Demystifying The Taffies

We finally had five minutes to catch up with each other and discussed how we instruct Pulling Taffy. When we discovered we teach it about the same way, we thought it would be more fun to co-demonstrate the taffies. (Turns out it was fun, but writing this? Not so much.)

First, we discussed and showed how we teach the T’ai Chi side step. Yes, we know teachers would have instructed the T’ai Chi side step in Carry the Ball to the Side; but we wanted to stress how important it is that students are very comfortable with the side-to-side movement. The basic instructions carry through to all “the taffies,” and with a good foundation in the side side step, your studetns will be ready for the first Pulling Taffy instructions.

Here are some ways we prepare our students for the T’ai Chi side step for the side-to-side movements.

At the beginning of a new course or the second week, I show the students some exercises to practice before the week of class instruction on the T’ai Chi side step.

• Using a Wall: Stand with back against wall. Remember to soften the knees. Keep the shoulders against the wall but allow the tan t’ien to turn to the side. Students can feel the shoulders trying to turn also. This gives them feedback on how they are moving and can isolate different parts of body. You can then have them shift the weight left and right, and turn from the tan t’ien, still using the wall.

• Stand Away from the Wall: Remember to soften the knees. Students sink, take a regular step to the side, and with the softened knees, they practice shifting the weight and rotating the tan t’ien without doing the T’ai Chi side step. This allows them to get used to the feeling of what they are doing; they see it is something they have done before.

Then add the waist/hip rotation and get the feeling of that.

Then practice winding up and keeping the tan t’ien turned after taking the side step. Practice both sides.

They may practice several times in one direction, stepping in after each weight shift. Then practice the other direction. Repeat as the students need to practice.

Check to see if they are gliding, shifting the weight from leg to leg. They can practice taking the yin foot off to be sure all the weight is on one leg, and then the other.

• Use a Flashlight: You hold it at the tan t’ien. Students can see the tan t’ien movement. It really helps them see the turn of the tan t’ien. This will help them feel the tan t’ien in their movements.

• Partner Practice: Use two students. Student “A” asks permission to touch student “B.” A then places one finger against one shoulder of B, as B practices moving the tan t’ien. B can feel the shoulders trying to move and then knows to focus on moving the waist and hips and shifting their weight. When B gets it, they switch places.

• Rotating just the Hips: Hands on hips; take a side step; soften the knees. Start moving the hips left, front, right, and back. Get the students to move the hips in a circle around in one direction a few times – and then reverse the direction. You can start with just front and back, then just side-to-side, and then in circles. Check the knees are softly bent. Keep the knees soft.

• There are many ways to practice loosening the hips: On the floor, on a bed, whatever. You can bring the knees up, keep them together, and let them softly fall to one side, and then the other. Practicing helps with flexibility in the hip movements. The goal is to have the knees touch the surface you are on.

• Yes, in the actual movement, the head/neck and shoulders have movements. They are not ridged. Head/neck are soft and move a little; shoulders move a bit more; the shifting weight gliding across from leg to leg gives the tan t’ien the most turning, like the shape of a pyramid. Head at the top, shoulders down to about middle, and hips at the bottom.

Now for the T’ai Chi Side Step:

Check point: the Feet. Before the first step out, check that the feet have toes touching the cord. Take the step to the side and check. Are both feet at the same angle? Are the toes still even with the line/cord? It may take a bit of practice to get the feet and toes correct. Some problems may be the foot is ahead of the line, behind it, on the line, or pointed to the side, etc. With focused attention, the body will learn the feel of the correct position when the foot is stepping out to the side.

Note: In my practice, I have found if my toes are not at a certain angle, my hip joints feel restricted and I cannot flow softly to the side; I am blocked at the hips. If I just move the toes outward a little bit, a quarter inch at a time, then check to see if there is freedom of full weight shift, the tan t’ien flows without feeling restricted. I check both sides.

I have the students practice this so they can feel the difference in blocked hips and freedom of movement when everything is in alignment. The students practice this self-correction and find they flow side-to-side more fully; their tan t’ien is free to flow also.

Play around with changing your feet (too straight, too far out, just right). Explore this yourself; see if it makes a difference for you and your students.

Another piece of the T’ai Chi side step to consider is the actual stepping out to the side. Often students are able to wind-up the tan t’ien and all the weight is on one leg. But when they take the step, there is usually a release of the tan t’ien back to the middle. This is like a loss of power to a car or a plane. Now there is no energy left to carry the arms in the movement.

Check point: the tan t’ien after the step. It is still held in the wind-up position. The leg extends to the side step, the heel touches the surface, and then the knee soften. The softening of the knee is the invitation for the movement to begin gliding to the side. As the right leg is straightening the tan t’ien flows with the long gradual gliding motion to the other side, to a full weight shift, then the steps in.

To clarify this long gliding motion to the side, think of it in two parts. The knee softens and invites the shifting weight toward it. About the time one feels they are almost to the center of the shifting, notice the right leg is starting to straighten. As it straightens, the tan t’ien flows to the left. You now have all the weight and the tan t’ien on the left. Step in and the tan t’ien is facing front.

In all the side-to-side movements the tan t’ien influences the movement of the arms and palms. If you can relax your arms and elbows (not try to do something with them, but feel the movement and follow the tan t’ien), you will find the arms move into the position for the movement with very little effort. Find the softness each time you move your tan t’ien. Let it be the practice – rather than you doing the practice. The Chi will guide you if you get out of the way.