Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments

Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D. (experimental physics NYU) has been practicing tai chi since 1970. He is certified as a master teacher of Kinetic Awareness® and has authored six books, notably The Tai Chi Book (YMAA, 1998). Dr. Chuckrow has studied tai chi, chi kung (qigong), and other movement and healing arts under masters such as Cheng Man-ch’ing, William C. C. Chen, Elaine Summers, Alice Holtman, Harvey I. Sober, Kevin Harrington, and Chin Fan-siong. Robert Chuckrow teaches and resides in Ossington, New York.

Dedication


Acknowledgments 


Author’s Background 


Author’s Note


Introduction


CHAPTER 1: Relax




Cheng Man-ch’ing
Yang Cheng-fu
The Meaning of Relax
Attaining Sung
The Importance of Releasing Tension in Doing T’ai Chi Movement
Push-Hands
A Seeming Contradiction
Shedding Some Light on the No-Strength Paradox


CHAPTER 2: Expansive Strength




Background
The Current View of Muscular Action
Differences Between Contractive and Expansive Strength
Some Experiential Evidence for Expansive Strength (Experiments You Can Do)
A Promising Mechanism for Expansive Strength


CHAPTER 3: Swimming on Land




Professor Cheng’s Advice
My Initial Skepticism
My Eventual Realization
The Mental Aspect
“Zombie-Style T’ai Chi”
Swimming on Land is Only a Tool for Recognizing Chin


CHAPTER 4: Elucidation of Famous Masters’ Sayings on Strength




Li, Chin, and Nei Chin
Ch’i, Breath, and Internal and External Strength
An Analysis of Cheng Man-ch’ing’s Distinction Between Two Different Types of Strength
An Attempt to Further Elucidate What Professor Cheng Wrote
An Analysis of Yang Cheng-fu’sCommentary on Strength
Breath and the Tan T’ien
Health Aspects
Martial Aspects
Mind, Breath, Ch’i, and Strength
Summary


CHAPTER 5: Advantages of Expansion Over Contraction in T’ai Chi




Briskness of Regulation of Strength Compared for Both Types of Strength
Alertness
Endurance and Health Benefits
Leverage and Fine-Motor Control
Developing Bodily Unification
Educating Bioelectrical Pathways
Deception in Self-Defense


CHAPTER 6: Health Protocols Using Expansion




Expansion for Reeducating Upper-Back Alignment
Expansion for Reeducating the Lower Back
Improving the Cervical Spine Using Slow, Relaxed Movement
Expansion for Relieving Plantar Fasciitis


CHAPTER 7: Balance




Gravity
Leg Strength and Mobility
Finding the Centers of the Feet
Knee, Ankle, Arch Alignment
Center of Mass
Balance Experiments
Vision
Other Factors


CHAPTER 8: An Analysis of “Rooting and Redirecting”




Conditions for Optimal Stability
Internal Aspects


CHAPTER 9: Natural Movement




Understanding Natural Movement
Elements of Natural Movement
Independence of Movement
Reasons for Studying Natural Movement
Examples of Unnatural Movement
Tools for Studying Natural Movement
Some Basic Physics Concepts
Animate and Inanimate Natural Movement


CHAPTER 10: Stepping Like a Cat




T’ai-Chi Stepping
Yinand Yang
Weight Transfer
Difficulties in Stepping Like a Cat
Order of Stepping: Heel First, Toe First, or Whole Foot?
 Practicing Stepping to the Side Using a Movement From the T’ai-Chi Form
Stepping Naturally
The Swing of the Rear Leg During Stepping Forward
The Swing of the Forward Leg During Stepping Forward
Stepping at the Right Moment
Experiments for Attaining Proper Stepping
Swing of the Arms During Walking


CHAPTER 11: Periodic Movement and Timing




Periodic Motion
Periodic Motion Terms
Driven Periodic Motion
Linear, Driven, Horizontal Periodic Motion (“Withdraw and Push”)
Analysis of the Motion in “Withdraw and Push”
Importance of Timing of “Withdraw and Push”
Circular Motion of Right Arm in “Single Whip”
Centrifugal Effect
Centrifugal Effect with Gravity
Conical Pendulum
“Swinging” About a Vertical Axis, Arms Swinging Side-to-Side
Benefits of “Swinging”
Fa Chin
T’i Fang


CHAPTER 12: Additional Physical Concepts




Constraints
Rolling Without Slipping


CHAPTER 13: A Clarification of “Secret” Teachings Revealed by Cheng Man-ch’ing




Basic Concepts
Neutralizing
Attacking
Yearning K. Chen ‘s Alternative Way of Deflecting an Attack
In Conclusion


CHAPTER 14: Non-Intention, Intention, and “a Hand is Not a Hand”




Non-Intention
The Mental Transmission of Intention
“A Hand is Not a Hand”
The Transmission of Intention Over a Distance


CHAPTER 15: Maximizing Your Progress in T’ai Chi




Studying T’ai-Chi
Obstacles to Learning T’ai-Chi
Dealing with Obstacles
Dangers of Overusing Images in Movement Arts
Validating Your Progress


CHAPTER 16: Perspectives on T’ai Chi




Internal Versus External Martial Arts
Lifting Versus Lowering
Empty / Full, Yin/ YangParadox
Some Variations of the T’ai-Chi Symbol
T’ai Chi “Weapons”
Misinterpretations
The Yang Long Form and Professor Cheng’s Short Form
The Popularization of T’ai Chi


Afterword


Appendix 1. Basics of Vector Addition


Appendix 2. Analysis of Forces in Rooting


Appendix 3. Analysis of Swing of Hanging Rods


About the Author


Bibliography


Index