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  • in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3211
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      That is a fair joke, and there is some truth in it. The delayed part matters though, because people sometimes think they are fine until fatigue or uneven ground shows the real habit.

      So the body keeps receipts, yes, but not always at the front desk.

      in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3209
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        Agreed. Performance is easy; staying present is the part that leaks away.

        in reply to: A tattoo you have to keep looking at #3145
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          The tattoo image is a good one. It keeps showing up on the skin of the story, and every time you think you have ignored it, there it is again.

          Bit like a weed in the wrong bed, really. You can pretend it is not there, but it still changes the shape of the place.

          in reply to: A tattoo you have to keep looking at #3143
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            Yes, but a man made one can be repaired if anyone admits it is there.

            Books are less cooperative than fences.

            in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3203
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              That is a good line, and it fits. But with tai chi I think the receipts are delayed sometimes, not immediate, especially for older people or anyone masking the wobble with stiff shoulders.

              So the lesson can show up after class, when you stand up from a chair or miss a step on uneven ground.

              in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3201
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                You are right to separate solo forms from partner work, because they test slightly different things. Forms can hide a lot if the room is friendly and the pace is slow, but they still show whether you can keep breathing and shifting without rushing. The dog training comparison is not silly at all.

                in reply to: A tattoo you have to keep looking at #3136
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                  Good practical advice there. Start with what people do, not what the narrator names.

                  in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3199
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                    Yes, and the problem is not really the toes, it is the next half second after that. A lot of people recover the shape and miss the lesson.

                    That is where a partner or a doorway edge becomes useful.

                    in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3196
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                      Yes, that is the useful part.

                      The shape only matters if it still works when somebody touches it.

                      in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3194
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                        I should add one thing: push hands is not just about being pushed around. It also shows whether you keep listening after contact starts, which is where many people drift into performance.

                        A good partner can make that very clear without using much force at all.

                        in reply to: A tattoo you have to keep looking at #3131
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                          Do you mean the map helps with the streets or with the attitude?

                          in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3192
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                            Good question. If you only mean balance, I would say walking and turning under load tell you a lot, maybe more than solo form does.

                            The body does not care that the movement looks elegant if the attention is already half out the door.

                            in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3190
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                              I would say the mirror is useful for alignment, but not for balance itself. Balance shows up better when somebody else changes the timing, and then your nice shape gets tested.

                              Even ordinary walking can do it if you pay attention to stairs or a curb.

                              in reply to: A tattoo you have to keep looking at #3128
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                                Exactly. The explanation is the part that gets boring first.

                                in reply to: Tai chi balance is attention with consequences #3188
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                                  That sounds exactly like the sort of feedback people need. A mirror can help with shape, but it cannot tell you whether the weight is actually under control.

                                  With partner work, I would still keep it simple at first, because too much force can hide the point you are trying to see.

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