Stuff like (how extended? - knee locked?). That kind of thing. Or whatever you want to expound upon about this subject.
yeniseri wrote:pete5770 wrote:A while back there was some talk about whether or not the kicks in Yang style long form should be done with the standing leg extended(straight) or bent as in the rest of the form. Would be interested in hearing any thoughts, musings, theories, either pro or con on this subject. Stuff like (how extended? - knee locked?). That kind of thing. Or whatever you want to expound upon about this subject.
I have a different reference but 'kicking' in taijiquan as external application, always appears to be lacking in utility. I will say that none of my teachers offered applications! Most of the utility is in trapping, locking leg and throwing. When I have seen those using kicks of taijiquan opposite other arts usually the opponents get to grab the foot/leg and throw the taiji person to the ground.
This book is Yang Chengfu’s transmission of boxing theory. But fellow practitioners who read through it should by no means take the writing too seriously. You should only lay importance on the theory. If you are finicky about the writing, you will likely make mistakes in your own study of the boxing methods.
What is an infinitely more interesting thing to talk about is not about the kicks, but why the kicks are not called kicks in the form! Well, the first two anyway! They are commonly translated as "separation of right/left leg". Why?
36. Application of KICK TO THE RIGHT SIDE:
Explanation:
From the previous posture, if the opponent uses his right hand to connect to my right wrist as I stretch it forward, I then use my right wrist to cover his right wrist, dropping my elbows, sinking my shoulders, and promptly plucking his left arm to my left side. At the same time, my left hand sticks to his left wrist, palm down, with a stealthy extending energy. My left foot at the same time steps out forward to the left side and sits full. My body then advances and my right foot lifts to the left and kicks his right flank with the top of the foot, my hands spreading to the sides. My gaze is in the direction of my right hand’s movement. The result is that the opponent naturally cannot hold out against me.
37. Application of KICK TO THE LEFT SIDE (same as the right)
Explanation:
Same as 37 but with left and right reversed and oriented to the left instead of right. Understanding one side, it is not necessary to repeat it for the other. Regardless of what precedes or follows, the photo is the same thing for both sides. As for the orientation to both sides, you will understand if you think about it.
38. Application of LEFT TURN, PRESSING KICK
Explanation:
From the posture of KICK TO THE LEFT SIDE, if an opponent strikes me from behind with his right hand, I promptly turn my body to the left to be square [with the position of the beginning posture], pressing up my headtop, hollowing my chest, pulling up my back, loosening my waist, my right foot staying where it is but slightly turning to the left and remaining full. My left leg hangs while my body turns, toes down, then kicks out to his chest using the heel, toes up. During the turn, my hands prop up together from below, and during the kick, they spread to the sides, my gaze following forward. The result is that the opponent naturally topples.
20. Application of KICKING TO THE SIDE
If A is in the posture of TESTING THE HEIGHT OF THE HORSE and is using both hands to roll back B’s left arm, he quickly lifts his right foot and, using the top of the foot, kicks B’s belly, both hands quickly releasing B’s arm for B to be kicked away. If the technique is done on the left side, it also uses the posture of TESTING THE HEIGHT OF THE HORSE on the left side and then the left foot is lifted to kick B’s belly. It can be applied on either side. See the photo: http://brennantranslation.files.wordpre ... =300&h=227
23. Application of TURN AROUND, PRESSING KICK
If B attacks from the rear and quickly retreats, A turns around to observe B’s retreat, then first advances with his left foot, and then quickly lifts his right foot to do a straight kick to B’s chest while his hands spread apart. See the photo:
Make note that the above kicking techniques are to be performed as single actions, that in each case the hands spread like wings, and that it is necessary for the standing foot to be stable.
Josh Young wrote:Gord, that one movement idea is some day one beginner stuff. I don't think anyone teaches anything but that. That the 13 postures are endlessly one is a basic taiji concept. Nobody seems to get hung up on that, but isn't it nice of you to remind them?
wpgtaiji wrote:.....In short, dont get hung up on any one idea. There are many other, more important ideas to get right first (namely, Yin Yang).
What is an infinitely more interesting thing to talk about is not about the kicks, but why the kicks are not called kicks in the form! Well, the first two anyway! They are commonly translated as "separation of right/left leg". Why? Discuss! sorry for highjacking a boring topic and making it much more interesting!
Josh Young wrote: It is not taught that the leg becomes straight in the kicks. I am not sure where Erle got that. His "chengfu" material is a little strange, the kicks especially. Here is a link to some more traditional Yang postures, check out the kicks:
http://www.chipellis.com/Writings/Red%2 ... Parker.pdf
You will notice that the back leg does not go straight for the kick.
wpgtaiji wrote:Josh, you realize your "translations" dont talk about the standing leg? or am i missing something?
I dont think anyone teaches nor understands that idea.
Josh Young wrote:
You are missing a few things, one is a good transmission of what Chengfu taught.
Everything I gave is backed up by photographs of Chengfu and his students and their transmissions.
This kind of shows you didn't look very hard. It is ok, I know if Erle didn't teach it, you won't believe it anyway.
Josh Young wrote:
You could take a kick from some other martial art, or a method, and then claim it is taiji because it works for you, but then where would your credibility be?
pete5770 wrote:Credibility?? Who's to say that Chengfu didn't adopt some part, thought, or portion of his Tai Chi
from some other martial art? Very possible.
What about the other styles - Wu and Wu(hao)? They didn't strictly follow the ancients(for lack of better words) in the traditional sense, yet they have credibility. They moved ahead on their own and built credibility over the years.
Josh Young wrote:pete5770 wrote:Credibility?? Who's to say that Chengfu didn't adopt some part, thought, or portion of his Tai Chi
from some other martial art? Very possible.
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