Like the Yin-Yang, Eastern Martial Arts and Western medicine are two halves of a whole. My mission is to preserve the ancient mind-body tools and pass them on to you.
In part 2 of last week's "pang" technique, I show you how to add rotation to your stance, which allows you to use your opponent's force against them. Meanwhile, your partner will learn how to sink into their push, so that when you rotate away, they so not stumble forward.
It's a two-person stability workout for the price of one!
Happy Stretching!
This week we have a video showing you a leg-strengthening and balance-enhancing exercise based on the martial arts stance called "tompu." During this exercise, you want to figure out how low is acceptable and safe for you to go, and then practice going smoothly from side-to-side. Do this near a table or other structure to use as a support if you need it.
Eventually, you should be able to do this without support or needing your arms. You should move gracefully with just the strength and flexibility of your legs. Enjoy!
This week we are going to show you an exercise that you can do if the wall push-ups are too easy or slow for you. Many younger readers, athletes, and martial artists will be interested in maintaining and improving their "fast-twitch" muscle fibers, which will allow them to move quickly and precisely. If that is your goal, then the panther walk is the upper body exercise for you.
Essentially, the panther walk is a push-up, but when you push up off the ground, you want to push with your hands and feet so that you hop up off the ground completely. This is how you move forward, backward, or sideways while doing the exercise. You will probably bend a little at the hips to help you with the hop, because you'll be activating your abdominal muscles too. This is fine, but try to keep your body as straight as possible throughout the exercise.
Of course, this exercise also has all the strength benefits of the wall push-ups, and develops bone density as well. However, if you are only trying to increase bone density and maintain a basic level of strength, then the wall push-ups that I review in the video are probably a better choice for you.
Happy Stretching!
Fa Jin (a.k.a. Fa Jing), or "manifestation of power," is great practice for controlling and moving your energy, stretching and releasing the bows, and improving your martial arts. The force of movement in Fa Jin is a good way to begin visualizing the movement of energy during your Tai Chi practice.
Good luck! And make sure you don't move too fast or too hard, and accidentally hurt yourself. Fa Jin is about control, not strength!
This exercise is a great piece of martial arts training that can be used by anyone to increase strength, muscle mass, bone density, flexibility, and range of motion in the quads, hamstrings, groin, hips, and calves.
Remember, that you don't just want to be strong, you also want to be flexible, because when you are strong and flexible, you are powerful. That is the best you can be, because it means you move your body effectively and efficiently, accomplishing the most work with the least effort.
Do this exercise like you do the others, 15 repetitions to each side is beginners, up to 30 is intermediate, and up to 50 on each side is advanced. This is a good exercise to do if you want to change your usual Up and Down routine once in a while.
I hope you enjoy Tiger Stance from Side to Side! If you do, consider signing up for one of my courses on Udemy. There are long form and short form Tai Chi courses, which can fit any lifestyle, whether you are busy all the time, or already commit an hour a day to exercise.
If you are in the Boston area, don't forget that you can always schedule a private lesson with me, either at my clinic, or at your home. Check out my sign-up page to get the details or submit any questions you might have.
Happy Stretching!
Today's video is a game! I challenge you to spot the incorrect alignment and walking issues of these pedestrians. Noticing common walking issues in others is a great way to begin noticing walking issues in yourself.