Introductions!

[feuervogel]

Ninhao, and welcome!

I'd like to start out with introductions. You can make yours in comments or a new post, as you will.

I've been studying taiji at the Magic Tortoise School for a little over 2 years. I studied Chen style with Dr Jay from March 07-09, and I've started taking weapons with LaoMa since mid-March of this year. I'm learning the stick version of the dao broadsword form (because it's safer than using a sharp thing for a beginner ;) ) I participated in the 2-day San Shou workshop in March, and I'm doing the 4-day in May. (Even after being exhausted during the 2-day. It was pretty awesome, though.)

I'm participating in the MT school's advancement program, and I earned the red sash in January. I decided to do it after a year of study, because I wanted a focus or a framework. I'm externally motivated, and I realize it, so I need something outside to give me that motivation.

So, what style or styles do you do? What would you like to see in this community?

Comments

[brightfame]

Fan is very cool, and I find it has taught me to keep a firm but relaxed grip (too loose, the fan flies out of your hand; too tight, it won't open properly, or the form doesn't flow smoothly).

Tell me more about your San Shou training! Do you have a preference between forms and fighting?

[feuervogel]

The way I've learned it is as half of a matched set, like a dance. LaoMa teaches a push-hands class that I think may be more like sparring, but I haven't taken it. I can make a post about it, if you want?

I'd like to read about the simplified and competition forms, since I don't know anything about the former and little about the latter.

[brightfame]

That sounds a bit like what I've been doing recently. Please do post on it.

I don't know if I have enough knowledge about the 24 and 42 forms to fill a post, but I have got a couple of links if you'll let me cheat and use Wikipedia:

24-step

42-step

[feuervogel]

Will do! I'll even promote our workshop in the process ;)

I'm OK with wikipedia, especially since books on taiji are hard to find. The book I have doesn't even go into san shou, so I'm having to use the internet and the workshop page to find stuff.

I'm looking for a co-mod or two. Interested? (It's pretty quiet here, but DW isn't even out of closed beta yet, so... maybe things will pick up? I hope?)

[brightfame]

I am interested, though I'm a bit busy right now and, as you say, the place is a bit quiet to need more than one mod. Perhaps we could return the question after about ten members or so? You might even find a better candidate!

I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more about your workshop and your club. :)