Posture help!

SemperFu · #1 (**permalink**) June 10th, 2007, 05:17 PM

Okay here's the deal, I'm supposed to go to china in November with my teacher to visit his Master Niu Sheng Xian. When I get there I know he's going to watch me practice, and I don't want to make my teacher look bad so I wanted to see if anybody had any advice for me. The problem is this, When I practice my Pi Quan I relized that I wasn't relaxing my hips and keep my back straight when I transitioned, so now I have been focusing on keeping by back straight, unfortunately now I have problems keeping my balance, and I don't stay one level--I raise up because I can't bend my back to stay low. Does anyone have any tips or advice other than to just to practice more?

**Mei Hua** · #2 (**permalink**) June 10th, 2007, 06:01 PM

Best advice, ask your teacher for help, he knows you better than we do and would be able to correct your issues.

**RobT** · #3 (**permalink**) June 12th, 2007, 05:36 PM

Classicaly, you would train the form with a pause at each part of the transition ... taking a fairly standard variation (and accepting that the details of your form may vary):

san ti
shift the weight back, pull hands in
drill (tsuan) forward as weight shifts forward
chicken step as the rear foot moves to by the front ankle and the rear hand also drills (tsuan) up the elbow crease of the front hand
split/chop (pi) as step into santi on the other side

each of these held for a period of time (usually counted as a number of breaths). Check the posture and ammend according to six harmonies etc. let the body settle into it and feel/ get used to being there.

This helps train the necessary muscle memory as to which points the body needs to transition through (the character and concept of "stance" is very similar to that for "step"... i.e. all stances are not to be seen in isolation but as transitions - how you get into it and where you are moving to next are just as important).

Then you focus on the transition itself and following the requsite principles to ensure maximum efficiency of movement into the muscle-memory stance.

PlumDragon · #4 (**permalink**) June 13th, 2007, 10:19 AM

Great post RobT, would love to see more of you around here! =)

SemperFu, it is a very important (and often frustrating) lesson that you are learning: Learning and performing body alignment and other intricacies of this fashion can just take a very long time to really get looking and feeling proper--even after you think you have it, there is probably still a lanudry list of adjustments to make.

Keep training at a pace that allows you to do what Rob mentioned. Practice and practice hard, with the right focus in mind, and the results will come...

brianlkennedy · #5 (**permalink**) June 14th, 2007, 07:14 AM

One thing I would add is that Di Guoyong in his book On Xingyiquan Volume One: Five Element Foundation (in a good show of practicality and honesty)talks about common mistakes and how a teacher should correct them. Specifically he is talks about the problem of 'head bobbing' (i.e. the head rising up when moving forward). Now most xingyi books will simply state categorically‚ 'thou head shall not come up or thee have committed a xingyi sin', or something to that effect. But in the real world, at least among the human beings I have seen, everyone's head bobs up a bit. Di Guoyong honestly and helpfully admits this practical reality. He says; "a certain rise and fall can not be avoided, but it should be limited to 5% of the person's height". I found that single comment so refreshing in that most books on xingyi just state a formulistic approach that does not reflect the real world of real practitioners. I really recommend his book, which has been translated by Andrea Falk.

By the way, hope you have fun in China. Seeing Chinese martial arts on its "home turf" can be very exciting and interesting. Good luck and keep us posted.

take care,
Brian

Royal Dragon · #6 (**permalink**) December 31st, 2007, 02:30 PM

Hold each poster for 3 minutes, constantly adjusting closer and closer to perfection the entire time.

Then do the same on the other side.

Li Ma-Keh · #7 (**permalink**) July 2nd, 2008, 12:51 PM

San-Ti position,...thinking of your lower Dan-Tien as the center nucleus' , then expand in ALL directions outward. Lifting the bai-hwai point, sinking the huai-yin point , feel push-pull through the arms, forward-back through the legs, eyes gaze forward, let the tubular shape of your body open in all directions.

inufreak1 · #8 (**permalink**) July 20th, 2008, 04:52 PM

“	Originally Posted By: SemperFu Okay here's the deal, I'm supposed to go to china in November with my teacher to visit his Master Niu Sheng Xian. When I get there I know he's going to watch me practice, and I don't want to make my teacher look bad so I wanted to see if anybody had any advice for me. The problem is this, When I practice my Pi Quan I relized that I wasn't relaxing my hips and keep my back straight when I transitioned, so now I have been focusing on keeping by back straight, unfortunately now I have problems keeping my balance, and I don't stay one level--I raise up because I can't bend my back to stay low. Does anyone have any tips or advice other than to just to practice more?	”

Get a plank of wood slide it into Ge. have it so it make you sit and stand straight. do that for a week and you're good!

inufreak1 · #9 (**permalink**) July 20th, 2008, 04:54 PM

It works for the strict schools.
ruler work the best I believe.

inufreak1 · #10 (**permalink**) July 20th, 2008, 04:57 PM

Or you could do some basic horse stances and have back straight.

What help me keep me back straight is imagining your shogun behind you watching your every move. It help improve your form that's for sure.

old warrior horse · #11 (**permalink**) August 7th, 2008, 11:40 PM

I agree with the comment to have your instructor work on this with you....also, if you are a rank beginner, when you go to China, you having any ability and knowledge at all will impress your teachers Master....you will find them very "forgiving" with beginners.

A point to think about if you are feeling like you have lost your balance...in the process of trying to get your back "straight" you have most likely over arched your back and are now top heavy and your center has moved away from dan tian....

The lower back is what needs to be straight and you do that by slightly thrusting your pelvis forward......someone said try standing in the posture for 3 minutes....do this up against a wall with your toe and hand on the wall and your alignment should be good...hold it and get the feel of it then try it free standing.

li xiao long · #12 (**permalink**) August 13th, 2008, 05:21 PM

might be easier having your back against the wall, rather than fingers and toes... :-)

If you find your losing your balance, perhaps work on opening your feet a little wider? It only takes centimeters to make all the difference.

iron_leg_dave · #13 (**permalink**) September 27th, 2008, 07:48 PM

Stand back to a wall, put your right heel, at a 90 degree angle to the wall, forming a "T" with the wall. Step the left foot out 45 degrees to the left, a shoulder width distance. Lower your body, make contact with the wall lightly, do not lean. Your back, flush against the wall. This is the proper posture for san ti. The left hand is at the heart level, the right hand at the navel, the left toes, the left forefinger, the right thumb, and the nose line up.

Peace.

Doughboy · #14 (**permalink**) September 28th, 2008, 09:03 AM

I just want to add. Correcting posture can't happen overnight. It take time for your body to correct itself in a way that you can maintain. Sometimes, when you are put into the correct posture, it is uncomfortable, because of small problems in posture you have built up over the years. I have had all sorts of problems with back pain and posture over the years, so I can speak from experience.

One of the best ways to improve your KF/MA posture, is to start making lots of little changes to your natural every-day posture. Every time you are noticing that you are slouching, then make adjustments. If you are walking with your chest closed, then pull back your shoulders and open your chest up, etc. Use your KF breathing to ease the tension of the new posture while your body gets used to it. If you improve your posture in your daily living, you WILL notice a big difference when you are training.

redroosda · #15 (**permalink**) October 2nd, 2008, 12:58 AM

“	Originally Posted By: Mei Hua Best advice, ask your teacher for help, he knows you better than we do and would be able to correct your issues.	”

Agreed. Is that your x-ray Mei Hua?