Post by Shifu Tolson on Apr 11, 2016 23:58:30 GMT -5
I thought that I would give the board members a taste of what my upcoming seminar April 17th 2016 on Essentials #3 will be like. Below is how I will be teaching the first three movements of the set. Notice that in just the first three moves I will be teaching: how to move, the keyword theories, one of the twelve soft principles and the application for each movement.
闭 手 挺 身 - Close Hands,, Straighten Body
Since the Essentials is one set that has been divided into six sections, Essentials section three begins where Essentials section two leaves off. The practitioner is facing East in a right foot forward empty stance with both palms stretched forward on the center-line. The right palm is stretched forward in line with the left palm.
The application according to Master Hao Bin:
"The enemy comes with a kick to my groin. I use both hands at my lower left side to obstruct the enemy’s foot. The enemy again comes with a fist to strike my upper or center area. I retreat my left step. Both hands move downward then return upward to contain the enemy’s fist and close my center gate."
右 封 左 采 右 扑 肘 - Right Seal, Left Pluck, Right Thrusting Elbow
I begin this movement by executing a right hook hand to my front right side. I follow with a left inward seal while advancing my left foot forward toward the East. Finally, the palmar surface of my right clenched fist strikes forward with a movement commonly called a "thrusting elbow". Though I am striking with the palmar area of my clenched fist rather than my elbow, it is a short striking method. Thus, in Taiji Meihua Mantis it is classified as an "elbow" strike as most short strikes are.
Theory: This technique demonstrates the hook, seal and strike combination common to mantis forms. In Seven Star Mantis this goes by the term 采 三 手 - cai san shou - “triple picks” or 勾 摟 采 - gou lou cai - "hook, hold and pluck". In the Plum Flower Mantis families we refer to it as 拉 封 打 - la feng da - "pull, seal and strike". The keyword theories of hook, hold/seal and pluck are all contained within this one technique.
Soft Principle: The hooking hand demonstrates the 柔 手 - "soft/yielding hand" principle known as, 直 統 而 抅 手 - "attach the hook to straight attacks". It is the means of diverting a powerful, straight attack with a softer redirecting motion that employs the hook hand.
The application according to Master Hao Bin:
"The enemy uses his right fist to strike my upper center area. I use my right hand to grasp the enemy’s fist to seal it at my right side. At the same time, I use my left hand to pluck the enemy’s right upper arm. Then I advance my left foot and strike forward with the heel of my right palm to the enemy’s face."
左 展 右 隔 肘 - Left Open,, Right Separate Elbow
After the left seal and right thrusting elbow movement, my left fist should be located below my right elbow. I draw out my left hand along the outer edge of my right arm and bring it forward with a grabbing motion. Once my left grabbing hand clears my right arm and is positioned in front of my chest, my right forearm sweeps in front of my chest from right to left.
Theory: The action of the left hand moving along the outer side of the right arm and coming forward with a grab is known as a "stealing hand". It is a common movement in mantis forms, appearing in such forms as: Lanjie, Shi Ba Shou and Ba Zhou.
The application according to Master Hao Bin:
"The enemy appears and I use my “Right Thrusting Elbow” to strike his face. The enemy uses his left hand to block my right fist. I use my left hand to pluck the enemy’s wrist and use my right forearm to stick to the enemy’s left arm. I use waist power toward the left side to roll downward. The enemy will certainly be thrown to the left rear."
闭 手 挺 身 - Close Hands,, Straighten Body
Since the Essentials is one set that has been divided into six sections, Essentials section three begins where Essentials section two leaves off. The practitioner is facing East in a right foot forward empty stance with both palms stretched forward on the center-line. The right palm is stretched forward in line with the left palm.
The application according to Master Hao Bin:
"The enemy comes with a kick to my groin. I use both hands at my lower left side to obstruct the enemy’s foot. The enemy again comes with a fist to strike my upper or center area. I retreat my left step. Both hands move downward then return upward to contain the enemy’s fist and close my center gate."
右 封 左 采 右 扑 肘 - Right Seal, Left Pluck, Right Thrusting Elbow
I begin this movement by executing a right hook hand to my front right side. I follow with a left inward seal while advancing my left foot forward toward the East. Finally, the palmar surface of my right clenched fist strikes forward with a movement commonly called a "thrusting elbow". Though I am striking with the palmar area of my clenched fist rather than my elbow, it is a short striking method. Thus, in Taiji Meihua Mantis it is classified as an "elbow" strike as most short strikes are.
Theory: This technique demonstrates the hook, seal and strike combination common to mantis forms. In Seven Star Mantis this goes by the term 采 三 手 - cai san shou - “triple picks” or 勾 摟 采 - gou lou cai - "hook, hold and pluck". In the Plum Flower Mantis families we refer to it as 拉 封 打 - la feng da - "pull, seal and strike". The keyword theories of hook, hold/seal and pluck are all contained within this one technique.
Soft Principle: The hooking hand demonstrates the 柔 手 - "soft/yielding hand" principle known as, 直 統 而 抅 手 - "attach the hook to straight attacks". It is the means of diverting a powerful, straight attack with a softer redirecting motion that employs the hook hand.
The application according to Master Hao Bin:
"The enemy uses his right fist to strike my upper center area. I use my right hand to grasp the enemy’s fist to seal it at my right side. At the same time, I use my left hand to pluck the enemy’s right upper arm. Then I advance my left foot and strike forward with the heel of my right palm to the enemy’s face."
左 展 右 隔 肘 - Left Open,, Right Separate Elbow
After the left seal and right thrusting elbow movement, my left fist should be located below my right elbow. I draw out my left hand along the outer edge of my right arm and bring it forward with a grabbing motion. Once my left grabbing hand clears my right arm and is positioned in front of my chest, my right forearm sweeps in front of my chest from right to left.
Theory: The action of the left hand moving along the outer side of the right arm and coming forward with a grab is known as a "stealing hand". It is a common movement in mantis forms, appearing in such forms as: Lanjie, Shi Ba Shou and Ba Zhou.
The application according to Master Hao Bin:
"The enemy appears and I use my “Right Thrusting Elbow” to strike his face. The enemy uses his left hand to block my right fist. I use my left hand to pluck the enemy’s wrist and use my right forearm to stick to the enemy’s left arm. I use waist power toward the left side to roll downward. The enemy will certainly be thrown to the left rear."