Intentional Transitions

         I always forget how nice it is to just hit the bag sometimes.  Oftentimes I’m just going over forms and techniques.  It’s good to hit the bag and put those techniques into action.  Feel how the body changes to the new intent.  See how well the transfer of power is.  Having the physical target changes so much of what I do.  When I’m throwing techniques in the air I’m always holding back a little for the sake of my joints.  My intent is different.  My delivery of power is different.  It’s important to note these changes and how they manifest from form to application.

          Transitions have been the other big thing on my mind.  Mainly thinking about how I transition my weight/center in a technique, in my forms, and in Tai Chi.  Tai Chi I realize the subtlety of how I place my foot and the way it changes how I’m connected and transferring my energy.  When I start to speed things up in our forms or technique, I try to keep that same intention.  Even though the way I move in my forms has changed due to my Tai Chi practice, I still find that it gets blurred or blended.  I’m trying to explore this more.  Going not even faster but at normal speed I feel my weight and center wanting to shift in a way that is supporting the forward motion, or I should say where my target is and where I want to deliver power.  What I lose I find is choice.  Perhaps it is because I move slower and more intentional in Tai Chi that I feel I have more choice in my movements, versus feeling more committed in my regular forms.  Does that make sense?

        I’m also aware that I am moving differently in my transitions due to my knee.  So there is an added layer there as I’m trying to do the same movements as everyone else, or at least trying to achieve a similar end goal, but am having to circumvent certain movement patterns and choosing ones that my knee will allow.