Awareness Is The Root Of TCC: Six Points

The title reflects an all-important point in Justin’s writing on “The Essence of T’ai Chi Chih” in Spiritual Odyssey. The TCC practice has been called a moving meditation or meditation in motion. While the Originator has stated that TCC is not meditation (in the classic or perhaps literal sense), our awareness is very much alive in feeling the movements and the body, and in the flow of the Chi.

With this in mind, I have six awareness points that have helped students and teachers refine, deepen and evolve in their practice and to remain on a path of improvement.

One is breathing. Observe the breath. Is it flowing naturally and freely? (It behooves us to read “About Breathing Techniques” in Spiritual Odyssey.) Do we tighten up and hold the breath unconsciously at times while moving? Justin often reminded us to breath naturally, in and out through the nose, during throughout the practice.

Be aware of tension, especially in the joints/muscles in the ankles, knees, pelvic girdle, shoulders, elbows, wrists and neck. Relax and surrender the bodyweight to the feet.

Feel the (often subtle) expansion and contraction in the tan t’ien (two inches below the navel) and in the lower back and lower abdomen. Looseness and fluidity are needed.

Feel the knee movement. Are the knees bending and straightening, slowly, continuously, smoothly and evenly right up until the end of the weight shift?

Be conscious of (focus on) the feeling of the waist and wrists moving as one. (When the waist glides forward or backward like in “Push Pull,” the wrists move with it. When the waist rises or sinks like in “Rocking Motion” or “Joyous Breath,” the wrists rise or sink.) There is a unity of movement this way. Justin often reminded us that we do TCC mostly with the waist and wrists, often citing “Carry the Ball to the Side”.

Is the body’s weight felt evenly in the soles of the feet, when the weight arrives on either foot in forward/back or side to side movements (i.e., when the weight shift completes)? The foot and ankle cannot be relaxed otherwise, and the resulting tension will travel up the body, inhibiting the circulation of Chi. These points are a worthwhile focus to develop.