Transition

Western cultures can often find change troublesome.  It does not help when we have a perception of mutually excluding opposites.  The ‘you are for me or against me’ sort of thing.  However, a different concept can be found within Eastern thinking, the idea that opposites mutually coexist, changing and flow together.  The change we see in the seasons of the year and day into night.  The flowing movement in Tai Chi practice.

Robert Chuckrow (2023) explored this transition in Tai Chi as demonstrated by Cheng Man-ch’ing.  Roberts thought provoking discussions have led me to reflect on an embodied somatic explanation of the transition between the posture Grasp the Sparrows Tai and Roll Back (throw down). 

In the posture Grasp the Sparrows Tail traditionally 70% of weight is said to be placed on the right foot.  Yet Chuckrow (2023) cites Cheng Man-ch’ing as referring to all the weight going to the right leg.  This apparent difference between the amount of weight to be placed on the right leg may be explained by the difference between ‘posture’ and ‘transition’.  The static posture Grasp the Sparrows Tail is indeed practiced with 70% of weight on the right foot.  In Embodied Tai Chi this is experienced by the best springy bouncy sensation in the right leg (Hunt 2023).  However, in the process of moving from Grasp the Sparrows tail it could be said there is a momentary shift of all the weight to the right leg before your weight shifts towards the left foot. 

When making Tai Chi video’s to support student learning I sometimes observed during editing as an error, an unintended overshoot in a posture at the point of transition.  On reflection there may well be a shift of all the weight to the right leg but this is momentary, so small that it is hardly perceived. 

Yet intentionally placing all my weight onto the right foot does not feel right. An intention to place all my weight on the right leg seems to break the flow of movement possibly because of the length of time it takes to register the act of doing.

So how can we shift all our weight to the right foot during the transition to the next posture without the conscious intention to do so?  Perhaps I can offer an Embodied Tai Chi explanation that we can test ourselves during our practice of the Tai Chi form.  Rather than having the mental intention of moving all your weight to the right leg simply shift the posture tightening the flex in that leg.  Then relax the flex, let go, allowing the flex to unflex.  Don’t allow the flex to become a stretch or cause tension.  Immediately let go paying attention to the unflex allowing it to unfold your movement towards the next posture.  In this case moving your weight towards the left foot in the posture Roll Back.  When practiced this way I find it difficult to say all my weight goes to the right foot during the transition.  It is momentary, so subtle the overshoot of the posture had never really registered in my consciousness until Robert explored Cheng Man-ch’ing teaching.  Watching the Tai Chi form an observer is unlikely to notice this subtle change other than having a perception of natural flowing movement.  (Although not explained here, the flex is actually a whole body experience acting not just in the leg but through the spine, shoulder blades, arms and hands.)

Robert Chuckrow’s cited example of Cheng Man-ch’ing (1999, p.42) offers further explanation that may support this view.  Cheng states; ‘Apply your energy cyclically from movement to momentum, …’.  The springy bouncy leg flex and unflex can be ‘felt’ as the swing of momentum during a transition.  You then move towards the next posture so creating an ‘intention of movement – attention to momentum – intention of movement’ cycle.  Rather than moving directly from one posture to another posture we move further into the existing posture as a way of transitioning – swinging towards the next posture.

My knowledge of the Chinese languages is so limited as to be nonexistent so I can make no helpful contribution towards the translation or interpretation of Cheng Man-ch’ing original text relating to dòng/dàng (move/swing).  However, I would suggest that understanding traditional teaching as internal sensations and feelings can provide a helpful insight into a deeper understanding of Tai Chi.  Hence my teaching and practice is referred to as Embodied (or more accurately somatic) Tai Chi.

When we practice Tai Chi in this way we experience letting go as part of the transition into every posture.  It is possible that these experiential actions practiced over time can nurture our ability to transition change in other aspects of our lives.

Finally I would like to extend my appreciation to all the members of the International Tai Chi Teacher Circle for respectfully providing an opportunity to explore the practice of Tai Chi.

David Hunt Tai Chi December 2023

References;

Hunt David (2023) Embodied Tai Chi Core Practice;  https://embodiedtaichi.org/documents/new-portfolio-under-development , accessed 31st December 2023

Cheng Man-ch’ing (1999) Master Cheng’s New Method of Taichi Ch’uan Self Cultivation, Translated by Mark Hennessy; Blue Snake Books, Berkely CA

Chuckrow Robert (2023) Cheng Man-ch’ing on dòng/dàng (move/swing) in “Roll Back”; video upload dated 2 Dec 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbO1RWltqtY accessed 5th December 2023