 Questions
for Teacher Jean
Separation
Student writes:
Teacher
Jean!
Need
some further clarity on “separation” –
after kicking with toe to the West, when the foot is pulled
back to sit down. I’m struggling with the sit down
of the foot. Should it be more to the North or Northwest?
I think NW, but would appreciate your input? Love, a struggling
player
Teacher
Jean replies:
“…the
foot will set down to NorthWest …to the diagonal…on
both left and right foot, the weighted foot will be toward
the diagonal. Belly button to the same direction..and the
separation itself is the closest thing to a side kick (or
lift..not really a kick) that Taiji would have. I am getting
ready to do my first column for you and it will be the MOST
IMPORTANT thing we study in taiji…BREATHING….love
ya…teacher jean"
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Turn
and Strike Opponent
I am writing this in an effort to answer a question I received
recently. From the end of Spread Arms Like a Fan : At the
end of Fan, your waist is facing North --- REMEMBER –
nose lined up with navel
Next
Posture: Turn & Strike Opponent
Turn
waist to West - - - trap and retreat
Throw
opponent to NorthEast - - - shifting weight
Shift
weight to left foot as you turn waist to NorthWest and strike
with hidden fist UP into opponent’s face or chin
Stay
on left foot as waist turn to NorthEast with flip strike
with right fist
It
is VERY important to keep waist turning in small circle
Staying
in left foot, right arm flip over to face East with fist
up
Then
shift weight into right foot as you clean off with left
hand moving face down over the right arm
Then,
turn waist directly East as you strike out with left fingertips
and right hand comes back by right side with fist facing
up
Next
move is High Pat on Horse
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 Chinese
New Year
Over the years, one of the most asked questions I have ever
fielded has been: “When is Chinese New year this year????”
You
need to realize that the date changes every year. The placemat
on the table at the Chinese restaurant is misleading. There
is a date, and often, you will misread what year you were
born in because of it. It will be late in January to between
late February. To figure this, just notice the changes of
the moon. Chinese New Years is the day of the second new
moon after the winter solstice. Keep that bit of info somewhere
and you can always answer the question for yourself!!!
Chinese
New Year officially lasts one month, but usually lasts almost
two months altogether. So…the twelfth month of the
year - the month before the new years day – involves
the time when a soul that is unhappy moves around the village:
angry, wild, revengeful. So that the month before new years
is the month of exorcism – of housecleaning in the
material sense and the spiritiual sense.
So
clean your house, pay your old debts, cleanse your body
of old energies and begin the new year! The year of the
“rat” with a renewed body and soul! February
7, 2008 is the day of new year. Greet it with welcome and
renewal!
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Turn
and Strike #48
E-mail from Teacher Jean states:
Will
try to answer your questions this morning…although
my brain is not working too good so far today…do you
ever have days like that?
You
ended with Fan through the Back – left foot pointed
West…right foot pointed North --- both hands open
--- right hand pulling opponent’s right arm as left
hand strikes ribs…
#48
1.
Waist turns West as arms follow. Left hand grasps right
elbow of opponent. Right hand grasps right wrist. Feet do
not move. Then weight shifts straight back to right foot.
2.
Turning waists – holding with both hands – throw
opponent to NorthEast corner. Weight is in right foot.
3.
Opponent approaching from NorthWest. Weight shifts into
left foot as you strike with right fist – uppercut
--- sneaking from behind left hand.
4.
Stay in left foot. Right fist arcs to North – pivoting
on toes of right foot.
5.
Step empty with right foot to East. Waist turns slightly
to make step.
6.
Right hand flops over on horizontally – left hand
covers inside of right elbow.
7.
Shift weight as you clean right arms off with left hand.
8.
Waist turns to East. Right hand pulls back to waist –
fist up – as left fingers strike East. Palm down and
left toes come with waist.
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