One or two points, one of the principal reasons that a ball is used is to ‘ harmonise the external with the internal ‘ There is a Tai ji saying ‘ that the first door ( to the art ) opens when everything starts in the Tantien. Tantien is not just a point inside below the navel but acts like a leather ball the size of a dinner plate half full of a heavy liquid like soya milk. The ball held between the hands rotation must harmonise with the rotation of the Tantien ball with the tail bone moving first to direct the direction in which the two balls move. If the backs of the hands are imagined to be inside the ball of the Tantien pressing on the inside walls of the ball, then when the tantien starts to roll, the ball between the two hands will roll together with it and the body will be starting to move as one unit. This information is from George Xu and Liu ji shun, 5th generation direct lineage from Wu l Shiang , writer of many of the classics.
As many commentators have stated already holding the ball is an idea to transmit the roundness of the arms etc but is transitional and the wrist position changes with experienced practitioners as the applied techniques can applied for blocking and striking or shifting the opponents weight etc. Attention should be given to the height and angles so as to effectively intercept blows and kicks, you still need a practical defensive application to your theories.
yes another lesson I really knew intuitively but did not adapt or follow, maybe because of seeing other people move externally. thanks for a stark reminder, I look forward to putting this into practice
Thanks for posting this comment. Many teachers who manifest the nei jin (expansive strength) required for creating roundness find nei jin difficult to teach. So students have to get it by “osmosis.” Part of the problem is the widespread belief that muscles are unable to extend., so mystical explanations are utilized, which can hold students back.
The ‘power’ starts from the earth, is controlled by the center and is expressed in the limbs. This is the basis of all movement, including holding the ball. So this needs to occur naturally, as you demonstrated. Everything is round, no sharp curves. As you showed in the beginning, most people hold it like an actual small ball, palms facing each other. When you look at the forming of ward of left from the starting position, the arms never stop. The left arm follows the body to the right and just before the body moves again to the left and forward, there is a brief moment where the left hand and right hand could be considered to be in a hold a ball position before moving to ward off left position. As the classics say, when one part of the body moves, everything moves; upper and lower body, left and right. When one part stops, everything stops. Like ward off left is only briefly there because the body keeps on turning left and therefore takes the hand with it , while causing the right hand to move left. When the body is at highest extension to the left it causes to go back to the right again and briefly position both hands in a hold the ball position again on the left side. The hands are in both ‘ball’ situations either at shoulder height and center height. Having both hands on one side helps with the balance of stepping with the opposite foot. The movement of the body helps shifting the balance in the feet, freeing a foot for the stepping. This is of course my opinion, and the way that I feel in my whole body the logical progression in the movement and balance. It s a constant shifting in Yin and Yang. There is already so much to explore and discover in these few positions. Still keep discovering new layers .
I agree. I started the Yang 108 T'ai Chi form in 1980 and I don't ever recall anyone mentioning a ball. I think of the movements as responses to inward coming vectors. In the beginning move my right hand is guiding a force past my body, the left hand is covering my lower body and prepping for ward off. The fact that the posture resembles a ball is only a visual for beginners. T'ai Chi, to my thinking, is only about dealing with outside forces or guiding the flow of chi, not about making shapes with arms or the body.
The longer i practice the more i come to the conclusion that the ball and working with it is the essence of Tai-chi. There is no end to it's levels of practice
In push-hands practice, having your body expanded and whatever your partner touches feeling like the surface of a ball, it is easy to roll him/her off. Thanks for your suggestion, and I’ll try to make a video of that.
There is no such thing as Holding Ball in Taijiquan. It never existed until Cheng Man-ch'ing started saying it - and Cheng Man-ch'ing form is not real Yang Taijiquan. He just made it up himself to teach to American Guilou / Gweilo.
i would like to see this gentleman demonstrate the martial application of this MARTIAL ART...most tai chi instructors don't know or understand this b/c they practice it as an exercise...the understanding of the meaning of the movement (in a martial way) will usually lead to proper expression of the movement...btw, i know this dude is old but if you're going to demonstrate PROPER motion shouldn't your shoulders be down/relaxed ? it seemed to me as he was demonstrating the movement his shoulders looked " up " NOT down and relaxed.
His shoulders look to be sloping downwards to me, so I'd say they are relaxed. He's a muscular guy who did weightlifting back in the day, so maybe what you are seeing is that structure.
Wow, i like this approach a lot. Thanks for sharing!
One or two points, one of the principal reasons that a ball is used is to ‘ harmonise the external with the internal ‘ There is a Tai ji saying ‘ that the first door ( to the art ) opens when everything starts in the Tantien. Tantien is not just a point inside below the navel but acts like a leather ball the size of a dinner plate half full of a heavy liquid like soya milk. The ball held between the hands rotation must harmonise with the rotation of the Tantien ball with the tail bone moving first to direct the direction in which the two balls move.
If the backs of the hands are imagined to be inside the ball of the Tantien pressing on the inside walls of the ball, then when the tantien starts to roll, the ball between the two hands will roll together with it and the body will be starting to move as one unit.
This information is from George Xu and Liu ji shun, 5th generation direct lineage from Wu l Shiang , writer of many of the classics.
As many commentators have stated already holding the ball is an idea to transmit the roundness of the arms etc but is transitional and the wrist position changes with experienced practitioners as the applied techniques can applied for blocking and striking or shifting the opponents weight etc. Attention should be given to the height and angles so as to effectively intercept blows and kicks, you still need a practical defensive application to your theories.
Excellent explanation. I will be the ball from now on
yes another lesson I really knew intuitively but did not adapt or follow, maybe because of seeing other people move externally. thanks for a stark reminder, I look forward to putting this into practice
Thanks for posting this comment. Many teachers who manifest the nei jin (expansive strength) required for creating roundness find nei jin difficult to teach. So students have to get it by “osmosis.” Part of the problem is the widespread belief that muscles are unable to extend., so mystical explanations are utilized, which can hold students back.
The ‘power’ starts from the earth, is controlled by the center and is expressed in the limbs. This is the basis of all movement, including holding the ball. So this needs to occur naturally, as you demonstrated. Everything is round, no sharp curves. As you showed in the beginning, most people hold it like an actual small ball, palms facing each other.
When you look at the forming of ward of left from the starting position, the arms never stop. The left arm follows the body to the right and just before the body moves again to the left and forward, there is a brief moment where the left hand and right hand could be considered to be in a hold a ball position before moving to ward off left position. As the classics say, when one part of the body moves, everything moves; upper and lower body, left and right. When one part stops, everything stops. Like ward off left is only briefly there because the body keeps on turning left and therefore takes the hand with it , while causing the right hand to move left. When the body is at highest extension to the left it causes to go back to the right again and briefly position both hands in a hold the ball position again on the left side. The hands are in both ‘ball’ situations either at shoulder height and center height. Having both hands on one side helps with the balance of stepping with the opposite foot. The movement of the body helps shifting the balance in the feet, freeing a foot for the stepping.
This is of course my opinion, and the way that I feel in my whole body the logical progression in the movement and balance. It s a constant shifting in Yin and Yang. There is already so much to explore and discover in these few positions. Still keep discovering new layers .
Excellent description.
I agree. I started the Yang 108 T'ai Chi form in 1980 and I don't ever recall anyone mentioning a ball. I think of the movements as responses to inward coming vectors. In the beginning move my right hand is guiding a force past my body, the left hand is covering my lower body and prepping for ward off. The fact that the posture resembles a ball is only a visual for beginners. T'ai Chi, to my thinking, is only about dealing with outside forces or guiding the flow of chi, not about making shapes with arms or the body.
The longer i practice the more i come to the conclusion that the ball and working with it is the essence of Tai-chi. There is no end to it's levels of practice
BE the ball - genius.
Neuroelectricity ❤❤❤ Beautiful video:)
Thank you so much foe watching, understanding, and appreciating.
@@dsfgnk4 High-levels of gratitude for sharing this wisdom:) Thank you!
Your opinion is the truth.
Great video! I would love to see these differences expressed in a partner's reaction.
In push-hands practice, having your body expanded and whatever your partner touches feeling like the surface of a ball, it is easy to roll him/her off. Thanks for your suggestion, and I’ll try to make a video of that.
@@dsfgnk4 Looking forward to it 🙂
Myth busting in Tai Chi!
There is no such thing as Holding Ball in Taijiquan. It never existed until Cheng Man-ch'ing started saying it - and Cheng Man-ch'ing form is not real Yang Taijiquan. He just made it up himself to teach to American Guilou / Gweilo.
As my current teacher says, "There is no 'hold the ball' in Yang style taiji.".
i would like to see this gentleman demonstrate the martial application of this MARTIAL ART...most tai chi instructors don't know or understand this b/c they practice it as an exercise...the understanding of the meaning of the movement (in a martial way) will usually lead to proper expression of the movement...btw, i know this dude is old but if you're going to demonstrate PROPER motion shouldn't your shoulders be down/relaxed ? it seemed to me as he was demonstrating the movement his shoulders looked " up " NOT down and relaxed.
His shoulders look to be sloping downwards to me, so I'd say they are relaxed. He's a muscular guy who did weightlifting back in the day, so maybe what you are seeing is that structure.
Wow, i like this approach a lot. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching and appreciating.