Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia - Grasp the Sparrow's Tail.
Yang Lu Chan or his grandson, Yang Deng Fu, are reputed to have invented “Grasping Sparrow's Tail” by combining some basic techniques in Chen Style Taijiquan into one sequence of movements. (Kit)
In the words of Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit “Grasping Sparrow's Tail” is so important in because it incorporates all the fundamental requirements of Taijiquan, including
1. differentiating yin-yang
2. stances
3. footwork
4. waist movement
5. body movement
6. hand movement
7. basic techniques
8. generating energy flow
9. developing internal force
10. combat application
“Traditionally, “Grasping Sparrow's Tail” is said to be composed of four fundamental techniques — “peng” or ward off, “lu” or roll back, “qi” or press forward, and “an” or push. But we in Shaolin Wahnam identify a fifth technique, “chen” or sink back, between ”qi” and “an”. And we name the patterns that implement the techniques as follows:”
Peng or Ward Off — Immortal Waves Sleeves
Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit incourages us to note of the following in differentiating yin-yang ,”Initially the body weight is on the left leg, gradually the weight is transferred and effectually the weight is evenly distributed on both legs. Would this be a weakness of double yang? No. When the weight is even distributed, yin and yang do not represent left and right, but stability and agility.”
MetroWest T'ai Chi (Woodward, n.d.) describes peng as
“an outward and expanding energy. It has a somewhat elastic or bouncy feel to it but is very substantial at the same time. You can imagine a balloon as having Peng energy. If you imagine pushing on the balloon that is against a firm surface such as a wall, it would give a bit. But however hard you push, it is as if your push is getting returned right back to you – as if your energy is being redirected back to you. A better translation of Peng might be “Boing”. This is the feel of Peng.
When performing “Ward Off” within Grasp The Sparrow’s Tail, we ideally want the warding off arm to expand outward and upward with the use of Peng. We want to strive for a feel of this arm moving as if there is a balloon sitting between our arm and body that is being inflated. As the balloon inflates, the arm floats outward and upward.”
Lu or Roll Back — Double Dragons Play with Pearl
“The roll-back movement results in “hua” or “neutralizing an opponent's attack” (Kit, n.d.)
“Lu is a feel of opening up a space. If you imagine that you have expanded a bubble of Peng around you, and that someone is pushing on that bubble, Lu would be an opening of space that they would then fall into. Lu uses a state of Peng to create that opening. Without the Peng, we could not create the opening.” (Woodward, n.d.)
Ji, Qi or Press Forward — Push Boat According to Flow of Stream
“Ji is a compressing or squeezing type of energy. It takes the expansiveness of Peng and compresses it to focus it. It takes the opponent’s energy and redirects it right back at them in a very channelled and penetrative manner.
You can imagine it as squeezing through a small space between your opponent’s arms to deliver a penetrating blow.
When we perform Press in our Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail move, it is as if we are gathering up a whole bunch of Peng that we have built up and then compressed that Peng into a focused point at our wrists. We then express that focused energy forward.” (Woodward, n.d.)
Chen or Sink Back — Black Bear Sinks Hips
An or Push — Push Open Window to Look at Moon
“’An’ actually means “place on”. It refers to placing the palms on an opponent. With the palms placed on an opponent, you may push him. If you use physical force, the push comes from the back leg, and you make use of whole-body weight. If you use internal force, you explode force from your dan tian. Or you may just control your opponent with “an”, as in closing your opponent before a push or a strike.” (Kit, n.d.)
“Push is much less about actually pushing and much more about rooting and sinking and bringing your opponent’s energy down into your root. Push is like a downward expression of Peng with some qualities of Lu. The downward expression of Peng is done effortlessly and to your opponent can feel as if they are falling into a hole.
If an opponent is coming at you, then you simply redirect their energy downward. When done well, this will result in the opponent losing their root and becoming off balance. From there you could execute a roll back and let them fall on by you, or you could turn their energy around and expand your Peng energy, thus uprooting them and throwing them backward.” (Woodward, n.d.)
References
Kit, G. W. (n.d.). GRASPING SPARROW'S TAIL, THE MECHANICS OF TAIJIQUAN MOVEMENTS. Retrieved from Shaolin Wanham Institute: https://shaolin.org/taijiquan/sparrow/sparrow.html
Woodward, J. (n.d.). Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail and the 4 Primary Jins. Retrieved from MetroWest T'ai Chi: http://metrowesttaichi.com/articles/grasp-the-sparrows-tail-and-the-4-primary-jins/
In the words of Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit “Grasping Sparrow's Tail” is so important in because it incorporates all the fundamental requirements of Taijiquan, including
1. differentiating yin-yang
2. stances
3. footwork
4. waist movement
5. body movement
6. hand movement
7. basic techniques
8. generating energy flow
9. developing internal force
10. combat application
“Traditionally, “Grasping Sparrow's Tail” is said to be composed of four fundamental techniques — “peng” or ward off, “lu” or roll back, “qi” or press forward, and “an” or push. But we in Shaolin Wahnam identify a fifth technique, “chen” or sink back, between ”qi” and “an”. And we name the patterns that implement the techniques as follows:”
Peng or Ward Off — Immortal Waves Sleeves
Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit incourages us to note of the following in differentiating yin-yang ,”Initially the body weight is on the left leg, gradually the weight is transferred and effectually the weight is evenly distributed on both legs. Would this be a weakness of double yang? No. When the weight is even distributed, yin and yang do not represent left and right, but stability and agility.”
MetroWest T'ai Chi (Woodward, n.d.) describes peng as
“an outward and expanding energy. It has a somewhat elastic or bouncy feel to it but is very substantial at the same time. You can imagine a balloon as having Peng energy. If you imagine pushing on the balloon that is against a firm surface such as a wall, it would give a bit. But however hard you push, it is as if your push is getting returned right back to you – as if your energy is being redirected back to you. A better translation of Peng might be “Boing”. This is the feel of Peng.
When performing “Ward Off” within Grasp The Sparrow’s Tail, we ideally want the warding off arm to expand outward and upward with the use of Peng. We want to strive for a feel of this arm moving as if there is a balloon sitting between our arm and body that is being inflated. As the balloon inflates, the arm floats outward and upward.”
Lu or Roll Back — Double Dragons Play with Pearl
“The roll-back movement results in “hua” or “neutralizing an opponent's attack” (Kit, n.d.)
“Lu is a feel of opening up a space. If you imagine that you have expanded a bubble of Peng around you, and that someone is pushing on that bubble, Lu would be an opening of space that they would then fall into. Lu uses a state of Peng to create that opening. Without the Peng, we could not create the opening.” (Woodward, n.d.)
Ji, Qi or Press Forward — Push Boat According to Flow of Stream
“Ji is a compressing or squeezing type of energy. It takes the expansiveness of Peng and compresses it to focus it. It takes the opponent’s energy and redirects it right back at them in a very channelled and penetrative manner.
You can imagine it as squeezing through a small space between your opponent’s arms to deliver a penetrating blow.
When we perform Press in our Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail move, it is as if we are gathering up a whole bunch of Peng that we have built up and then compressed that Peng into a focused point at our wrists. We then express that focused energy forward.” (Woodward, n.d.)
Chen or Sink Back — Black Bear Sinks Hips
An or Push — Push Open Window to Look at Moon
“’An’ actually means “place on”. It refers to placing the palms on an opponent. With the palms placed on an opponent, you may push him. If you use physical force, the push comes from the back leg, and you make use of whole-body weight. If you use internal force, you explode force from your dan tian. Or you may just control your opponent with “an”, as in closing your opponent before a push or a strike.” (Kit, n.d.)
“Push is much less about actually pushing and much more about rooting and sinking and bringing your opponent’s energy down into your root. Push is like a downward expression of Peng with some qualities of Lu. The downward expression of Peng is done effortlessly and to your opponent can feel as if they are falling into a hole.
If an opponent is coming at you, then you simply redirect their energy downward. When done well, this will result in the opponent losing their root and becoming off balance. From there you could execute a roll back and let them fall on by you, or you could turn their energy around and expand your Peng energy, thus uprooting them and throwing them backward.” (Woodward, n.d.)
References
Kit, G. W. (n.d.). GRASPING SPARROW'S TAIL, THE MECHANICS OF TAIJIQUAN MOVEMENTS. Retrieved from Shaolin Wanham Institute: https://shaolin.org/taijiquan/sparrow/sparrow.html
Woodward, J. (n.d.). Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail and the 4 Primary Jins. Retrieved from MetroWest T'ai Chi: http://metrowesttaichi.com/articles/grasp-the-sparrows-tail-and-the-4-primary-jins/
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