As illustrated by Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei above this movement
is found in five different sets: 18 Movements, Old Frame 1 (Lao
Jia – twice), Old Frame 2 (Cannon Fist), New Frame 1 (Xin Jia –
twice) and New Frame 2.
Due to a failure on my part to foresee the consequences, during
the course of teaching this movement I mentioned part of the old
nursery rhyme: “I am a little teapot short and stout. This is my
handle. This is my spout.” I might have escaped relatively
unscathed, but I subsequently grabbed a nearby teapot to
illustrate the words “teapot”, “handle” and “spout”.
Before and after class and during the three breaks students may
request water or tea. A few of the less verbal students used the
posture to convey a choice of tea. This notion spread slightly
slower than a wild fire through their classmates. The students
are reinforcing their practice; they are communicating; we could
explain to parents what it meant if done outside of class; there
were some light-hearted variations … all good.
Then disaster struck.
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