• Archive through January 10, 2003 January 10 - 08:20 pm [20]

• Archive through May 12, 2004 May 12 - 08:45 pm [34]

Mr. Tim.
In your travels abroad,
how many different schools of thought and practice on standing meditation did you observe
or encounter.

Are there any that worked particularly well for you?

Best, Pete

Hi,

A question for Tim:
I've been learning I chuan for the last six months or so and practicing standing alot and have been noticing some interesting benefits in my BJJ practice. One; I've noticed that the dynamic tensions held (or isometric excersise as you put it) or pulling/ pushing in and out of the arms and legs have drastically improved my guard and also improved "embracing" the opponent on the ground. Another benefit is with the intent, I've noticed that it's getting easier to stay aware of what's going on while rolling as well as control my opponent(and sometimes overpower them, though I've been cautioned against relying on "muscling" stuff by my teachers). It's sort of like the effect of trying to open a tight pickle jar when you are watching T.V but being unable to do it, then you focus and sort of make it get open.. Bad analogy, but hopefully it makes sense.

My questions are these: Have you noticed any particular benefits in your BJJ from doing standing excercises? Also, what body attributes have you found in yourself over the years doing standing? In the short time that I've been doing it, I've found that in the short time that I've been doing it that my movement seems more elastic and my frame seems more tightly knit together; but I'm just curious as to what you've found in your much longer practice. Thanks for your time and hope that made sense, I'm kind of rushing around...

Josh

Fighting is dynamic why would you practice being static? There should be a stillness in your movement and a movement in your stillness. Your intent may not waver while you are standing still, but can you keep the same intent when you moving or especially when someone is moving to attack you?

Standing practice is a training method meant to learn you to switch between relaxation and tension using imagery - every movement is stopped as soon as you mind begins to initiate it. Contrary to what a lot of people say you don't stand still completely, but your body movements are very small. The "intent may not waver", just means that you should concentrate on the images you're working with - in a real fight you're not going to use imagery I guess unless you like to receive a beating ...

Josh,
Since I had practiced standing for a long time before I learned to grapple, it's hard for me to say how much of an effect Yiquan practice had.

When I first started practicing standing I noticed similar effects, feeling like my whole body was a flexible unit being the most apparent.

Hi,

Thanks Tim.
Josh

Tim-

You said:

"The minumum time for each individual posture is 5 minutes. Sometimes you can hold one posture longer (up to 20 minutes). "

Does this also apply to circle walking. In other words, hold a posture and circle one direction for a minimum of 5 min, and then change directions?

-Steve

Steve,
My Baguazhang teachers never gave me a time limit on holding postures when walking the circle. The only rule was to hold the positions an equal amount of time on each side.

Personally, I think the Yiquan guidelines are sensible for Baguazhang as well.

Sorry I have been out of the loop. It's nice to come back to all of these comments.

Shane, thanks again for your comments and Rick, thanks for the link; I'll be sure to check that out.

Tim, thanks for you comments about the time frames suggested to do this kind of practice. That clears some things up.

Here's another question; is there a point where standing is no longer needed? A point where you have gained all benefits from the practice and no longer need it?

I continue to make this a regular part of my practice and see the benefits daily, in the smallest of ways.

I would be interested in reading material on this subject as well. Any suggestions?

Thanks again to all. Happy training.

ANJ

Hi Tim,

Is it better to practice standing meditation in a more strenuous lower posture as to standing almost totally upright? I tend to feel more of an energy flow in a lower posture.

jb,

There are different schools of thought on higher and lower (easier and more difficult) postures.

Most teachers of Yi Quan or Da Cheng Quan start practitioners with higher stances with various arm positions, advanced students squat lower and hold more difficult positions. In general, this sequence of training makes sense in that the student needs time to build up the strength and endurance to go lower (just like starting with lifting lighter weights to build up the strength for heavier weights).

Another consideration is your purpose for standing. If you stand in higher postures, you can stand longer and train your body to align itself correctly as you reduce useless tension. The conditioning benefits will be relatively limited though.

Strenuous positions cannot be held for as great a length of time, so "meditative" and relaxation aspects of training are superseded by power training.