Internet-based Lessons |
Chen
Family style Tai Chi Chuan - beginners |
Tools - Tai Chi
ruler - sometimes known as Tai Chi Chih |
In our classes
the tai chi tools have three purposes: (1) they act as a
transition from externally static |
practices such as
standing or sitting to more dynamic practices such as actually
doing a set |
(2) they re-prime
the body and brain after a break for a snack or water without
going back through |
all the warmups
(3) for students with stiffness or other mobility challenges in
their fingers, hands, |
wrists or
forearms (all too common in many types of cerebral palsy, alas)
the tools provide extra |
stretching. I,
sadly, do NOT have much information about the history of the tai
chi ruler, but |
I doubt very much
that the modern tai chi ruler came from a sword hilt. Maybe a
mace handle. |
There are three
key concepts to start with: (1) contact is with a circle of
points in the palm |
(2) focus on the
central "bead" of the ruler itself (3) be mindful of level with
respect to the floor |
and your
centerline. Start in wuji standing and slide the left foot
forward so its heel aligns with the |
toes of the right
foot. We will reverse feet later - we are going to use the one
side to teach the other. |
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