The ability to sense and control the 'soft' spot is also the
basis of the idea stated in the tai chi classics of 'deflecting a thousand
pounds with four ounces'.
(Wolfe Lowenthal)
Drills
Sensitivity exercises are not the same as
drills.
Rather than simply train habit patterns, the aim is to work in response to
the ongoing actions of your partner.
You must be fluid, mobile and adaptive.
Sensitivity
Our school offers an extensive range of sensitivity exercises, designed to
meet the needs of the self defence syllabus.
A few of the exercises were taught by
our teachers but most of them were
created
by us.
Pushing hands
This exercise teaches the body
to relax and yield when it encounters force.
Instead of using
strength, students learn to apply pressure and yield like
ice melting.
Accomplishing this skill fulfils one of the main precepts of tai chi which
states that no more than
4
ounces of pressure must be applied or received at
any time.
We offer single, double and rolling-parry pushing hands.
Pushing legs
This is akin to pushing hands but uses the legs at close range.
It offers a creative means of really feeling your own leg and how it
responds to your partner.
Balance, the
standing like a tree and
timing are practiced.
Yielding
This is the umbrella
name for a series of exercises designed to encourage a more comprehensive sense
of your partner and where they are positioned relative to you.
Everything from basic balance training, to escapes and chin na are explored
within these exercises.
Posture testing
When the loose structure is
pressure-tested, the body may tense in resistance and contract.
By tensing, the body amplifies the effect of any impact upon it.
In tai chi, this is not favourable, we learn to 'roll with the punch'
instead.
The muscles and joints must be loose and mobile at all times.
Melee
The ultimate sensitivity drill takes away your ability to
think.
You are forced to rely entirely upon touch and apply the syllabus creatively
against the unknown.
There are a number of different melee scenarios in our
curriculum.
More...
Page created 31 January 1999