Tai-Chi and flat feet?

GalwayGuy2

I wonder would flat feet effect learning Tai-Chi. I must admit, sometimes the degrees that I'm meant to put them into feel very uncomfortable, and my knee is not above my foot when standing normally.

Also, I am learning them from the Tai Chi Association online videos. Not ideal, but, you know, money worries.

If it does affect it, do I do whatever's comfortable, or add or minus the degree of tilt in my feet?

smacl

I've been practising tai chi chuan for many years with flat feet with no problems, but you really need to find a teacher. Videos are ok as a training aid once you've got the basics down, but only in addition to proper instruction. You need someone to show you where you're going wrong and to correct your mistakes. Without this you'll end up gaining muscle memory of how to do it wrong, which could leave you worse off than if you'd never started.

Beginners classes should be cheap enough, and in this lean times you can always haggle if you're a bit skint.

Niall Keane

Assume you are talking about practicing Tai Chi Chuan's Hand Form? I second smacl - you should look for a teacher, of your interest is in form alone, then most should be capable in teaching such.

Perhaps it would be easier to learn and practice some Tai Chi Chuan Chi Gung methods at home as a beginner? It involved repeating many of the body mechanics found in forms repeatedly.

Have a look at "Yang Cheng-Fu's ten easential elements for hand form practice". You should be able to ind them online, and they are basic enough to start applying.

Then research "six harmonies", this is used mostly in reapect to the other Internal MA - Hsing Yi, but it covers what we mean by coordination in TCC. It will start to allow you understand what is meant by "internal power" (Nei Gung and Nei Jin)
"Triple point" , "focus" etc. are terms to become acquainted with.

Expore theories in eastern and western terms, hint: chi circulating in macro orbit simply tefers to coordination in movent and relates to "fascia" and nervous system development re. Engrams and mylination etc. interesting to read, but avoid being trapped by esoteric intellectual pondering that could hamper practical physical practice!

Re: knee and foot, this is covered in coordination but have a look at structural engineering's "middle third rule" which gives a straight forward explanation about "tension".

Regards,
Niall

GalwayGuy2

Thanks for the answers:)

Hmm, it's a bit of a pity about the muscle memory thing. I feel like my balance and posture has improved massively.

smacl

GalwayGuy2 wrote: »

Thanks for the answers:)

Hmm, it's a bit of a pity about the muscle memory thing. I feel like my balance and posture has improved massively.

As Niall has said, posture in tai chi pretty much follows sound structural engineering principals, in terms of angles and leverage. e.g, if the line connecting the sole of your foot to your knee is vertical, your skeleton is supporting your weight and your joints are not under pressure. If your knee is forward of your toes, the knee joint is being stressed and it takes more effort to maintain the stance. Good tai chi chuan in both forms and fighting, in my humble experience, is all about avoiding wasting any energy and unnecessary stress, while maximising the benefit of posture and leverage. Personally, I find it easier to improve my tai chi through pushing hands practice and free wrestling than forms. When I practice tai chi hand forms, I tend to visualise the movement in terms of the application being applied to the invisible opponent, and all the things I'm doing wrong in the delivery. Practising just the hand form by itself misses the point.